There's Something In The Sky

Do you know the Mothman? West Virginia's favorite spooky son isn't some butterfly-adjacent Batman knockoff, but, rather part of the rich folklore tradition of Appalachia. Read on if you dare...

Sonja on Wikimedia

1. Mothman Is A Cryptid

For starters, what is Mothman? Well, Mothman is a tall moth-like creature about seven feet tall with massive wings and glowing red eyes. Mothman is a cryptid, a creature whose existence has never been proven, like the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot. For the sake of fun, let's assume that Mothman is a real creature.

Iconshock on Wikimedia

2. He Was First Sighted In 1966

Mothman was first sighted in Point Pleasant, WV, on November 15, 1966 by two couples on a double date. Further sightings popped up over the next few days. Astrology buffs: please weigh in on Mothman being a Scorpio.

Charles Johnson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wikimedia

3. Mothman May Be A WWII Relic

Mothman was first spotted in the McClintic Wildlife Management Area, better known by locals as the TNT area. In WWII, this was the site of a munitions plant; after the war ended, the contaminated site was abandoned. Could Mothman be the result of wartime contamination.

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4. Why A Moth?

Despite initial reports of Mothman resembling, well, a very large moth, skeptics have trouble agreeing on what he really is. Most people agree that he's more birdlike, but that's where opinions branch off. Some say he's an unusually large heron or crane; others argue for a barred owl.

Philip Brown on Unsplash

5. He's Connected To A Bridge Collapse

13 months and one day after Mothman was first sighted, Silver Bridge connecting Point Pleasant to Gallipolis, Ohio collapsed, resulting in the loss of 46 lives. Coincidence? Authors Gray Barker John Keel thought not. Both authors linked the bridge's collapse to Mothman, calling the cryptid a harbinger of doom.

Richie Diesterheft from Santa Barbara, CA, USA on Wikimedia

6. But He's Not Violent

Contrary to that last point, Mothman isn't mean, he's just a little spooky. In comparison to creatures like aliens or El Chupacabra, Mothman doesn't leave behind any victims. While there are plenty of reports of seeing him, nobody has ever claimed to be harmed by him.

Ben Slyngstad on Wikimedia

7. People Didn't Know What To Make Of Him

The first headline about Mothman read "Couples See Man-Sized Bird...Creature...Something" in the Point Pleasant Register. While we're mostly including this because it makes us laugh, people really didn't know what to think about Mothman. Even eyewitnesses weren't quite sure what they saw.

Roger Scarberry on Wikimedia

8. More Than 100 People Saw Him

After the floodgates were opened for Mothman sightings, more and more began coming in. While we're sure many of these were people trying to get their 15 minutes of fame, others could have felt empowered by the initial reports. After all, if you saw something you couldn't explain, wouldn't you feel more comfortable speaking up after others saw the same?

Shalom on Wikimedia

9. There Have Been Mothman Hoaxes

Whether or not you think Mothman is a hoax, nobody can deny that there have been Mothman hoaxes. A number of hoaxes were reported after the initial sighting, including one involving flashlights tied to helium balloons. As we will see later on, Mothman is an enormous source of revenue for Point Pleasant, so it stands that more sightings would bring in more tourist money.

Mostlymade on Wikimedia

10. Mothman Arrived When We Needed Him Most

Mothman is sort of like King Arthur in that he appears when society needs him most. Cryptids are useful tools for understanding fears and neuroses, and it's important to remember when Mothman was spotted. Yes, 1966 wasn't too look after the first reports of alien abduction, but the Cold War was also a time of heightened nerves for the average American. Mothman was a way of explaining the unexplainable, people's worst fears made flesh.

Katherine Bowman on Wikimedia

11. Mothman Is More Popular Than Ever

Almost 60 years after his initial sighting, Mothman's popularity shows no signs of dying down. If you've been around anyone aged approximately 25-35 recently, you've likely noticed an increase of campy cryptid aesthetics from adorable plushies to "Mothman is my boyfriend" shirts. For millennials who grew up with The X-Files and Gen Z who did the same with Gravity Falls, it's natural that they would latch onto these interests in the real world.

Sephina Cornwall on Pexels

12. Chicago Claims Their Own Mothman

Depending on who you ask, Mothman isn't just one creature, but possibly his own species! In 2017 there were 55 Mothman sightings in Chicago; could he be one of many, or just making a commute to see his reflection in The Bean? However, Point Pleasant purists will claim that Chicago sightings are a hoax trying to capitalize on Mothman's fame.

Christopher Alvarenga on Unsplash

13. He's Well-Traveled

Mothman sightings aren't limited to America either! Russian UFOlogists link Mothman sightings to the 1999 bombings that triggered the Second Chechen War. A Mothman-type create was also reportedly sighted in the days leading up to the Chernobyl disaster. In both cases, Mothman is not the cause of these tragedies, but rather a harbinger of them.

Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash

14. He's A Cult Leader

We don't mean this in real life, though some Mothman fans (Mothfans?) are pretty devoted. The 2018 game Fallout 76 is set in Point Pleasant and features Mothman, among other creepy companions. In the game, Mothman has his own cult.

KniBaron from Bangkok, Thailand on Wikimedia

15. He's A Hollywood Star

In 2002, a film adaptation was made of The Mothman Prophecies. The film stars Richard Gere and Laura Linney, though it portrays Mothman in a decidedly demonic light. The Mothman Prophecies has become a cult favorite, though we have to point out that it was filmed in Pittsburgh.

Jacket design by Peter Parnell on Wikimedia

16. Point Pleasant's Favorite Son

Point Pleasant takes Mothman seriously without taking him too seriously. Since 2002, a Mothman Festival has been held during the third week of september. This festival celebrates the weirdness of the town as a sight of pilgrimage for cryptozoologists, while also giving tourists an opportunity to support local businesses. More than 15,000 guests attended the 2023 festival.

Sonja on Wikimedia

17. He Has His Own Museum

Do you want to see props from The Mothman Prophecies, learn more about the initial sightings, and pick up some adorable Mothman merch? Then get thee to the Mothman museum! The museum is located in the heart of Point Pleasant and is the best source for all things Mothman.

Richie Diesterheft on Wikimedia

18. He Loves Photo Ops

Nowadays, you don't have to rely on luck to get a photo of Mothman, you can walk right up to him and get a selfie. In 2003, a 12-foot-tall, rather callipygian statue of him was unveiled for all your selfie needs. There's even a 24/7 mothcam livestream of the statue.

JECWV on Wikimedia

19. You Can Take Him Home

We promise this isn't as ominous as it sounds. Plush Mothmen have been popping up all over the place recently, with even Build-a-Bear hopping onto the make-a-moth train. The company offers a soft and adorable plush in miniature, regular, and giant (roughly toddler-size) sizes.

Tyler Vigen on Wikimedia

20. He's One Of Many

Mothman may be the most famous cryptid to come out of West Virginia, he's far from the only one. Ever heard of the Flatwoods Monster or the Snallygaster? How about Bat Boy, who got his own off-Broadway musical in 1997?

Tim Bertelink on Wikimedia