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Hoaxing the Hucksters, the Strange Story of the Cardiff Giant
In 19th century, the purported remains of a giant was found on a farm. It generated a buzz and made for a profitable exhibition before being exposed as hoax. But, P.T. Barnum kept the show going.
A Giant Lie
There are frauds and there are hoaxes. And then, there’s the Cardiff Giant. In 1869, the purported petrified body of a gigantic humanoid was discovered in an upstate New York farm near Cardiff. It possessed a smooth, well formed body and a crudely chiseled face. In other words, it looked like a statue made by an amateur.
These details, however, were ignored by many including several professional scientists, politicians, and religious leaders. People from Northeastern United States flocked to the farm to pay and see this unearthed spectacle. Those who came — including the important dignitaries — proclaimed that the Cardiff Giant was definitive evidence for the existence of a biblical race of giants.
Eventually — and ironically — the circus this spectacle created would die down when a famous showman of the time exposed the hoax. But, the story of the Cardiff Giant wouldn’t end there. The famous showman — P.T. Barnum — had other…
