The Egyptian Cave in the Grand Canyon
In 1909, an Arizona newspaper reported that explorers had found a vast cave in the Grand Canyon, full of mummies and Egyptian-style statues.
What was reported
On 5 April 1909, the Arizona Gazette published a story claiming that an explorer named G. E. Kinkaid had found a huge cave high up in the wall of the Grand Canyon. Inside, it said, were passages and chambers cut into the rock, a statue like a Buddha, hieroglyphs, copper weapons and mummies, and that the Smithsonian Institution was excavating it.
The story has been repeated ever since in books and online, often with claims that the Smithsonian has covered up the discovery.
Explanations offered
The Smithsonian says it has no record of the people named or the excavation, and there's no evidence of such a cave. Newspapers of the time often printed made-up sensational stories. The tale is now seen as a hoax.
- When
- 5 April 1909
- Where
- Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
- Witnesses
- A single newspaper article
- Status
- Hoax
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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