Bamahenge

Last updated
Bamahenge in Alabama Bamahenge.jpg
Bamahenge in Alabama

Bamahenge is a full-scale fiberglass replica of England's prehistoric Stonehenge monument, located on the grounds of Barber Marina near Josephine, Alabama. It was designed and built by artist Mark Cline, at the request of marina owner George W. Barber. [1]

Contents

History

The idea for a Stonehenge replica in Alabama originated with billionaire dairy magnate George W. Barber. In 1991, Barber had commissioned Virginia artist Mark Cline of Enchanted Castle Studios to design and install seven life-size dinosaurs as "lawn ornaments" on one of his properties. [2] While Cline was onsite repairing hurricane damage to the sculptures in 2006, Barber, perhaps aware of the recent installation of Cline's Foamhenge replica in Virginia, asked him to build a life-size Stonehenge replica at his Vintage Motorsports Museum outside of Birmingham, Alabama. By the time Cline was able to begin work on the project in 2012, Barber had relocated four of the dinosaurs to the grounds of Barber Marina and decided to instead install the Stonehenge replica on the marina grounds, in the woods to the north of the dinosaurs. [1] [2]

The name Fiberhenge was briefly considered for the work, but Cline decided that it "didn't have the ring" he wanted and instead named the installation Bamahenge. [1]

Structure

Bamahenge is a full-scale replica of Stonehenge, measuring 21 feet (6.4 m) tall and 104 feet (32 m) across. [3] Like Stonehenge, the installation is oriented so that the sun rises over the center of three lintels on the outer markers on the summer solstice. [1] Bamahenge is not an exact replica, however: the monument is constructed from only four different shapes of fiberglass "stones", oriented in different ways. [1] The pieces were designed so that the smaller ones could nest inside the larger ones for transportation from Cline's Virginia studio to the Alabama coast, which required four flatbed tractor-trailer loads. [3] [4]

Located only four miles (6.4 km) from the Gulf of Mexico, Bamahenge is located in an active tropical storm and hurricane zone. [5] To protect the work from high winds, each "stone" is anchored by a wooden pole extending 8 feet (2.4 m) up into the "stone" and a similar distance underground. The lower portion of the "stone" and a pit beneath, surrounding the pole, are filled with concrete. [3]

Access

Bamahenge is located 200 yards (180 m) west of the access road to Barber Marina. [5] A small parking area sits at the head of the path to the monument.

While most closely located to the unincorporated community of Josephine in Baldwin County, Alabama, Bamahenge is more often associated with the larger nearby town of Elberta, Alabama.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stonehenge</span> Ancient monument in England

Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, two miles (3 km) west of Amesbury. It consists of an outer ring of vertical sarsen standing stones, each around 13 feet (4.0 m) high, seven feet (2.1 m) wide, and weighing around 25 tons, topped by connecting horizontal lintel stones. Inside is a ring of smaller bluestones. Inside these are free-standing trilithons, two bulkier vertical sarsens joined by one lintel. The whole monument, now ruinous, is aligned towards the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice. The stones are set within earthworks in the middle of the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred tumuli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Glasgow is a town in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the James and Maury Rivers. The population was 1,052 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Monument</span> U.S. national memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, a Founding Father of the United States, victorious commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783 in the American Revolutionary War, and the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Standing east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial, the monument is made of bluestone gneiss for the foundation and of granite for the construction. The outside facing consists, due to the interrupted building process, of three different kinds of white marble: in the lower third, marble from Baltimore County, Maryland, followed by a narrow zone of marble from Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and, in the upper part, the so-called Cockeysville Marble. Both "Maryland Marbles" came from the "lost” Irish Quarry Town of "New Texas". It is both the world's tallest predominantly stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing 554 feet 7+1132 inches (169.046 m) tall, according to U.S. National Geodetic Survey measurements in 2013–2014. It is the tallest monumental column in the world if all are measured above their pedestrian entrances. It was the world's tallest structure between 1884 and 1889, after which it was overtaken by the Eiffel Tower, in Paris. Previously, the tallest structures were Lincoln Cathedral and Cologne Cathedral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinclair Oil Corporation</span> American petroleum company (1916–2022)

Sinclair Oil Corporation was an American petroleum corporation founded by Harry F. Sinclair on May 1, 1916. The Sinclair Oil and Refining Corporation amalgamated the assets of 11 small petroleum companies. Originally a New York corporation, Sinclair Oil reincorporated in Wyoming in 1976. The corporate logo featured the silhouette of a large green Brontosaurus dinosaur, based on the then-common idea that oil deposits beneath the earth came from the dead bodies of dinosaurs.

Stonehenge II is a concrete sculpture in the Texas Hill Country, US, built in homage to the original Stonehenge monument. Stonehenge II was conceived by Al Shepperd and built with the help of his friend and neighbor, Doug Hill. Originally located on FM 1340 west of Hunt, Texas, Stonehenge II now resides on the campus of the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram, Texas (78025).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carhenge</span> Sculpture in Nebraska made from motor cars

Carhenge is a replica of England's Stonehenge located near the city of Alliance, Nebraska, in the High Plains region of the United States. Instead of being built with large standing stones, as is the case with the original Stonehenge, Carhenge is formed from vintage American automobiles, all covered with gray spray paint. Built by Jim Reinders, it was dedicated at the June 1987 summer solstice. In 2006, a visitor center was constructed to serve the site. In 2023, Carhenge was featured in Disney Plus' Cars on The Road Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Guidestones</span> Former granite monument in Georgia, US

