An explosion Wednesday at the mysterious Georgia Guidestones in Elberton, Georgia has caused significant damage to the stones. MOST RECENT INFORMATION/VIDEO HERE(Video below shows the scene about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday) The preliminary information indicates that someone detonated an explosive device at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. GBI officials said officials with the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office found the explosion destroyed a large portion of the structure. The Elbert County Sheriff's Office asked the GBI to assist with the investigation. The guidestones sit on a site 7 miles north of Elberton on Georgia Highway 77 and are often referred to as an American Stonehenge. (Read more below) Christopher Kubas, Executive Vice President of the Elberton Granite Association, said the organization has a role in the maintenance and preservation of the Guidestones. “The capstone piece has been damaged and I’m sure the other three wings, and the center support probably have damage to them as well,” Kubas said. “Each one of those wings is 16 feet 4 inches tall. It’s 1.7 inches thick and it’s 6’6 wide. They weigh about 42,000 pounds each.”Kubas said there were 24/7 surveillance cameras installed on the site a few years ago after incidents of vandalism."The stones have messages on them," Kubas said. "You know, guides for humanity. Some people find them offensive. Some people don’t. Over the years we’ve had messages spray painted on the Guidestones."WYFF News 4 is working to obtain the footage.Kubas said the site has always been a major tourist attraction."I’ve met people from Australia, from China, from all over the world here at these Guidestones," Kubas said. "We probably have an excess of 20,000 visitors a year here."Locals said they couldn't believe it when they heard the news. "I bring my kids here occasionally. Been back a million times. Never thought I’d see like this," Lee Robinson said.Some said they heard the explosion early that morning. "I heard it. I probably live 3 or 4 miles out of town so I did hear it at my house. My power did flicker for a few minutes so I’m not sure if it was because of the explosion or what. I did hear it," Sara Beth Bowen said.Rebekah Brooks was driving past the Guidestones on her way into town and ran into her cousin who is a first responder. "I kind of rolled my window down and yelled at him and he was like something has happened to the Guidestones," Brooks said. Residents said the landmark help put the town on the map. "It was a landmark. You see every day, it’s something you go past, you’ve come to know it and feel like it’s a part of you. Now it’s not there anymore. It’s kind of sad," Said Robinson. The site has also been a ground for controversy related to religion and what the Guidestones may or may not symbolize.Sky 4 flew over the site about 11:40 a.m. and saw one of the stones destroyed and another one damaged. Chris Smith said he took the picture above about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. He said he lives about a mile behind the guidestones and didn't hear anything unusual.However, some people who live a little closer said they heard and felt an explosion at about 4 a.m. The viewer who took the pictures above said she lives about 5 miles away and heard a bang at 4 a.m. She said she went back to bed and when she woke up, she saw a Facebook post about an incident at the guidestones and drove by. One person posted on social media that they heard a boom that shook the house around 4 a.m. Another post said they heard what they thought was thunder at 4 a.m. and it shook the house. What are the Georgia Guidestones?Story below is from 1980 when they were unveiled: The following is posted on ExploreGeorgia.org: "The Georgia Guidestones, Elberton's most unusual set of granite monoliths, poses a mystery for the numerous visitors who visit the site seven miles north of Elberton on Georgia Highway 77. Known as America's Stonehenge, this 19-foot high monument displays a 10-part message espousing the conservation of mankind and future generations in 12 languages. The Guidestones also serve as an astronomical calendar, and every day at noon the sun shines through a narrow hole in the structure and illuminates the day’s date on an engraving. The names of four ancient languages are inscribed on the sides near the top: Babylonian cuneiform, Classical Greek, Sanskrit, and Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The Guidestones are mysterious in origin, for no one knows the identity of a group of sponsors who provided its specifications."More info on the granite stones at New Georgia Encyclopedia.Read the English translation of what was written on the stones at the Elbert County Chamber website.