The Cardiff Giant is considered to be one of the greatest American hoaxes. Read how atheist George Hull concocted the hoax and became rich after an argument at a Methodist revival. The Cardiff Giant Is Born In 1868, while on a business trip to Iowa, atheist, tobacconist, get-rich-quick schemer, and Binghamton, New York resident George Hull found himself at a religious revival arguing with a Methodist clergyman. The disagreement revolved around the Biblical passage of Genesis 6:4, which claims that giants (sometimes referred to as “nephilim”) existed on the earth prior to Noah’s flood. Apparently, the exchange inspired Hull to enact a hoax which is considered to be one of the greatest in American history. Envisioning the petrified remains of a 10-foot-tall giant, Hull procured a 10,000 pound block of gypsum in Ft. Dodge, Iowa and had it sent to Chicago stonecutter Edward Burghardt. Swearing to hold his tongue for Hull, Burghardt carved the colossal figure and surreptitiously sent it to Cardiff, New York where it was buried on a farm belonging to Hull’s cousin. The following year, Hull’s cousin employed two men to dig a well on the spot that the behemoth was entombed. Credit: Farmersmuseum.org Wealth of Hull [...]
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