Stone Mountain Park: Contested Memories and Perspectives in the Metro Atlanta Area

Abstract

Stone Mountain Park, one of the largest tourist attractions within the Metro Atlanta Area, serves as a physical reminder of the Confederacy’s role in Georgia’s social hierarchy well into the late 20th century. Though the Park maintains its apolitical positionality regarding the Confederate monument carved upon the North face of Stone Mountain, it remains a testament to the contested memories throughout communities on a local and national scale. Understanding differing views of collective memory and identity formation at Stone Mountain Park related to the “Lost Cause” narrative explored in this analysis can lead to better planning as communities reckon with their own histories moving forward.