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The legend of Mothman has attracted worldwide attention with The Mothman Prophecies Movie, but is it based on fact or fiction? The Mothman festival in Point Pleasant West Virginia is celebrated annually leaving many to speculate about just what exactly the Mothman is. Legend curse, or prophecy, read this blog and weigh in on what you think too!

The Mothman

Before this story became a major motion picture, a legend with its own museum, or the basis for a book, the Legend of Mothman was an experience of two couples who were genuinely scared of what they saw on November 15th, 1966 in Point Pleasant West Virginia. The description the couples gave police describe what they saw as a "large flying man with ten-foot wings". They said it had eyes that “glowed red”. This creature followed them in an area outside of Point Pleasant that was the home of an old World War 2 munitions plant.
After this initial sighting and a police report, similar experiences were called in over the next few days flooding the local police office.
Just over a year later on December 15,1967, the deadliest bridge collapse of US history lead to the tragic death of 46 people. The Silver Bridge connected Point Pleasant to the munitions plant outside of town. The proximity of this unfortunate event and the sightings of the “Mothman”, sparked the “Mothman” as an omen conversation that has continued to this day.

First Mothman Sighting

Was this the very first siteing of the “Mothman”? According to another myths and legends blog-NO! There was but another. November 12th, 1966 a group of gravediggers spotted something huge moving from tree to tree. They would later refer to this figure as a “brown human being”. Was this encounter perhaps THE first sighting of the “Mothman”?

The Thunderbird

Some believe that the Thunderbird from native American legend is the predecessor of the Mothman. The Thunderbird in native american lore tells of a shape-shifting large supernatural bird that was the bringer of rain and storms. In this context, the Thunderbird could be both good and bad, depending on if there was a drought or a flood brought on by its sighting. This is relevant to bring up because many Native American myths and legends do stem from experiences and beliefs alike. Stories of these experiences and beliefs show up in Petroglyths across much of North America.

Point Pleasant West Virginia

Point Pleasant is like many small towns across America; it’s a place with it’s own story to tell. Embracing the legend of “Mothman” both validated the experiences of many residents and created a sense of intrigue in the town. A commemorative statue was made, an annual festival celebrated and a historical museum constructed. The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel connected the “Mothman” sightings to the Silver bridge collapse about a year later. This connection drew in a lot of speculation about the symbolism of “Mothman”. Mothman sightings have been documented as recently as 2017 in Chicago Illinois.

Mothman Fact, Fiction or Prophecy

Many people have weighed in on what the “Mothman” is and or represents. One blogger has made a connection between similar demon archetypes people experience during sleep paralysis and the description of the “Mothman”. Some believe “Mothman” to be alien, supernatural, or a previously unknown species. It’s also worth noting that there were debunked Mothman sightings after the story was printed in the Gettysburg Times and Point Pleasant Register. Whether the “Mothman” is a trick of the eyes or something more, so far hasn’t been proven either way.

A Qualitative Measurement?

The general scientific consensus on the “Mothman” sightings was that people were seeing the Sandhill Crane at night. If the Sandhill Crane had gotten off of it’s migration path, people in West Virginia would be unaccustomed to seeing them. Being unfamiliar with the Sandhill Crane would be in more visible areas and in more contact with people. The Sandhill Crane, is a large bird, with at least an eight foot wingspan that is grey in color. Later theories pointed to the similarities of what was reported about the “Mothman” and a barn owl hunting at night. Although relating these collective experiences to species that already exist is of course the most logical scenario, it’s hard to count out an unidentified animal or being on scientific theory.

A Native American legend and Norse Mythology

A further explanation may lie in the recollections and beliefs of Native Americans whom inhabited this land for a much longer time. Their adherence to a shape-shifting Thunderbird that protected the land from underwater monsters might just bring insight here. Before an actual giant squid was discovered washed up on a beach, there were plenty of legends that speculated about a giant underwater predator. Perhaps the Kracken, from Norse Mythology comes to mind for some. In the Pacific Northwest, Native American lore talked about a giant octopus that took out a canoe full of men crossing an estuary. Was this a similar creature to the Giant Squid? Was it different? Was it neither?

Conclusion

Tell us what you think! Fact or Fiction? Feel free to share this post and give us your take in the comments below! In the meantime, check out our coffee selection, other myths and lore blogs and get your spooky on!

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