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The Piasa Bird Monument

The Piasa Bird Monument
Tribal Experiences
Wise Street
Alton Illinois 62002

Information

Public outdoor monument; therefore it is open all the time! However, it is best to go during light hours for the best views.
(800) 258-6645
Free of charge
lat: 38.8981839 long: -90.1991588

The Piasa Bird of Alton has terrified and fascinated residents of Illinois for hundreds of years. According to lore, the great bird was once satisfied by deer alone. Later on, when white settlers reached the region, they too experienced the horror and majesty of the Piasa, or man-eating bird. The famed explorer, Father Jacques Marquette, described the monster best in stating that it, “was as large as a calf with horns like a deer, red eyes,  a beard like a tiger’s, a face like a man, the body covered with green, red and black scales and a tail so long it passed around the body, over the head and between the legs”. 

Urban legends, myths, and mysteries will always have a special place in American culture. Whether the famed bird is real or not, its story is too fascinating to not visit the cliffside rendering on Great River Road in Alton. Head down the road for a chance to see the painting…or maybe even the man-eating bird itself.

 

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Tony’s Steakhouse
Tony’s Steakhouse

Tony's Steakhouse and Bar, West 9th Street, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 0.71 Away

Food and Drinks

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Morrison’s Irish Pub
Morrison’s Irish Pub

Morrison's Irish Pub, State Street, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 0.76 Away

Food and Drinks

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Mac’s Downtown
Mac’s Downtown

315 Belle Street, Alton, IL 62002, USA
Distance: 0.78 Away

Food and Drinks

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Alton Hauntings Tours
Alton Hauntings Tours

110 E 3rd St, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 0.96 Away

Guided Tours Other

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My Just Desserts
My Just Desserts

My Just Desserts Alton, LLC, East Broadway, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 0.97 Away

Food and Drinks

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Beall Mansion B&B
Beall Mansion B&B

BEALL MANSION An Elegant Bed and Breakfast Inn, 407 East 12th Street, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 1.06 Away

Lodging

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Mississippi Mud Pottery
Mississippi Mud Pottery

Mississippi Mud Pottery, East Broadway, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 1.10 Away

Galleries and Venues Shopping

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Country Meadows Antiques
Country Meadows Antiques

401 East Broadway, Alton, IL 62002, USA
Distance: 1.15 Away

Shopping

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The Old Bakery Beer Company
The Old Bakery Beer Company

The Old Bakery Beer Company, Landmarks Boulevard, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 1.19 Away

Food and Drinks Breweries and Distilleries

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Historic Middletown District
Historic Middletown District

Henry Street, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 1.24 Away

Cultural Districts

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The Duke Bakery
The Duke Bakery

819 Henry Street, Alton, IL 62002, USA
Distance: 1.26 Away

Food and Drinks Bakeries

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Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument
Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument

The Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument, East 5th Street, Alton, IL, USA
Distance: 1.87 Away

Other

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