DID GIANTS ONCE ROAM CARDIFF, NY?
In October of 1869, workmen digging a new well on a farm in Cardiff, New York made a startling and peculiar discovery—a man, but a giant of a man! Stone-like, it was called petrified by some local scientists of the day. Word spread like wildfire and a tent was erected over the giant. People came from hundreds of miles to see what the religious scholars of the day called a “Giant from the Ancient Bible.”

But this discovery, which at the time must have seemed like the greatest archeological find ever to be unearthed, is actually the story of one of greatest hoaxes ever perpetrated on the people of NY. It all started back in 1866, when a fellow by the name of George Hull, a vowed atheist, decided to play a little prank on local folks for, what he believed, were their gullible beliefs in the stories from the bible, religion, and church in general.

He and a partner, H.B. Martin, commissioned a block of gypsum to be cut from a quarry in Iowa and then sent to sculptors in Chicago. In the Windy City the artists cut the stone into the image of a giant man. Almost 12 feet tall, acid was used to make the stone look petrified and even small needles were used to emulate skin pores. Then the finished “giant” was secretly shipped to the farm of one Stub Newell, near Cardiff, NY, and buried some five feet below ground and left for a few years. 

After his Giant was discovered by the well diggers, Hull erected a tent over it and charged local townsfolk 50¢ take a peak. So much media attention was paid to the Cardiff Giant that it was shipped to Syracuse to be put on display. More cash rolled in. P.T. Barnum offered thousands for it, but Hull refused. So Barnum went and created his own Giant instead.

Over the ensuing months much debate raged over the giant, which had now gone on tour. Even after it was generally considered a fake, the Cardiff Giant still drew the attentions of onlookers willing to part with their cash for a peak. Today you’ll pay a few bucks to take a look at America’s greatest hoax. I know I happily shelled out a few bucks for it!

The Cardiff Giant can be seen at the Farmer’s Museum, Lake Road, Cooperstown.
– Dr. Seymour O’Life