The Effingham Cross

From GypsyNester.com

Driving down I-57 on a steel-grey Illinois afternoon, what to our wondering eyes should appear but the surreal sight of the biggest cross on the entire planet.

The 198 foot steel colossus stands ready to overwhelm truckers and tourists alike. With its 113 foot crossbar and 180 tons of steel, this modern day Tower of Babel offers a “Beacon of Hope to the 50,000 travelers estimated to pass the site each day.” At least that’s what The Cross Foundation expects after the five years and 1.1 million dollars it took to build.

The Foundation was not to be toyed with as they specifically set out to break the world record by insuring that it was eight feet taller than the world’s now 2nd largest cross in Groom, TX.

This grandiose shrine was built to withstand almost any act of God -- including winds up to 145 mile per hour. For those times when God is not letting there be light, it is spectacularly illuminated with 4000 watts of divine power. As the “Beacon of Hope” faded in the rearview mirror, I couldn’t help but think, “It kind of makes you want to build one 200 feet high, now doesn’t it?”

David, GypsyNester.com