On a small farm in Elbert County, Georgia stands the “American Stonehenge”. The structure is a cluster of six granite stones standing 19 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 237,000 pounds. This unique and misunderstood monument was erected by the Elberton Granite Finishing Company on March 22, 1980 as a commission paid for by the very mysterious R. C. Christian. The land on which the structure was placed was once the farm of Wayne and Mildred Mullenix, also purchased by Christian.
It is not known who R.C. Christian was however many theories exist about who he was and his reasons for building the structure. The most common theory states that R.C. Christian was a pseudonym for Christian Rosenkreuz, a 17th century philosopher and founder of the secret society, the Rosicrucian Order. The Rosicrucian Order developed a doctrine which is "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", and, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe and the spiritual realm.”
Another theory is that the stones were built as a guide in the rebuilding of society in the event of a global catastrophe. Case in point, the stones were erected during the height of the cold war. This theory could also be supported by the fact that the structure has natural alignments such as a hole running through it that is in line with the celestial poles and slots that mark the travel of the sun, hence, acting as a compass and a calendar. The inscriptions on the stones are written in eight different languages and they read:
- Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
- Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.
- Unite humanity with a living new language.
- Rule passion — faith — tradition — and all things with tempered reason.
- Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
- Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
- Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
- Balance personal rights with social duties.
- Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.
- Be not a cancer on the earth — Leave room for nature — Leave room for nature.