The Legend of the Piasa

The Legend of the Piasa (HM1OGI)

Location: Alton, IL 62002 Madison County
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Country: United States of America
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N 38° 53.887', W 90° 11.948'

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Inscription
In 1673 Jacques Marquette reported that he and fellow French explorer Louis Jolliet discovered a Painting of what was probably two "Water Monsters" on the bluffs of the Mississippi River near present day Alton. By 1700 those pictographic creatures were no longer visible. In 1836 the novelist John Russell described an image cut into the bluff of a legendary dragon-like creature with wings. The creature was called Piasa, "The Bird That Devours Men." That version of the pictograph as well as myths about the Piasa have become prominent in folklore.
Details
HM NumberHM1OGI
Tags
Year Placed1984
Placed ByThe Illinois State Historical Society
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Wednesday, October 7th, 2015 at 1:02pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)15S E 742900 N 4309200
Decimal Degrees38.89811667, -90.19913333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 38° 53.887', W 90° 11.948'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds38° 53' 53.22" N, 90° 11' 56.88" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)618
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling North
Closest Postal AddressAt or near McInerney St, Alton IL 62002, US
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