The Pied Piper of Hamelin
(Some trace the legend to the Children's Crusade of 1212 when 40,000 German children, inspired by religious zeal, were led over the Alps toward the Holy Land. They, too, never returned.)
The story is preformed above on the bell tower by 21 separate
mechanical figures, including the piper, mayor, "weeping women",
nine children and nine rats.
Erected 1980 by Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau, Main Strasse Village.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1212.
Location. 39° 5.053′ N, 84° 31.236′ W. Marker is in Covington, Kentucky, in Kenton County. Marker is on Philadelphia Street north of West 6th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Covington KY 41011, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Frank Duveneck (within shouting distance of this marker); German Gothic Glockenspiel Clock Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Goebel Park (within
More about this marker. The marker is in Goebel Park. If you can spot the tower, you can find the marker. (If you can't spot the tower, get your eyes checked.)
Also see . . .
1. Pied Piper of Hamelin (Wikipedia). "The Pied Piper of Hamelin (German: Rattenfänger von Hameln, also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the titular character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany. The legend dates back to the Middle Ages, the earliest references describing a piper, dressed in multicolored ("pied") clothing, who was a rat-catcher hired by the town to lure rats away with his magic pipe. When the citizens refuse to pay for this service, he retaliates by using his instrument's magical power on their children, leading them away as he had the rats. This version of the story spread as folklore and has appeared in the writings of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, and Robert Browning, among others." (Submitted on March 7, 2020.)
2. Goebel Park Bell Tower Playing The Pied Piper Chime #3 (YouTube, 1 min.). (Submitted on March 7, 2020.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 804 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 7, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 5. submitted on September 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.