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Atlanta and Stone Mountain

Stone Mountain, a spectacular knob of granite and the world's largest exposed granite mountain, is located fifteen miles east of Atlanta. In the path of Sherman's northern column in the March to the Sea in 1864, it is now the location of the world's largest relief sculpture. Begun by Gutzon Borglum, who left to work on Mt. Rushmore, the three figures on horseback were completed by Henry A. Lukeman before the project was stopped for lack of funds. At the dedication, thirty people sat on Lee's shoulder!

The mountain and surrounding area became a park in 1958 when land was purchased by the state of Georgia. Since that time it has been privatized. Each summer evening, a laser show is projected against the sculpted face of the mountain. Recreational activities in the park include swimming, boating, golf, bicycling, camping, and a small railway that circles the more than 2000 acres of parkland.

If you look at the picture of the lasershow site on the previous page, you can see the line of trees along the hiking trail to the summit which is more than 800 feet above the surrounding countryside.