Named after its huge monolith, Stone Mountain is a small city on the eastern outskirts of Atlanta and the gateway to Stone Mountain Park. It was once home to the Muscogee people before Europeans settled in the 1820s, with the village serving as a stagecoach stop en route to the former capital, Milledgeville.
Things to do in Stone Mountain
Soak up the sweeping views across the region from the aerial tram that leads to the summit of Stone Mountain or ascend to the top along the marked hiking trail. Rising 250 metres above the surrounding area, the monolith is renowned for having the largest bas-relief artwork in the world carved into its north facade. The artwork depicts three Confederate leaders - Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.
To learn more, head to the Confederate Hall Historical & Environmental Education Center where you’ll find interactive exhibits about the geology, ecology and human history of Stone Mountain. Learn about the battle for Georgia during the Civil War and hear about the men who left their mark on Stone Mountain by carving the design of Augustus Lukeman.
On the northern edge of Stone Mountain is Historic Square, which is clustered with buildings dating back to the 18th century that have been relocated from across Georgia. On a self-guided tour of the period-furnished rooms, you can learn about life here in times gone by. Also forming part of the open-air museum is a small farmyard filled with friendly animals.
Getting around Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain is a 30-minute drive from the centre of Atlanta and 40 minutes from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Stone Mountain while renting a car gives you greater freedom to explore the area.