Georgia Natural Wonder #1 - Longswamp Valley Marble Vein. 1028

[Top Row Dawg]

Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia

#1 Longswamp Valley Marble Vein

Largest marble vein in world Longswamp valley. 7 miles long 2 miles wide, 2000 feet deep. It was one of the original seven natural wonders of Georgia. It has been supplemented by others today. The first list of natural wonders was compiled by the state librarian, Ella May Thornton, in response to an inquiry by a journalist. Her list, which appeared in the Atlanta Georgian magazine on December 26, 1926, included Stone Mountain, Okefenokee Swamp, Amicalola Falls, Tallulah Gorge, Warm Springs, Jekyll Island Forest, and the marble vein in Longswamp Valley in Pickens County.



Thornton acknowledged that some items on her list were arguable and "there are a number of others of equal rank." Two that she selected and that the Atlanta Georgian described—Jekyll Island Forest ("wild life flourishes there almost as it did before the white men came") and marble deposits in Pickens County ("the largest single vein of marble known to the world")—have not made recent lists. Providence Canyon and Radium Springs, are on the list now.



Longswamp Valley goes south past the Tate House off Hwy. 53.



This marble has been used extensively for gravestones and in buildings throughout the United States, including the U.S. Capitol. Sixty percent of the monuments in Washington, D.C., in fact, are made from Georgia marble. During the marble boom of the 1930s, Georgia marble was utilized for the Puerto Rican capitol,



The New York Stock Exchange,



The Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank,



And the Public Library in Ohio.




Quarry in 1907


A certain statue in Washington was made from Tate marble.

Along with the Lincoln Memorial, the Supreme Court building,



The National Air and Space Museum,



The East wing of the National Gallery of Art was built using marble from Georgia.



The capitals of Minnesota and Rhode Island were built completely from Georgia Marble.


Minnesota


Rhode Island

Working the quarry today. All filled up with water.



Honestly, I could not get close. Big gate on Georgia Marble Road. Went down Smokey Hollow and ended up in Ball Ground eventually. Been down 53 many times on way to Edge of World rapids. Never realized it was a natural wonder. Gonna keep poking will report explorations.

Top Row Dawg Addendum Tate House

Just 45 minutes north of Atlanta is the elegant and romantic pink marble mansion, known as the Tate House. The classic southern romantic fantasy is felt throughout the stately plantation like setting. The gardens invite you to stroll through the centuries old oaks and to host your garden wedding amongst the six flowing fountains and picturesque statues surrounding the Atlanta Area Wedding Venue’s property. This North Georgia wedding venue features the 19,000 square foot mansion and 4,000 square foot formal ballroom. It is an excellent example of the “second renaissance revival style,” which is an adaptation of Italian and English classical styles.


Greek Revival side.

The Tate House is listed as the Pink Palace in the National Register of Historic Places, making it the perfect destination for your Georgia historic home wedding. Built as a private estate home by Colonel Sam Tate, land baron, philanthropist and business tycoon in 1926, it is now known and loved as an Atlanta Area Wedding Venue.


Italianate Side.

In 1834, Samuel Tate purchased the land the Tate House stands on and moved his family from Lumpkin County, Georgia. His son, Stephen Tate, began the mining of marble, which eventually placed Tate, Georgia on the map. It was Stephen Tate’s son, the eldest of his 19 children, known as “Colonel Sam Tate,” who consolidated the marble interests and gained control by 1917. Designed by the International Architectural Firm of Walker and Weeks, Cleveland, Ohio, building began in 1921. Legends were told of a rare, bright pink marble, referred to as “Etowah” marble. In 1920-21, Colonel Sam began watching the rare Etowah Pink Marble that came from the quarry just behind the house.


Another style this side.

Setting the matching pieces aside, he began construction of the Pink Marble Mansion. By 1926, Colonel Sam, his brother Luke (family attorney) and sister Florentine resided at the mansion. The second floor has four bedrooms, each featuring its own marbled bathrooms, mantled fireplaces, plus a morning kitchen and an office. The summer kitchen on the first floor has the original triple oak iceboxes and tin sink with butler’s pantry.


Fourth side.

Colonel Sam died in 1938 at the age of 78, only 12 years after moving into his house. Neither he, his brother Luke nor his sister Miss Flora ever married. The last of the immediate family left the house in 1955. The house remained unoccupied and neglected until 1974, when Ms. Ann Lard of Arizona discovered it. She purchased the house and began a 10-year restoration project. In January 2001, the estate was purchased by Holbrook Properties, LP. Lois Holbrook and Marsha Mann plan to continue the restoration of the mansion and gardens. Recently named one of the top “must see” places in Georgia by Georgia Magazine and one of “Georgia’s Most Gorgeous Wedding Venues” by The Venue Report, the beautiful pink marble mansion is one of the most photographed homes in Georgia and one of the most popular North Georgia Special Events Venues.


Hell yeah lets go back and add a GNW gal to each of these suckers. Now let's add three to rank em.