On a chilly November night in 1966, two couples were driving towards a World War II munitions plant that West Virginia locals referred to as the TNT area. Both couples spotted a frightful winged creature with eyes that flashed red when exposed to light. The couples claimed that a large, menacing creature with a sizable wingspan followed their car as they sped away from the TNT area.
In the following days, a handful of Point Pleasant residents claimed to see the mysterious winged creature. One resident blamed the disappearance of his beloved dog on the mysterious flying pest. Authorities were stumped, although several local biologists suggested that there may have been an influx of owls or sandhill cranes in the area—both of which can appear to have glowing red eyes at night.
West Virginia newspapers began to refer to the mysterious creature as Mothman. Periodic Mothman sightings occurred in Point Pleasant until 1967, when a catastrophic bridge collapse killed 46 people. Several Point Pleasant residents claimed that they saw Mothman in the days prior to the bridge collapse. Numerous people believed that Mothman played a sinister role in the tragedy.
As Mothman became increasingly notorious, paranormal investigators and curious onlookers from around the world began to descend upon Point Pleasant. A Mothman statue, a Mothman Museum, and a Mothman Festival all pay homage to the town’s most mysterious figure.
Today, visitors can take a selfie next to a metallic Mothman statue which features glowing red eyes, eat a Mothman-shaped cookie at a local cafe, or view an authentic police report from the first Mothman sighting at the Mothman Museum. There is even a 24-hour Mothman cam that monitors the Point Pleasant town square in the great hope of documenting Mothman’s triumphant return.
Photo by marada/Flickr
The Mothman Festival—which takes place every year during the third week of September—allows Mothman enthusiasts to gather and discuss their theories about who or what Mothman actually is. Is Mothman an alien, the last of an otherwise extinct species of large birds, or a mutant crane that simply gave numerous residents of Point Pleasant a good scare? Surely a paranormal researcher waddling around in a Mothman costume can offer some insight.
In recent decades, Mothman has been spotted across the globe—from Russia to Chicago. If you’re searching for a Mothman shirt, figurine, or mug a trip to the Mothman Museum’s gift shop is a must. Mothman may have an international flight path these days, but Mothman central will always be Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
Photo by Flickr
Is Mothman an ominous supernatural creature who circles the globe waiting for disaster to strike, or is he a displaced crane who has fueled the imaginations of Point Pleasant locals for decades? The only way to truly make up your mind is to visit Point Pleasant yourself to consider the evidence. A curious incident in the mid-1960s which is documented in the Mothman Museum involving a group of men dressed in black descending on Point Pleasant X-Files-style may be enough to convince you that something unusual was afoot.
Tom Urey was one that seen this big bird flying over him going down Rt#62 in his convertible. The only day time sighting with the top down. He said it was big, flying above him and able to keep up going 50-55 miles an hour. I have ran into two other people “men” they both said that they and others have seen this Big Bird.
On the Historic Mysteries: There have even been more recent sightings of the Big Bird, “The Thunderbird” as late as 2007 young students have claimed to have seen them flying Silhouetted against the sky. These birds often appear small as they fly at high altitudes, with their enormous size only becoming apparent as they get closer.
One of the most prominent sources for the Thunderbird comes from the people of the Northeast Americas including Eastern Canada and the United States. Thunderbird’s often stand at the top of Native American totem poles.
Please remember the time period from which the Mothman came. Originally, it was the “Birdman,” but the name morphed into Mothman.
Vietnam Vets were returning from the far east, and most of them were drugged or drug addicted. They brought their problems home.
I babysat for some of the “famous” people who were interviewed regularly. Let’s just say that most never made it back to reality.
I think they saw “something,” but I sincerely doubt that it was as ominous as what is reported.
Been there, done that. I grew up in Point Pleasant. I know the history, in and out.