Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photo: Giant Head Found In Hudson River
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 25, 2013
Modified Apr 26, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 25, 2013
Modified Apr 26, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Photo by Matt Lavin/Marist College
A group of college kids found a giant head without a body in the Hudson River earlier this week, which sort of sounds like the beginning of some Stand By Me-esque tale... except the head was made of styrofoam and fiberglass and not flesh and brains.
The head was found by members of the Marist College crew team, and the college's spokesman says, "Everybody is wondering where it came from, who it belongs to. We were hoping that through [media] exposure, it would help us get to the bottom of this. I'd think if someone knew it was missing, they'd go looking for it... I'm dumbfounded."
ATTN: ANYONE MISSING A GIANT HEAD?
According to Newsday, the head was "found bobbing in the river just after sunrise Tuesday. It took about 10 rowers to haul the waterlogged head from the river near the Poughkeepsie college's boat dock." The super sharp Marist officials "believe the head was a decoration, perhaps a stage prop."
At least one person believes it traveled from New Orleans, noting, "The second I saw that head I thought: Mardi Gras float. Many of the floats have Greek themes, and the Gulf Stream ocean current goes north along the East Coast." Others give it a much more local origin, like the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie. We may never solve this mystery, but at least it's not another Montauk or East River MONSTER.
Tagged
hudson head
hudson river
hudson river monster
marist college
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .