Innsmouth is a fictional town in the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, part of the Lovecraft Country setting of the Cthulhu Mythos. Alternate history Campaign setting Fantasy world Fictional battlegrounds Fictional buildings Fictional city Fictional company Fictional counties Fictional country Fictional schools List of fictional Cambridge colleges List of fictional Oxford colleges Fictional universe List of fictional universes Future history Imaginary country Imaginary state Imaginary union Multiverse Mythical place Parallel universe Phantom... Howard Phillips Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author of fantasy, horror and science fiction, noted for combining these three genres within single narratives. ... Lovecraft Country is the New England setting, combining real and fictitious locations, used by H.P. Lovecraft in many of his weird fiction stories, and later elaborated by other writers working in the Cthulhu mythos genre. ... Cthulhu and Rlyeh The Cthulhu Mythos encompasses the shared elements, characters, settings, and themes in the works of H. P. Lovecraft and associated horror fiction writers. ...

Lovecraft first used the name "Innsmouth" in his 1920 short story "Celephaïs"^[1] (1920), where it refers to a fictional town in England. Lovecraft's more famous Innsmouth, however, is found in his (1936) story "The Shadow Over Innsmouth", set in Massachusetts. This article is in need of attention. ... The fictional city of Celephaïs (or Celephais) appears in H. P. Lovecraft´s Dream cycle, including his novella The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. ... See also: 1919 in literature, other events of 1920, 1921 in literature, List of years in literature. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... See also: 1935 in literature, other events of 1936, 1937 in literature, list of years in literature. ... The Shadow Over Innsmouth is a novella by H.P. Lovecraft, written in 1931. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ...

Lovecraft called Innsmouth "a considerably twisted version of Newburyport," Massachusetts.^[2] Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, 38 miles (61 km) northeast of Boston. ...

Location

Lovecraft placed Innsmouth on the coast of Essex County, Massachusetts, south of Plum Island and north of Cape Ann. The town of Ipswich, Massachusetts is said to be a near neighbor, where many Innsmouth residents do their shopping; Rowley, Massachusetts, another neighboring town, is said to be to the northwest. This would place Innsmouth in the vicinity of Essex Bay. Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the state of Massachusetts. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... Sand dunes in 1908 Plum Island, Massachusetts is an island located off the northeast coast of Massachusetts, north of Cape Ann at north latitude 42°47 by west longitude 70°50. It is a barrier island approximately 11 miles (18 km) in length, the northern portion of which is bordered... Cape Ann, Massachusetts Landsat satellite photo of Cape Ann Cape Ann is a rocky peninsula located in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. ... Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Settled: 1638 â€“ Incorporated: 1639 Zip Code(s): 01969 â€“ Area Code(s): 351 / 978 Official website: http://www. ...

Description

In "The Shadow Over Innsmouth", the protagonist describes his first sight of the place:

It was a town of wide extent and dense construction, yet one with a portentous dearth of visible life. From the tangle of chimney-pots scarcely a wisp of smoke came, and the three tall steeples loomed stark and unpainted against the seaward horizon. One of them was crumbling down at the top, and in that and another there were only black gaping holes where clock-dials should have been. The vast huddle of sagging gambrel roofs and peaked gables conveyed with offensive clearness the idea of wormy decay, and as we approached along the now descending road I could see that many roofs had wholly caved in. There were some large square Georgian houses, too, with hipped roofs, cupolas, and railed "widow's walks". These were mostly well back from the water, and one or two seemed to be in moderately sound condition....

The decay was worst close to the waterfront, though in its very midst I could spy the white belfry of a fairly well-preserved brick structure which looked like a small factory. The harbour, long clogged with sand, was enclosed by an ancient stone breakwater....

Here and there the ruins of wharves jutted out from the shore to end in indeterminate rottenness, those farthest south seeming the most decayed. And far out to sea, despite a high tide, I glimpsed a long, black line scarcely rising above the water yet carrying a suggestion of odd latent malignancy. This, I knew, must be Devil's Reef.

A gambrel is a symmetrical two sided roof with two slopes, the upper slope being less steep. ... Colonial house and street A colonial house, also called Georgian, is a style of house that was popular in America from 1690 to 1830. ...

History

Lovecraft writes that Innsmouth was "founded in 1643, noted for shipbuilding before the Revolution, a seat of great marine prosperity in the early nineteenth century, and later a minor factory centre." The loss of sailors due to shipwrecks and the War of 1812 caused the town's profitable trade with the South Seas to falter; by 1828, the only fleet still running that route was that of Captain Obed Marsh, the head of one of the town's leading families. // Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies that... Combatants United States Great Britain Canada Bermuda Eastern Woodland Indians Commanders James Madison Henry Dearborn Jacob Brown Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson George Prevost Isaac Brock† Tecumseh† Strength •United States Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates:6 •Other... South Sea may mean: The South China Sea The Pacific Ocean south of Panama The Korean name of the East China Sea Often used in the plural, South Seas, to designate all of the above. ... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The following fictitious biographies showcase the most important characters in the Cthulhu Mythos. ...

