- Salvation Mountain
Salvation Mountain (location coord|33|15|14.9|N|115|28|21.4|W|type:landmark_region:US) is a colorful artificial mountain north of
Calipatria, California , nearSlab City . It is made from adobe, straw, and thousands of gallons of paint. It was created byLeonard Knight to convey the message that "God Loves Everyone". Mr. Knight claims to have refused substantial donations of money and labor from supporters who wished to modify his message of universal love to favor or disfavor particular groups. Salvation Mountain is the second most visited tourist attraction in Imperial County.Fact|date=February 2007Steps cut into the side of the hill lead to the summit which is topped by a cross. Knight lives full-time at the site in a small cabin mounted on the rear of a 1930s-vintage
Chevrolet two-ton truck. Like Salvation Mountain, Knight's Salvation Truck and a collection of other vehicles and machinery are entirely covered with paint and Biblical quotes as well. He estimates that more than 100,000 gallons of paint have gone into the creation of the mountain and that every California-based paint manufacturer has donated paint to the project.Friendly and accessible, Knight welcomes visitors to Slab City and Salvation Mountain and gladly accepts donations of both labor and acrylic paint. Once labeled an environmental hazard, the hill was threatened with removal by Imperial County. In recent years, the furor seems to have died down and the project has been likened to an epic work of folk art comparable to the
Watts Towers . Although the project is an unauthorized one on state land, Salvation Mountain was placed under protection in2002 when SenatorBarbara Boxer entered it into theCongressional Record as a national treasure.Salvation Mountain was featured in the
2007 film "Into the Wild".It can also be seen on the back cover photographs of the
Kyuss albums:...And The Circus Leaves Town as well as .External links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRHw8VX8-CE Video Tour of Salvation Mountain with Leonard Knight]
* [http://www.salvationmountain.us Salvation Mountain - Official Website]
* [http://www.salvationmountain-site.com Salvation Mountain - Website created for Leonard]
* [http://www.saltonseadoc.com/ Documentary - "Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea"] - narrated by John Waters
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=niland,+california&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=33.25395,-115.472488&spn=0.002526,0.00581&t=h&om=1 Salvation Mountain on Google Maps]
* [http://www.snubble.com/niland/ Walkable virtual tour and treasure hunt on Snubble.com]
* [http://www.willpearson.co.uk/virtual_tours/salvation_mountain/index.php/ Virtual tours of Salvation Mountain]
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