Entry No. 73 — the New York City file — filed under: history

The Cardiff Giant

This ten-foot 'petrified man' was secretly carved from gypsum, buried on a Cardiff, NY farm in 1868, and 'discovered' a year later, drawing thousands who paid to gawk at what some thought was a Biblical giant. It was a hoax cooked up by skeptic George Hull to mock Biblical literalists, and it became one of America's most famous swindles, even prompting P.T. Barnum to make a knockoff. The original now lies on display at Fenimore Farm & Country Village (formerly the Farmers' Museum) in Cooperstown.

The move: Visit the Farmers' Museum to stand over the reclining stone giant and read the story of the 19th-century hoax that fooled the whole country.

📍 Before you go Roughly a 3.5-4 hour drive (near the 180-mile edge of day-trip range); the giant is inside the ticketed Farmers' Museum, which has seasonal hours.

• 📍 Cooperstown
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 5775 NY-80, Cooperstown, NY 13326

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23