Stone Mountain: History, Art, and Nature

When looking for a hotel in Stone Mountain, consider what you want to focus on during your trip: local history and art, natural areas, or activities on the water. The sights and activities differ considerably. Looking at their respective themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

History and art in Stone Mountain

Stone Mountain Village was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. One way to explore the town's history and sights is the self-guided Stone's Throw Tour. The brochure is available at the Visitor Center. Stone Mountain Village's Visitor Center is located in a historic wooden caboose dating from 1915 and provides a walking map of the village. This offers both an overview of the area's history and sights and guidance for a walk through the village.

Historic Square in Stone Mountain Park offers another perspective on history. Its collection includes original buildings from different parts of Georgia, built between 1793 and 1875. The tour is self-guided and includes a working cookhouse and a garden. The buildings' dates provide a clear historical context for the visit, while the cookhouse and garden are additional parts of the tour.

ART Station also connects art with the history of a building. The Georgia Railway and Power Company built it in 1913 as a streetcar barn; it was later converted into an interdisciplinary arts center. ART Station is a nonprofit arts center in the Old Trolley Station in historic Stone Mountain Village. Its offerings include theater, galleries, crafts, classes and events, as well as a gift shop. The range spans exhibitions and performances to classes and crafts.

Another historical landmark is the Confederate Memorial Carving, the world's largest high-relief carving. A public artwork featuring a replica of “Sherman's Neckties” marks approximately the place where Sherman began his “March to the Sea.”

Nature, trails, and activities

Stone Mountain Park encompasses 3,200 acres of natural areas to explore. The park also has 15 miles of hiking and walking trails of varying difficulty. The acreage describes the extent of the natural areas; the types of trails and difficulty levels mentioned provide a more specific basis for choosing between hiking and walking trails.

At Stone Mountain Lake, Adventure Outpost rents kayaks and paddleboards. Sightseeing tours by pontoon boat are also offered there. This lets you choose between rented watercraft and a sightseeing tour. Adventure Outpost also offers an adventure course with seven zip lines and ten obstacles; the zip lines are up to 400 feet long. Course operating details may vary by season.

Discover more destinations

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Go to the main travel overview: DeKalb.