Grave of King Tut the Dog

Carbondale, Illinois

Died 1954

Southern Illinois University's team nickname is the "Salukis," which is the name of an ancient Egyptian breed of hunting dog (the entire southern portion of Illinois is known as "Little Egypt"). The school got themselves a Salukis mascot, named him King Tut, and then mourned when he was run over by a car.

King Tut was buried at the northeast corner of McAndrew Stadium in 1954, beneath a small pyramid. In 2010 McAndrew Stadium was torn down and replaced by Saluki Stadium a couple of blocks south. Even though King Tut had been dead for over 50 years, his remains and pyramid were reverently moved to the new location. The pyramid now stands at the entrance of the new stadium, where the SIU faithful can touch it for luck.

Also see: Mascots | Roadside Pet Cemetery

Grave of King Tut the Dog

Address:: Saluki Blvd, Carbondale, IL
Directions:: On the campus of Southern Illinois University. Drive south from downtown on US Hwy 51/S. Illinois Ave. You'll see the stadium on the right (west) side. Turn right onto Saluki Blvd. The pyramid stands outside the stadium entrance.

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Nearby Offbeat Places

The Bucky Dome, Carbondale, IL - 1 mi.
Dungeons & Dragons - Castle Park, Carbondale, IL - 3 mi.
Monument to Boomer, 3-Legged Hero Dog, Makanda, IL - 6 mi.
In the region: Cave Vineyard - Underground Tasting, St. Genevieve, MO - 49 mi.

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February 9, 2012