Maiden's Cliff

Maine · United States · Church

A large cross stands at the top of this Camden, Maine cliff. A child went over the edge chasing a hat that had blown off her head.

Maiden's Cliff rises above Camden, Maine, and there is a very large cross at the top of it.

The account handed down locally is that around a hundred years ago a small girl went up the mountain with her family and their church congregation for a service held at the summit. She was wearing a new pink hat she had been given. The wind rose, the hat blew off, and she ran after it without looking. She went over the side and was killed on the rocks below.

Versions of this differ on almost every detail, including her age, and the local historical record and the folk account do not fully agree. What is not disputed is that a child died going over this cliff and that the cross was raised because of it.

The cliff is a popular hike with a genuinely dangerous edge and a long drop, which is the part that has kept the story doing its job for a century. Whatever else the cross marks, it is also a warning, and it works.

FAQ

Where is Maiden's Cliff located?

Maiden's Cliff is in Maine, United States.

Image: Boston Public Library / CC BY 2.0 via flickr