The Georgia Guidestones was a granite monument that stood in Elbert County, Georgia, United States, from 1980 to 2022. It was 19 feet 3 inches (5.87 m) tall and made from six granite slabs weighing a total of 237,746 pounds (107,840 kg). The structure was sometimes referred to as an "American Stonehenge". The monument's creators believed that there was going to be an upcoming social, nuclear, or economic calamity and they wanted the monument to serve as a guide for humanity in the world which would exist after it. Controversial from its time of construction, it ultimately became the subject of conspiracy theories which alleged that it was connected to Satanism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barber's pole</span> Type of sign

A barber's pole is a type of sign used by barbers to signify the place or shop where they perform their craft. The trade sign is, by a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, a staff or pole with a helix of colored stripes. The pole may be stationary or may rotate, often with the aid of an electric motor.

This is a list of Stonehenge replicas and derivatives that seeks to collect all the non-ephemeral examples together. The fame of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge in England has led to many efforts to recreate it, using a variety of different materials, around the world. Some have been carefully built as astronomically aligned models whilst others have been examples of artistic expression or tourist attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Novelty architecture</span> Type of architecture in which buildings have unusual or eccentric shapes

Novelty architecture, also called programmatic architecture or mimetic architecture, is a type of architecture in which buildings and other structures are given unusual shapes for purposes such as advertising or to copy other famous buildings without any intention of being authentic. Their size and novelty means that they often serve as landmarks. They are distinct from architectural follies, in that novelty architecture is essentially usable buildings in eccentric form whereas follies are non-usable, purely ornamental buildings also often in eccentric form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Jerry (1989)</span> Category 1 Atlantic Hurricane in 1989

Hurricane Jerry caused minor damage in Texas and flash flooding in Kentucky and Virginia in October 1989. The fourteenth tropical cyclone, tenth named storm, and seventh hurricane of the season, Jerry developed from a tropical wave in the Bay of Campeche on October 12. Initially a tropical depression, the system moved north-northwestward across the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened into Tropical Storm Jerry early on the following day. Jerry continuously deepened until October 14 and then maintained intensity while curving northeastward and briefly decelerating. Later that day, the storm re-curved north-northwestward. Jerry began to intensify on October 15 and soon became a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Early on October 16, Jerry made landfall on Galveston Island, Texas with winds of 85 miles per hour (137 km/h). Less than six hours later, Jerry weakened to a tropical storm and then a tropical depression shortly thereafter. Late on October 16, Jerry was absorbed by a frontal system while situated over southwestern Arkansas.

Hundreds of replicas of the Statue of Liberty have been created worldwide. The original Statue of Liberty, designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, is 151 feet tall and stands on a pedestal that is 154 feet tall, making the height of the entire sculpture 305 feet.

<i>Foamhenge</i> Styrofoam replica of Stonehenge

Foamhenge is a full-scale styrofoam replica of Stonehenge, which was originally located in Natural Bridge, Virginia. It was conceived and built by artist Mark Cline as a roadside attraction, and opened on April 1, 2004. In 2017, Foamhenge was relocated to Centreville, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perdido Pass</span>

Perdido Pass, separating Alabama Point from Florida Point, is the mouth of the Perdido River. Perdido Pass forms a water passage that connects Perdido Bay with the Gulf of Mexico to the south, in the U.S. state of Alabama, 2 miles (3 km) west of the Alabama/Florida state line. A bridge spans Perdido Pass, connecting Alabama Point with Florida Point in Alabama. At the entrance into the Gulf, the 2 rock barriers, extending from the white beaches, are the west jetty & east jetty. The surrounding area is heavily developed, with high-rise condominiums. However, there are nearby beach-front parks, with Gulf State Park on the eastern side of Perdido Pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strengthen the Arm of Liberty</span> Historical event

Strengthen the Arm of Liberty is the theme of the Boy Scouts of America's fortieth anniversary celebration in 1950. The campaign was inaugurated in 1949 with a dramatic ceremony held at the base of the Statue of Liberty. Approximately 200 BSA Statue of Liberty replicas were installed across the United States.


Mark Cline is an American artist and entertainer. Inspired by monster and science fiction films. He produces foam and fiberglass figures and fantasy characters for attractions and cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryhill Stonehenge</span> Stonehenge replica in Maryhill, Washington, U.S.

The Maryhill Stonehenge is a replica of England's Stonehenge located in Maryhill, Washington, United States. It was commissioned in the early 20th century by the wealthy entrepreneur Sam Hill, and dedicated on July 4, 1918 as a memorial to the people who had died in World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stripple stones</span> Henge and stone circle in Cornwall, England

The Stripple stones is a henge and stone circle located on the south slope of Hawk's Tor, Blisland, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north northeast of Bodmin on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England, UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josephine, Alabama</span> Unincorporated community in Alabama, United States

Josephine is an unincorporated community in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bamahenge, Elberta, Alabama". Roadside America. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Dinosaurs in the Woods, Elberta, Alabama". Roadside America. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bamahenge among artistic oddities found along roadside near Elberta". Lagniappe Mobile. 28 April 2014.
  4. Kelly, Brian (16 August 2013). "Stonehenge replica known as Bamahenge hidden in a stand of trees in Josephine". Press-Register.
  5. 1 2 "Bamahenge". Google Maps. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

30°19′53″N87°34′02″W / 30.331442°N 87.567297°W / 30.331442; -87.567297