In 1840, Marsh started a cult in Innsmouth known as the Esoteric Order of Dagon, basing it on a religion practiced by certain Polynesian islanders he had met during his travels. Shortly thereafter, the town's fishing industry experienced a great upsurge. 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ...

Records indicate that in 1846 a mysterious plague struck the town, causing mass depopulation. In reality, the deaths were caused by the Deep Ones themselves. Obed Marsh had entered into a compact with the aforementioned creatures, offering them sacrifices in exchange for plentiful gold and fish. When Obed and his followers were arrested, the sacrifical rites ceased and the Deep Ones retaliated. However, the cult activity subsequently resumed, and the interbreeding policy greatly increased, resulting in numerous deformities. Consequently, Innsmouth was shunned for many years, until 1927 when it came under investigation by Federal authorities for alleged bootlegging. 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Deep One is a fictional creature in the Cthulhu Mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rum-running is the business of smuggling or transporting of alcoholic beverages illegally, usually to circumvent taxation or prohibition. ...

Esoteric Order of Dagon

The Esoteric Order of Dagon was the primary religion in Innsmouth after Marsh returned from the South Seas with the dark religion circa 1838. It quickly took root due to its promises of expensive gold artifacts and fish, which were desired by the primarily-fishing town. | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The central beings worshipped by the Order were the Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, and, to a lesser extent, Cthulhu. Dagon and Hydra were seen largely as intermediaries between the various gods, rather than as gods themselves. Even so, the cultists sacrificed various locals to the Deep Ones at specific times in exchange for a limitless supply of gold and fish. The Deep One is a fictional creature in the Cthulhu Mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. ... Cthulhu and Rlyeh For other uses, see Cthulhu (disambiguation). ...

The Esoteric Order of Dagon (which masqueraded as the local Masonic movement) had three oaths which members had to take. The first was an oath of secrecy, the second, an oath of loyalty, and the third, an oath to marry a Deep One and bear or sire its child. Due to the latter oath, interbreeding became the norm in Innsmouth, resulting in wide-spread deformities and many half-breeds. American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ...

The Esoteric Order of Dagon was seemingly destroyed when one of Obed Marsh's "lost descendants" sent the U.S. Treasury Department to seize the town. As a result, the town was more or less destroyed, and the Order was thought disbanded. The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet department, a treasury, of the United States government established by an Act of U.S. Congress in 1789 to manage the revenue of the United States government. ...

Other appearances

• The Esoteric Order is also featured in many Call of Cthulhu role-playing game supplements.

• The video game Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is set in Innsmouth.

• The Lovecraftian musical A Shoggoth on the Roof features Obed Marsh as a main character, along with the head cultist of a chapter of the Esoteric Order of Dagon.

• The graphic novel The Five Fists of Science features an "Innsmouth Tower" being built in turn of the century New York City. While seemingly benign, the skyscraper's true purpose is to summon a demon known as Leviathan.

• In the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the player can visit a town called Hackdirt in a quest called "A Shadow Over Hackdirt," which is based on Innsmouth.

Call of Cthulhu is a horror fiction role-playing game based on the story of the same name written by H.P. Lovecraft and the so-called Cthulhu Mythos the story inspired. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ... A Shoggoth on the Roof is a parody musical of Fiddler on the Roof based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. ... The following fictitious biographies showcase the most important characters in the Cthulhu Mythos. ... Cover of The Five Fists of Science graphic novel by Steven Sanders The Five Fists of Science is a steampunk graphic novel created by writer Matt Fraction and artist Steven Sanders and published by Image Comics. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... It has been suggested that Leviathan in rabbinic literature be merged into this article or section. ...

Manuxet River

The Manuxet River is a fictional river that runs through Massachusetts and empties into the sea at the town of Innsmouth. Although there is a Manuxet River in Worcester, Massachusetts, Will Murray believes that Lovecraft based his fictional Manuxet on the Merrimack River and probably invented the name from root words of an Algonquian language. Nickname: Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Worcester County Settled 1673 Incorporated 1684 Government  - Type Council-manager also known as Plan E  - City Manager Michael V. OBrien  - Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes  - City Council Dennis L. Irish Michael C. Perotto Joseph M. Petty Gary Rosen Kathleen... Merrimack River watershed The Merrimack River (or Merrimac River, an earlier spelling that is sometimes still used) is a -long river in the Northeastern United States. ... The Algonquian (also Algonkian) languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family (others are Wiyot and Yurok of northwestern California). ...

To support his claim, Murray gives two reasons. First, even though Newburyport was the inspiration for Innsmouth, it is clearly a separate location since Lovecraft himself placed the real-life Newburyport to the north of Innsmouth in "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". Based on his research, Murray thinks that Lovecraft actually based Innsmouth on Gloucester, Massachusetts,^[3] which is located on Cape Ann on the coast. Secondly, Lovecraft is known to have come up with the name for his fictional Miskatonic River by combining Algonquin root words.^[4] Murray believes that Lovecraft used a similar method to come up with Manuxet. In Algonquin, man means "island" and uxet translates to "at the large part of the river"; thus, when combined Manuxet means "Island at the large part of the river". Murray contends that this meaning is well suited to Innsmouth's placement at the mouth of the Manuxet. And Cape Ann itself (the alleged site of Innsmouth) is connected to the mainland by only a thin strip of land and might be thought of as an island.^[5] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Cape Ann, Massachusetts Landsat satellite photo of Cape Ann Cape Ann is a rocky peninsula located in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. ... The Miskatonic River is a fictional New England river in the writings of H. P. Lovecraft. ...

