A rockslide, a trick of the light and a case of pareidolia caused many people to see what looked like Adolf Hitler’s face on the cliffs of the Palisades during World War II.
Pareidolia, a psychological phenomenon experienced by many people, causes us to perceive faces in patterns or on inanimate objects. Scientists believe this trait may have had an evolutionary advantage in allowing humans to spot predators. In modern times it has led to Elvis Presley’s likeness being spotted on numerous pieces of toast, and it’s the reason why in 2012 a woman was able to sell a chicken nugget resembling George Washington for $8,100 on eBay.
Pareidolia was also the reason why, in the early 1940s, people swore they could see the countenance of one of history’s most evil men looking back at them from the face of the Palisades.
It all started when the largest rockslide in the park’s recorded history took place on July 23, 1938—80 years ago this week—about a mile north of the Alpine Boat Basin.
The 39th Annual Report of the Commissioners of the Palisades Interstate Park (1938) says of the rockslide, “A large portion of the cliff broke away carrying all vegetation with it and burying both the shore path and water line.”
However, it wasn’t until 1941, during World War II and shortly before the United States entered the war, that people across the river in Yonkers began claiming the face on the cliffs resembled the German dictator, even including his mustache. People flocked to the Jersey side of the riverfront to see the face for themselves and snap pictures.
In the photo above, the “face” can be seen on the light-colored portion of the cliff, towards the left side above the top of the rubble.
As the newspaper snippets at left illustrate, the story made headlines all over the country both after the face was discovered, and once it disappeared.
Ultimately, Hitler’s likeness was wiped off the cliff face in March of 1947 due to another rock slide.
“There are those who will see a significant comparison between the two,” wrote The Leaf Chronicle out of Tennessee on March 17, 1947. “Hitler rose to power in 1932 and launched a rock slide seven years later that disposed of him as effectively—we hope—as the rock slide did with his image.”
—Kristin Beuscher
