Solid Muldoon
Encyclopedia
The Solid Muldoon was a "prehistoric human body" unearthed in 1877, near Beulah, Colorado
. Named after either the legendary wrestler William Muldoon
or the location of its discovery, Muldoon Hill, the figure enjoyed a brief tour of the United States before it was revealed to be a hoax.
The Solid Muldoon was created by George Hull
, seven years after his infamous Cardiff Giant
hoax
. The figure was made of mortar, rock dust, clay, plaster, ground bones, blood and meat. It was kiln-fired for several days and buried near Mace's Hole in Beulah, Colorado
.
Three months later, it was "discovered" by William Conant, an associate of P.T. Barnum, and was displayed around the state. The Denver Daily Times claimed that "there can be no question about the genuineness of this piece of statuary".
Following the successful Colorado exhibition, the Solid Muldoon went on the road, attracting crowds all the way to New York City
. P.T. Barnum was rumored to have offered $20,000 for the body. The hoax was eventually revealed to the New York Times as a man-made figure "with a knowing smile on his face as if enjoying the joke," one reporter noted. Following a lack of visitors, the Solid Muldoon disappeared from public attention.
, named after either the hoax (which was recent and local) or William Muldoon directly. The newspaper was founded on September 5, 1879, and, through a series of name changes and merges, eventually became the present-day Durango Herald
.
In 1976, a century later, an art student recreated the Solid Muldoon out of an iron beam, molded stucco wire, and plaster to celebrate the centennial of Colorado's statehood. The new Solid Muldoon was displayed in the El Pueblo Museum after a brief local tour. In 1984, it was buried in a marked plot near Highway 78 between Pueblo, Colorado
and Beulah, Colorado.
Beulah, Colorado
Beulah is an unincorporated town and U.S. Post Office in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The ZIP Code of the Beulah Post Office is 81023.-History:...
. Named after either the legendary wrestler William Muldoon
William Muldoon
William A. Muldoon was the Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion, physical culturist and the first chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission. He once wrestled a match that lasted over seven hours...
or the location of its discovery, Muldoon Hill, the figure enjoyed a brief tour of the United States before it was revealed to be a hoax.
The Solid Muldoon was created by George Hull
Cardiff Giant
The Cardiff Giant was one of the most famous hoaxes in United States history. It was a tall purported "petrified man" uncovered on October 16, 1869 by workers digging a well behind the barn of William C. "Stub" Newell in Cardiff, New York. Both it and an unauthorized copy made by P.T...
, seven years after his infamous Cardiff Giant
Cardiff Giant
The Cardiff Giant was one of the most famous hoaxes in United States history. It was a tall purported "petrified man" uncovered on October 16, 1869 by workers digging a well behind the barn of William C. "Stub" Newell in Cardiff, New York. Both it and an unauthorized copy made by P.T...
hoax
Hoax
A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British...
. The figure was made of mortar, rock dust, clay, plaster, ground bones, blood and meat. It was kiln-fired for several days and buried near Mace's Hole in Beulah, Colorado
Beulah, Colorado
Beulah is an unincorporated town and U.S. Post Office in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The ZIP Code of the Beulah Post Office is 81023.-History:...
.
Three months later, it was "discovered" by William Conant, an associate of P.T. Barnum, and was displayed around the state. The Denver Daily Times claimed that "there can be no question about the genuineness of this piece of statuary".
Following the successful Colorado exhibition, the Solid Muldoon went on the road, attracting crowds all the way to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. P.T. Barnum was rumored to have offered $20,000 for the body. The hoax was eventually revealed to the New York Times as a man-made figure "with a knowing smile on his face as if enjoying the joke," one reporter noted. Following a lack of visitors, the Solid Muldoon disappeared from public attention.
Legacy
The Solid Muldoon was a local newspaper in Ouray, ColoradoOuray, Colorado
The historic City of Ouray is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Ouray County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 813 at the U.S. Census 2000 and 1,000 as of the U.S. Census 2010...
, named after either the hoax (which was recent and local) or William Muldoon directly. The newspaper was founded on September 5, 1879, and, through a series of name changes and merges, eventually became the present-day Durango Herald
Durango Herald
The Durango Herald is a daily newspaper in Durango, Colorado. The first edition of the Herald came out June 30, 1881. Two years later, the Herald merged with the Record, which had started publishing in 1880, seven months before the Herald. The modern Herald traces its roots to both papers but the...
.
In 1976, a century later, an art student recreated the Solid Muldoon out of an iron beam, molded stucco wire, and plaster to celebrate the centennial of Colorado's statehood. The new Solid Muldoon was displayed in the El Pueblo Museum after a brief local tour. In 1984, it was buried in a marked plot near Highway 78 between Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
and Beulah, Colorado.