Avondale Estates in DeKalb County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Gutzon Borglum House
Avondale Estates
— 1924-1925 —
Photographed By Felch Dumas, July 22, 2008
1. The Gutzon Borglum House Marker
Gutzon Borglum, the world famous sculptor of Mt. Rushmore and the first man to work on the Confederate Memorial carving on Stone Mountain, lived in this house from 1924 to 1925. He had begun the Stone Mountain carving in 1923 with his plan that included Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and an army of Confederate soldiers on horseback, fading into the granite.
In 1924, Borglum became an early resident of the city of Avondale Estates, one of the first planned communities in Georgia. George Willis, the city's founder and Borglum's close friend, had urged him to live here while working on the Stone Mountain carving. Borglum accepted because Avondale Estates was convenient both to Atlanta and to his work on Stone Mountain.
In a controversial funding dispute with the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, Borglum destroyed his models for the carving and left Avondale Estates in 1925 to begin his monument work on Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. Borglum died in 1941.
Erected 1983 by Avondale Community Action. (Marker Number 044-90.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers
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Location. 33° 46.524′ N, 84° 15.962′ W. Marker is in Avondale Estates, Georgia, in DeKalb County. Marker is on South Avondale Plaza north of the intersection of Berkeley and Kensington Roads, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Avondale Estates GA 30002, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Waffle House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Agnes Lee Chapter House UDC (approx. 1.4 miles away); July 22, 1864 (approx. 1˝ miles away); Historic Decatur Cemetery (approx. 1˝ miles away); During the Battle of Decatur (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Stoneman Raid (approx. 1.7 miles away); DeKalb County Confederate Monument Contextualization (approx. 1.7 miles away); Garrard’s Cavalry Raid (approx. 1.7 miles away).
Photographed By Felch Dumas, July 22, 2008
2. The Gutzon Borglum House
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2008, by Felch Dumas of Decatur, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,328 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 27, 2008, by Felch Dumas of Decatur, Georgia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
