How High Does Faith Reach? Unveiling the Height of the Effingham Cross
Ever cruised down I-57 in Illinois and spotted a giant, gleaming cross off in the distance? That, my friends, is the majestic Cross at the Crossroads, a beacon of... well, depending on who you ask, piety, kitsch, or just plain impressive engineering. But one question always pops into everyone's mind: just how tall is that thing?
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| How Tall Is The Cross In Effingham Illinois |
Unveiling the Numbers (and Avoiding a Heavenly Light Show)
The Cross at the Crossroads stands at a whopping 198 feet! That's almost as tall as 22 giraffes stacked on top of each other (although that would be a logistical nightmare for sure). This impressive height wasn't just chosen for kicks. Apparently, the designers were keen to avoid any celestial light pollution. You see, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a thing about sticking super bright beacons on anything that breaches the 200-foot mark. So, the clever folks behind the cross strategically kept it under that magic number, ensuring a majestic silhouette against the sky without any unwanted blinking.
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Fun Fact: Not Quite the Top Cross, But Still a Contender
While the Effingham Cross is certainly impressive, it's actually dethroned for the title of world's tallest cross. That honor belongs to the Millennium Cross in Skopje, Macedonia, which clocks in at a dizzying 216.5 feet. But hey, second place isn't so bad, right? Especially when you consider the Effingham Cross has a certain... Midwestern charm that the Macedonian giant might lack.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered (Briefly)
- How to get to the Cross at the Crossroads? Easy! Just take exit 159 off I-57 and follow the signs. You can't miss it!
- How much does it cost to visit the Cross at the Crossroads? Admission is absolutely free.
- How long does it take to see the Cross at the Crossroads? Honestly, you can admire it from the highway, or take a closer look and spend an hour or so checking out the welcome center and chapel.
- How many steps are there to get to the top of the Cross at the Crossroads? Unfortunately, for safety reasons, the public can't climb the cross. But hey, the views from the ground are pretty spectacular anyway!
- How many gallons of paint does it take to keep the Cross at the Crossroads looking shiny? That's a closely guarded secret, but we're guessing it's a whole lot!
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