Stone Mountain

The Confederate Memorial Carving depicts three Southern heroes of the Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. The figures measure 90 by 190 feet, surrounded by a carved surface that is larger than a football field – the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world.

Gutzon Borglum's 1915 vision of the carving featured seven central figures – the three men of the completed carving and four others accompanied by an “army of thousands.” Work was delayed until 1923 by funding issues and World War One. Borglum's workers blasted away large portions of stone with dynamite, allowing unveiling of Lee’s head on January 19, 1924 – the General’s birthday. A funding dispute with the managing association in 1925 caused Borglum to abandon the project. He is best known for later work at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

Andersonville National Historic Site

Andersonville National Historic Site is the only national park to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Once filled with desolation, despair, and death, Andersonville today offers a place for remembrance and reflection. Here we remember POWs and honor their courage, service, and sacrifice.

Although Andersonville was the most infamous Civil War prison, some 150 others were set up across the country. In 1863 the Union and Confederate governments adopted laws of war to protect prisoners, yet some 56,000 soldiers died in captivity. Although no formal exchange system existed early in the war, both armies paroled prisoners to lessen the burden of providing for captives. Prisoners of war were conditionally released, promising not to return to battle until officially exchanged. A formal exchange system adopted in 1862 failed when the Confederacy refused to exchange or parole captured black U.S. soldiers. In the South, captured Union soldiers were first housed in old warehouses, then prison camps such as Andersonville. Confined soldiers suffered terribly from overcrowding, poor sanitation,and inadequate food. Mismanagement by war-weary governments worsened matters. Most prisoners died from disease, starvation, or exposure.

Andersonville National Cemetery, established July 26, 1865, is a permanent resting place of honor for deceased veterans. The first interments, in February 1864, were soldiers who died in the prison. Union soldiers who died in hospitals, other prison camps, and on battlefields of central and southwest Georgia brought the total burials to over 13,800. Five hundred of these graves are marked “unknown U.S. soldier.” Today the cemetery contains over 19,000 interments.

Andersonville National Cemetery
Panoramic view from the north end of the cemetery.

Andersonville POW Camp & National Cemetery