In June 1979, a man using the
pseudonym Robert C. Christian approached the Elberton Granite Finishing Company on
behalf of "a small group of loyal Americans", and commissioned the structure. Christian explained that the stones would function as a compass, calendar, and clock, and should be capable of "withstanding catastrophic events".
[2]
Joe Fendley of Elberton Granite assumed that Christian was "a nut" and attempted to discourage him by providing a quote for the commission which was several times higher than any project the company had previously taken, explaining that the guidestones would require additional tools and consultants. To Fendley's surprise, Christian accepted the quote.
[2] When arranging payment, Christian said that he represented a group which had been planning the guidestones for 20 years and which wanted to remain anonymous.
[2]
Christian delivered a scale model of the guidestones and ten pages of specifications.
[2] The 5-
acre (2-
hectare)
[2] site was apparently purchased by Christian on October 1, 1979,
[4][5][
non-primary source needed] from farm owner Wayne Mullenix.
[2] Mullenix and his children were given lifetime cattle grazing rights on the guidestones site.
[2]
On March 22, 1980, the monument was unveiled before an audience variously described as 100
[6] or 400 people.
[2] Christian later transferred ownership of the land and the guidestones to Elbert County.
[2]
www.11alive.com
en.wikipedia.org
