The Great Cross of Christ

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Located at Jumonville, Pennsylvania, USA, this huge steel cross is the largest in the world.

Dedicated on September, 9, 1950, the 60-foot high cross stands atop a six-foot tall concrete base on Dunbar's Knob, which itself is 2,480 feet above sea level. On a clear day you can see three states, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia from the base of the cross.

The surface is steel plate, almost half an inch thick, which is painted white. At night, the cross is bathed in floodlights and can be seen for miles. The foundation consists of approximately 180 tons of concrete. The main shaft of the cross weighs about 47,000 pounds. The cross arms project 12 feet on either side of the main shaft. All three parts were assembled on the mountain top and put into place on the concrete base.

The money to build it was collected in hundreds of Methodist Churches before World War II, much of the money was collected in pennies from Sunday School children.* And once the money was finally raised, the wartime steel shortage forced postponement of the project until the late 1940s.

A dedication ceremony is planned for the cross on September 9, 2000, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the cross. Planners hope to have 2,000 people assemble on the mountain top for the services.

The cross is part of the Jumonville Methodist Training Center. Visitors can reach on foot by following the macadam path to the top of the mountain. The path is rather steep in places, but there are several benches along the way for the weary to rest. The top of the mountain is open and exposed to the winds which whip across the site* so visitors are advised to bring a jacket.


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