Tilden Meteorite

About 1:00 p.m. on July 13, 1927, the first and largest meteorite found in the state of Illinois fell near the town of Tilden in Randolph County. According to witnesses, the meteorite exploded in a series of three explosions, while it was still high in the air. These explosions rattled windows and dishes in the town. After the explosions most of the mass fell to the earth in three pieces. These pieces weighed 9, 46, and 110 pounds. The meteorite pieces were found in a circle about 2 miles across. This picture shows the 9 pound piece which fell about 150 feet north of the main street in Tilden. It was sliced so that scientists can study the minerals of which it is composed.