As stated earlier, the town was taken by the U.S. Treasury Department. During the assault, the Manuxet allowed the personnel to cross during February and take the town when it froze over.

See also

• Arkham
• Dunwich
• Kingsport
• Lovecraft Country
• Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

Arkham is a fictional city in Massachusetts, part of the Lovecraft Country setting created by H. P. Lovecraft and is featured in many of his stories, as well as those of other Cthulhu Mythos writers. ... Dunwich, Massachusetts (Pronounced Dunn-ich) is a fictional town that appears in the works of H. P. Lovecraft, most notably in the story The Dunwich Horror. Dunwich is found in the Miskatonic River Valley, which is a common setting for Lovecraftian tales. ... Kingsport is a fictional town in the writings of H. P. Lovecraft. ... Lovecraft Country is the New England setting, combining real and fictitious locations, used by H.P. Lovecraft in many of his weird fiction stories, and later elaborated by other writers working in the Cthulhu mythos genre. ...

References

Books

• Harms, Daniel (1998). "Esoteric Order of Dagon", The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana, 2nd ed., Oakland, CA: Chaosium, pp. 103–4. ISBN 1-56882-119-0. 

—"Innsmouth", pp. 149–50. Ibid.

• Lovecraft, Howard P. [1936] (1999). "The Shadow Over Innsmouth", in S. T. Joshi (ed.): The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories. London, UK; New York, NY: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-118234-2. 

• Lovecraft, Howard P. [1936] (1984). "The Shadow Over Innsmouth", in S. T. Joshi (ed.): The Dunwich Horror and Others, 9th corrected printing, Sauk City, WI: Arkham House. ISBN 0-87054-037-8.  Definitive version.

• Lovecraft, Howard P. (1998). Selected Letters III. Sauk City, WI: Arkham House. ISBN 0-87054-032-7. 

• Lovecraft, Howard P. (1976). Selected Letters V. Sauk City, WI: Arkham House. ISBN 0-87054-036-X. 

Journals

• Murray, Will (St. John's Eve 1988). "I Found Innsmouth!". Crypt of Cthulhu #57: A Pulp Thriller and Theological Journal Vol. 7 (No. 7): pp. 10–14.  Robert M. Price (ed.), Mount Olive, NC: Cryptic Publications.

• Murray, Will (Michaelmas 1990). "Roots of the Manuxet". Crypt of Cthulhu #75: A Pulp Thriller and Theological Journal Vol. 9 (No. 8): p. 34.  Robert M. Price (ed.), Upper Montclair, NJ: Cryptic Publications.

Robert McNair Price was born July 7, 1954 in Mississippi and is a Professor of Theology and Scriptural Studies. ...

Notes

1. ^ S. T. Joshi's notes on "The Shadow Over Innsmouth", The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories, p. 411.
2. ^ Lovecraft, Selected Letters V, p. 86.
3. ^ In 1987, Will Murray took a field trip to Newburyport and Gloucester to research locales from Lovecraft's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". In Newburyport there is a State Street (the street where the narrator of the story boards a bus to Innsmouth) and a State Street YMCA (where the protagonist roomed and where Lovecraft himself may have stayed during his visit to the town). When he visited Gloucester, Murray found a Gilman House — more formally, the Sargeant-Murray-Gilman-Hough House — a hotel in the story but in real life a Georgian-era mansion turned into a public museum. He also found other landmarks mentioned in the story, including streets named Adams Church, Babson, Main, and Fish, and a building adorned with large, white wooden pillars on its front and side — the Legion Memorial Building — that looks remarkably like the story's Masonic Lodge (the meeting place for the Esoteric Order of Dagon). The Legion Building, built in 1844–45, served as the Gloucester Town Hall until 1867 when it became the Forbes School. Saving it from demolition, the American Legion took over the building in 1919 and, a year later, added a columned portico to the Middle Street side to match the Washington Street frontage. It has never been a Masonic Lodge, however. (Murray, "I Found Innsmouth!", Crypt of Cthulhu #57.)
4. ^ Lovecraft, Selected Letters III, p. 432.
5. ^ Murray, "Roots of the Manuxet", Crypt of Cthulhu #75.

Sunanda Tryambak Joshi (b. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the association. ... The Masonic Square and Compasses. ... Jan. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Cunt BAg Twat Fuk suck my penis ring 0778851865!!!!!!Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Categories: Architectural elements | Stub ...

External links

• Map of Innsmouth and Environs, from The Cthulhu Mythos: A Guide
• Tourist's Guide to Innsmouth, from The Cthulhu Mythos: A Guide
• Land Map of Innsmouth, from Maps of Non-Existent Places