The FAQ is currently in the process of being updated in the new system. We apologize for any inconvenience, and will be updating this page as soon as possible.
The rhombus is a large black metal structure beside a lake in a wooded, relatively secluded area. See the photo (from artnet thanks to Don "Hood"). See also, p.46 of The Phishing Manual.) Officially called "New Piece", by Tony Smith in 1966, the painted steel sculpture (6' 11" x 12' x 14' 2") was on exhibition at the Museum Of Modern Art (the "MOMA") in New York City from 7/22/98 to 9/22/98.
Technically, it isn't a rhombus but a rhomboidal hexahedron, or a rhombohedron. A rhombus is a 2-dimensional parallelogram having 4 sides.
In Phish history: Trey, Tom Marshall, (Looks Too Much Like) Dave Abrahms, and Aaron Wolfe frequently gathered at/in the rhombus during their pre-college days. During one moment of rambunction, a door atop the rhombus (now bolted shut) was opened and a fire was started inside; smoke emerging from the holes alongside sparked the lyrics to "Divided Sky", reportedly written atop the rhombus.
Where: The rhombus has been reported as being located:
approximately 45 minutes from Princeton, NJ, beyond an abandoned airport in a large plot of secluded forrest surrounded by fields
near Wilson's, a leather goods store at the King of Prussia store (space JU3) on North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA. (Zip 19406; phone 610-337-9049). "Trey's actual words (12/1/95) were: "GO to King of Prussia (pennsylvania.) Go to Wilson street and walk up the hill. When you think you're there, keep going. You'll know when you're there. not the mall. not lancaster. wilson street (is this a blvd.?) and up the hill in the town of king of prussia." 12/3/95
in Princeton, New Jersey, near an IAS labratory where Trey's father (and Albert Einstein, among others) worked. Brian Palan 11/22/96 and James Platts-Mills 3/98
near Waterloo. "When Phish performed at Waterloo Village in June '95, Trey told the Harpua tale because he said that 'this is the closest spot on the tour to the Rhombus.' They did play Philly and that is closer to King Of Prussia, however on most tours they play the Garden State Arts Center which is closer to Princeton." Noah Harlan 10/14/96
Why not? Contrary to prior reports, the rhombus is no longer on private property, so you can visit it and not be trespassing. However, for various reasons, we've elected not to disclose its specific location here, and we join many others in asking that you help maintain some discretion in order to:
Protect it: Visits have become pilgrammages, and carelessness has wrought pitiful harm. The rhombus was painted red in early 1998 to cover graffiti, though by May was black again.
Engage it: Part of the magic of finding and encountering the rhombus is in the hunt.
Respect it: James Platts-Mills clarified, "the whole idea was to have a beautiful place for people to think."
Preserve it: Already, the door's had to be bolted shut, it's been painted twice, and ownership has shifted to a public entity. There are generations of Lizards and Glides yet to come -- Help make sure they can experience what's left of it, before there's even less.
More code: Shelly Culbertson posted (2/15/96), "Pertinent to a recent conversation thread, the following cryptic transmission reached my desk only moments ago and I was instructed to beam it along...
(begin forwarded message) I was there when it entered our lexicon... The origins of our interest in "King of Prussia" may be revealed to you. Try getting a friend, or better yet, two, and repeating these phrases in harmony: | --- Nick DeWolfe Graduated from M.I.T. at fourteen Too much pressure! | --- Angela DePalma Degraded in mass public at fifteen in King of Prussia! | --- This ritual is best performed with two people taunting a third with the first phrase, while the third person responds with the second phrase as a sort of defense against their biting sarcasm. LTMLDave
Thanks also to Alison Mcdowell, James Platts-Mills, "Grobo2", Ryan Nestor and to the anonymous folks in the rhombus' community who emailed compelling pleas to help preserve the rhombus by respectfully concealing its location.
An all-volunteer project of the