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All the United States Georgia Johns Creek Monkey Massacre Memorial
Monkey Massacre Memorial is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Monkey Massacre Memorial

The statues commemorate the legendary mass killing of escaped circus monkeys.

Johns Creek, Georgia

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Mandy Campbell
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The statues commemorate a legendary 20th-century monkey massacre.   Autrey Mill Nature Preserve/Used With Permission
The monkey statues.   Autrey Mill Nature Preserve/Used With Permission
The monkey statues.   Autrey Mill Nature Preserve/Used With Permission
The monkey statues.   Autrey Mill Nature Preserve/Used With Permission
The monkey statues.   Autrey Mill Nature Preserve/Used With Permission
The monkey statues.   Autrey Mill Nature Preserve/Used With Permission
Autrey Mill Nature Preserve.   Csteche1/CC BY-SA 4.0
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  loogar / Atlas Obscura User
  DallasKarhu / Atlas Obscura User
  DallasKarhu / Atlas Obscura User
Monkey Statue inside visitor center   Autrey Mill Nature Preserve / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Monkey Statue on the trail   Autrey Mill Nature Preserve / Atlas Obscura User
  Janeetzeemo / Atlas Obscura User
  Janeetzeemo / Atlas Obscura User
  Janeetzeemo / Atlas Obscura User
  Janeetzeemo / Atlas Obscura User
  Janeetzeemo / Atlas Obscura User
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According to folklore, a circus train crashed near Duluth, Georgia sometime in the early 20th century. Dozens of escaped monkeys scampered into the woods. The local farmers had never seen such creatures before, and set out to shoot and kill every single one in what would become a legendary monkey massacre.

An anonymous artist created a set of monkey statues to commemorate the dark moment in the area’s history. Supposedly, the unknown sculptor wanted his creations to send a message that not understanding something is not a reason to want to destroy it.

The concrete primates, which honor the victims of the massacre, can be found along the Forest Trail at the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek. Though they’re typically arranged in a circle, their exact location does tend to occasionally change.

Update July 2024: The monkeys are not on display.

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Monkeys Circus Legends Statues Memorials Trails Concrete

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Beautiful, easy trail!

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mandycampbell500

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DallasKarhu, Kerry Wolfe, Collector of Experiences, Janeetzeemo...

  • DallasKarhu
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Janeetzeemo
  • loogar
  • rnmeaney
  • Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

Published

August 25, 2017

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Monkey Massacre Memorial
9770 Autrey Mill Rd
Johns Creek, Georgia
United States
34.020805, -84.23265
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Photo of Georgia

Georgia

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Georgia

Georgia

United States

Places 213
Stories 15

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