Quarry History

Stone Mountain has a long history of quarrying. It also has a quarry exhibit for visitors to learn more about this history. The quarry industry left many artifacts around the mountain.

Much of the earlier history of the mountain involved the lucrative and labor-intensive quarrying industry. Quarrying operations began in 1845. The mountain was sold to Stone Mountain Granite Corporation for $14,400 in 1867. A railway spur was added in 1869. Southern Granite Company bought the mountain in 1886.

Quarrying continued by several companies through 1978.

The carving has a long history of its own. See Carving History for details and photos.