Athens Confederate Monument

The Athens Confederate Monument is a marble obelisk rising from a granite foundation, with names of Athens soldiers who died in the Civil War engraved upon it. The structure displays classical design elements and was later relocated from its original downtown position to Timothy Place.

The monument was built in the early 1870s and ranks among the earliest memorials of its kind constructed in the South following the war. It emerged during a period when communities sought to process and document their experience of conflict.

The monument was established by the Ladies Memorial Association, which raised funds from Athens residents to honor those who fell in the war. It reflects how local communities sought to preserve their memory in the years following the conflict.

The monument is now located at a different site and is visible from the Athens Perimeter after being relocated in 2020. The new location allows visitors to view it in a quieter setting without the downtown foot traffic.

A time capsule sealed within the monument's stone contains Confederate-era items and a list of Freemasons from Athens. This hidden layer tells an additional story about the people who created the memorial.

Location: Athens

GPS coordinates: 33.91600,-83.39800

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03