Our_Lady_of_the_Underpass

Our Lady of the Underpass

Our Lady of the Underpass

Salt stain under Chicago's Kennedy Expressway and pilgrimage site

Our Lady of the Underpass[1] was a salt stain and purported appearance of the Virgin Mary[2][3] under the Kennedy Expressway along Fullerton Avenue in Chicago[4][5] that was noticed in 2005. The site became a pilgrimage site for local Catholics[6] as well as a general curiosity. Later, it became a target for various acts of vandalism.[7][8] The Illinois Department of Transportation determined that the stain was likely formed by salt run-off.[8]

Post-defacement, post-restoration photo of the stain in 2005

Cultural influence

Tanya Saracho wrote a play about the event called Our Lady of the Underpass,[9][10][11] which was nominated for a Jeff Award.[12]

Media

  • Amateur video from 2005
  • Site in 2007
  • The site in 2007
  • The site in 2015

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Tribune, Chicago. "Our Lady of the Underpass". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  2. [2]
    "Voice of Reason: The Viaduct Virgin". Live Science. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  3. [3]
    "Virgin Mary on a Chicago underpass - Photos - Religious sightings". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  4. [4]
    "Faithful See Image Of Virgin Mary". Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  5. [5]
    "'Virgin Mary' on US motorway wall". BBC News Online. 21 April 2005. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  6. [6]
    "Salt runoff or the face of the Virgin Mary?". [NBC News]. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  7. [7]
    "Car wash employees restore Virgin Mary image on Chicago underpass". chronicle.augusta.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  8. [8]
    "'Virgin Mary' Underpass Stain Defaced With Devil Graffiti". Fox News. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  9. [9]
    Fielding, Lisa (3 May 2013). "Play Recalls Story Of Our Lady Of The Underpass". Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  10. [10]
    Molzahn, Laura; Williams, Albert (5 March 2009). "The Human Stain/After the Terror". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  11. [11]
    Vire, Kris (June 15, 2010). "Playwright Tanya Saracho". Time Out. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  12. [12]
    Kerry Reid (April 1, 2011). "Tanya Saracho catching the wheel: a Mexico-born play wright steps boldly from Teatro Luna into Chicago's larger scene". American Theatre. Retrieved December 21, 2018 – via The Free Library.

41.92518°N 87.68278°W / 41.92518; -87.68278

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