Since its unveiling in 1980 to its destruction in 2022, the mysterious monument known as the Georgia Guidestones has been surrounded by controversy. Conspiracy theories ranging from population control to satanic cults were linked to the granite monument. Adding to the controversy and mystery, the monument’s main sponsor remained anonymous throughout its creation—known only by the pseudonym Robert C. Christian, or R.C. Christian. For decades, people have tried to figure out the real identity of this man. It looks like that mystery may have been solved almost a decade ago, although it completely flew under the radar.
The northeast corner of Georgia produces some of the finest granite in the world. At the center of this granite production lies the small town of Elberton, known as the granite capitol of the world. To this day, the Elberton granite industry produces around 250,000 markers and monuments yearly.
In 1979, a man known only as Robert C. Christian approached the Elberton Granite Finishing Company with an unusual request. He believed that humanity would soon undergo a catastrophic event. He wanted to commission a granite monument that would survive this calamity. He believed this monument would then serve as a guide to the remnant of humanity that survived the disaster. A secondary monument erected beside the guidestones read, “Let these be guidestones to an Age of Reason.”