Hello again, my curious cryptids!
What flies in the night with glowing red eyes and wings that stretch across the sky? For some, it’s a harbinger of doom. For others, a misunderstood guardian. For many, it’s the Mothman of Point Pleasant. Today, for Folklore Wednesday, I want to celebrate one of my all-time favorite cryptids.
In November 1966, two couples driving near the old TNT area outside Point Pleasant, West Virginia, reported seeing a man-shaped figure with glowing red eyes and massive wings. Over the next year, more than 100 people claimed similar sightings. When the Silver Bridge collapsed in December 1967, killing 46 people, many linked this mysterious creature to the disaster.
So who- or what– was Mothman?
Some call him a winged omen, a banshee of Appalachia warning of tragedy. Others see him as a misunderstood guardian, appearing not to cause disaster, but to herald it. Skeptics point to birds, misidentifications, or local hysteria.
Whatever you believe, Mothman has grown into one of America’s most beloved cryptids. He’s been imagined as everything from a cosmic warning system to a shy, anxious creature just trying to mind his own business. (Personally, I lean toward “spooky but friendly”- my Squishable Mothman plushie wholeheartedly agrees.)
From a folklore perspective, Mothman sits at an intriguing crossroads: part modern urban legend, part living myth that evolves with every retelling. Omen, angel, or cryptid, he’s proof that even in the 20th century, new folklore can hatch and take flight.
And why am I choosing Mothman for today’s post? Well, if you’ve been paying attention, you know we live in Illinois, just a stone’s throw from Chicago. Interestingly, there have been a few Mothman sightings near Navy Pier lately! That little spark of modern mystery made me want to write this segment- I mean, this close to home? How could I not?
🦇 Chicago Mothman Sightings: A Modern Mystery
In recent years, reports of a winged humanoid resembling Mothman have surfaced around Chicago, particularly near Navy Pier. Witnesses describe a large, dark figure with glowing red eyes and a wingspan of up to 15 feet.
These sightings have caught the attention of paranormal investigators and have been featured in media outlets like WBEZ’s Curious City and Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries.
One notable incident involved a woman seeing a winged creature flying low over Lake Shore Drive, prompting a police call. Another described a similar figure perched atop a condominium rooftop. Could Mothman really be adapting to our cities, trading forests for concrete and steel? The mystery continues.
Personally, I think that if Mothman does want to come to Chicago, there’s not a whole lot to see here… although moths are attracted to pretty lights. So, maybe he’ll grab some pizza while he’s in town.
🦇 Fun Sidebar Facts
- Mothman Festival: Held every September in Point Pleasant, this festival draws thousands of cryptid enthusiasts for events, vendors, and more.
- Mothman Museum: Also in Point Pleasant, the museum houses artifacts, news clippings, and exhibits dedicated to Mothman sightings and the Silver Bridge collapse.
- Mothman in Pop Culture: From films to books and TV shows- including the 2002 The Mothman Prophecies starring Richard Gere- Â Mothman has leapt from folklore into our imaginations.
Whether you visit Point Pleasant or dive into the movies and books, Mothman continues to fly between myth, media, and mystery.
🦇 Your Turn!
Who- or what– do you imagine Mothman to be? A warning? A guardian? Or something else entirely?
Have you ever glimpsed something strange in the night sky that made your heart skip a beat? Share your experiences in the comments below- let’s unravel these mysteries together!
-Sky, The Crippled Cryptid
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