On this day in 1870, the Cardiff Giant, a huge figure that was supposedly a petrified human, was revealed to be a hoax. The figure, carved out of gypsum, was uncovered by workers after having been buried a year earlier in Cardiff, New York.

Humble Beginnings? The Cardiff Giant hoax took place in 1869 and was the work of George Hull. He engineered the creation of a stone man and buried it on a farm in upstate New York.

His Purpose? Hull had an argument with an Iowa evangelist who believed that giants existed in biblical times.

Recipe for a Giant. Hull purchased a one and one-half ton, 12 foot long gypsum block and shipped it to Chicago, Illinois. There it was carved into the shape of a man, his stone body twisted in pain. Via train and wagon, the stone man was moved to upstate New York, where it was buried behind a relative's barn.

Gentlemen, Start Your Shovels. One year after the burial of the stone man, well-diggers started to dig, looking for water under a tree on the farm. Instead of water, they found the Giant. News traveled fast. By late afternoon, a tent had been set up over the Giant's burial site and George Hull was charging 25 cents for admission.

Live! On Tour! The exhibit drew people from neighboring counties. Admission fees doubled to 50 cents, then doubled again. Scholars, geologists, local Native Americans, and religious authorities visited and offered theories on the Giant's origin.

The Bucks Roll In. Hull began selling shares of the Giant to a local businessmen, netting $37,500. One observer was legendary showman P.T. Barnum, who offered $60,000 for the Giant. Barnum planned to display the Giant at his American Museum in New York City.

Two Giants, No Waiting. When Hull turned him down, Barnum made a copy of the Giant. Barnum claimed his copy was genuine and Hull's was a fake.

Will the Real Fake Please Stand Up? A traveling exhibit of the Giant in New York was upstaged by Barnum. The businessmen who owned the "real" Cardiff Giant, sued Barnum for saying their fake giant was a fake.