Cross at the Crossroads ✝ America’s Largest Cross in Effingham, Illinois

In honor of Christmas coming up next week I thought I’d feature a couple of blessed Midwestern roadside attractions. First up is an Illinois roadside attraction most Illinoisans can recognize from (almost literally) a mile away: the Cross at the Crossroads – America’s Largest Cross in Effingham, Illinois.

Cross at the Crossroads - America's Largest Cross in Effingham, Illinois - The World's Largest Cross

This huge cross is made of over 180 tons of steel and stands tall at at 198 feet high and 113 feet wide. It can be found at he intersection of Interstates 57 & 70 in Effingham, Illinois. It truly is “the cross at the crossroads.” Built at this major road it’s estimated that 50,000 travelers see the cross in Effingham each and every day.

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

When was the Effingham cross built?

Construction on the cross was completed in July 2001. A dedication ceremony was held in September of that year, five days after the New York City terrorist attacks. The cross was lit with four 1,000-watt bulbs that night.

Is the Effingham cross the largest cross in the world?

While some still call this roadside attraction the “World’s Largest Cross,”  it actually falls many feet short of the record. So where is the largest cross in the world? Valle de los Caídos in Spain. At this Spanish Catholic basilica there is a granite cross measuring 150 metres high (500 feet) that is visible from over 20 miles away.

Is the giant cross in Effingham, IL, the largest cross in America?
Yes! While the Cross at the Crossroads might not hold the world record, it is certainly the largest cross in America. It was purposely built at 198 feet tall to beat out the 196 foot tall giant cross in Groom, Texas, while being under 200 feet tall. According to FAA regulations, the cross would have needed a light on top if it was 200 feet tall or taller.

Cross at the Crossroads - America's Largest Cross in Effingham, Illinois - The World's Largest Cross

At the base of the cross in Illinois are ten rock-shaped stone tablets that recite the Ten Commandments at the push of a button.

Cross at the Crossroads - America's Largest Cross in Effingham, Illinois - The World's Largest Cross

Be sure to cross this off your roadside attraction bucket list on your next road trip through Illinois.

Looking for more crosses on your path? Check out the Bald Knob Cross of Peace in nearby Alto Pass and the Giant Cross in La Follette, Tennessee.


The Cross at the Crossroads — America’s Largest Cross

Location: 1900 Pike Ave, Effingham, IL (at the intersection of Interstates 57 & 70)
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Always visible.
Date: May 9, 2008


Pin this Illinois roadside attraction:

The Cross at the Crossroads, America's Largest Cross, in Effingham, IL. The 198 foot world's largest cross attracts 50,000 travelers each and every day - it's a must see things to do in Illinois. Visit this Illinois roadside attraction on a U.S. road trip through the state.
#IllinoisRoadsideAttractions #IllinoisRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #RoadTrip #IllinoisRoadTrip #IllinoisRoadTripItinerary #IllinoisRoadTripTravel #WeirdRoadsideAttractions #RoadTripStops
The Cross at the Crossroads, America’s Largest Cross, in Effingham, IL. The 198 foot world’s largest cross attracts 50,000 travelers each and every day – it’s a must see things to do in Illinois. Visit this Illinois roadside attraction on a U.S. road trip through the state.

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Valerie Bromann

Founder & ROad Trip Expert

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book, she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: July 5, 2020
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The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.