AIM99 Banquet

1999 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics
September 19 - 22, 1999 - Renaissance Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia USA

About the Background Image

The Confederate Memorial Carving

The largest base-relief sculpture in the world, the Confederate Memorial Carving, depicts three heroes of the Civil War – (left to right) Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. The three-acre carved surface is larger than a football field. The carving itself towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. The deepest point of the carving is at Lee’s elbow, which is 12 feet to the mountain’s surface.

In 1912 the carving existed only in the imagination of Mrs. C. Helen Paine, charter member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The Venable family, owners of the mountain, deeded the north face of the mountain to the UDC in 1916. The UDC was given 12 years to complete a sizable Civil War monument.

Three sculptors worked on the carving during its creation. Gutzon Borglum was hired in 1915 as the carving consultant, and in 1916 he was appointed carving sculptor by the Stone Mountain Monumental Association. Borglum envisioned a carving with seven central figures accompanied by “an army of thousands.” He was not able to begin work on the carving until 1923 due to funding problems and World War I. By blasting away large portions of the mountain with dynamite, Borglum was able to complete the head of Lee on January 19, 1924. In 1925 a dispute arose between Borglum and the managing association. As a result of the conflict, Borglum left, taking all of his sketches and models with him. The head of General Lee was chiseled away to begin a new carving, and Borglum went on to carve the famous Mount Rushmore sculpture in South Dakota.

Augustus Lukeman, the second sculptor, resumed work on the challenging project in 1925. Lukeman’s carving included the three central figures of the Confederacy on horseback. He diligently worked on the mountain with pneumatic drills, but by 1928 (the original deadline) only Lee’s head was complete and funds were depleted. The Venable family reclaimed their property, and the massive granite mountain remained untouched for 36 years.

In 1958 the state of Georgia purchased the mountain and the surrounding land. The Georgia General Assembly created the Stone Mountain Memorial Association. In 1960 the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial Advisory Committee was formed. The Committee was comprised of six internationally known figures in the world of art. A competition was held, and nine world-renowned sculptors submitted designs for a new sculpture.

In 1963, based upon recommendations by the Advisory Committee, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association chose Walker Kirkland Hancock of Gloucester, Mass., to complete the carving. Work resumed in 1964, and a new technique utilizing thermo-jet torches was used to carve away the granite. Chief carver Roy Faulkner, a marine veteran with a talent for using the new thermo-jet torch, was able to remove tons of stone in one day. For over eight years Park guests could see and hear the workmen and their jet torches.

The figures were completed with the detail of a fine painting. Eyebrows, fingers, buckles, and even strands of hair were fine-carved with a small thermo-jet torch. The carving is much larger than it appears. Workers could easily stand on a horse’s ear or inside a horse’s mouth to escape a sudden rain shower.

A dedication ceremony for the Confederate Memorial Carving was held on May 9, 1970. Finishing touches to the masterpiece were completed in 1972.
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