Chicago, Illinois: Salt Stain Mary
First spotted on April 10, 2005, a Mary-like stain made of dripping road salt on an underpass in metro Chicago. Vandalized, then completely painted over, then cleaned of paint and restored. Known to the faithful as "Our Lady of the Underpass."
- Address:
- Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL
- Directions:
- Fullerton Ave., underneath the I-90/Kennedy Expy. The stain is under the northeast side of the bridge. Floral offerings and candles may be visible.
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I respect everyone's beliefs, but the fact is that no one knows what the real Mary looked like. So decide for yourself if this is somehow the Mary of Nazareth from 2,000 years ago. In regard to the vandalism, we live in a fallen world, with a lot of hateful, intolerant people.
[John Sutter, 04/21/2020]
The shrine is still there, across the accident investigation driveway from where many people without homes lay their heads at night.
[Sam K, 08/08/2019]
There is still a shrine and active vigil, but the Salt Stain Virgin Mary was vandalized with black spray paint.
[Caitlin Cordova, 04/24/2019]
When it first appeared and the throngs were visiting, we happened to be on an oddities tour, and were lucky enough to see it before any of the controversy.
[Joe Desiderio, 02/23/2006]Feb. 2006: Amanda reports that Salt Stain Mary has been painted over after a vandal painted a Nazi swastika over it.
The Virgin Mary apparation under an expressway in Chicago, recently defaced and painted over, has been cleaned and is again visible. Miracle sightings fans and devout believers were dismayed last week when a man wrote "Big Lie" in shoe polish across the salt stain visage of Mary, and the DOT painted over the whole image....
[05/09/2005] Complete News StoryPage of 2 [Next 2 items]
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Salt Stain Mary first appeared on a highway underpass 15 years ago. At various times she has been vandalized and even completely painted over, but her fans make sure that she always comes back.