The Cardiff Giant: A Monumental Hoax of 1869 🪙🗿

By Jude Obuseh

In 1869, a curious tale unfolded, one that would go down in history as one of the most infamous hoaxes in America. The key player in this elaborate scheme was George Hull, a tobacconist and self-proclaimed atheist. The catalyst for this endeavor was an argument he had about a passage in Genesis 6:4, which mentioned the existence of giants on Earth.

Hull hatched an audacious plan. He commissioned skilled masons to carve a 10-foot block of gypsum, ostensibly for a monument dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. With the 'giant' carefully concealed, he transported it to Cardiff, New York, where he orchestrated its clandestine burial.

A year later, Hull's scheme came to fruition. He hired workers to dig a well at a prearranged location on his property, and on October 16, 1869, they unearthed the colossal stone figure. The 'Cardiff Giant' was revealed to the world, capturing the collective imagination.


Newell, the landowner, recognized the moneymaking potential of his discovery and began charging spectators 50 cents for a glimpse of the giant. As curiosity grew, so did his profits. Hull later decided to part with his share of the find, selling it for a considerable sum of $23,000, equivalent to approximately $400,000 in 2013.

The Cardiff Giant's fame extended beyond the local scene. P.T. Barnum, the famed showman and master of spectacle, was drawn to this colossal creation. He made an offer of $50,000, further cementing the Cardiff Giant's place in the annals of American hoaxes. 🪙🕵️‍♂️🪓

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