The Mothman Prophesies

While the bird-like creature Mothman hasn't been seen in Point Pleasant, West Virginia since just before the Silver Bridge collapsed in 1967 killing 46 people, visitors to this tiny hamlet can see the Mothman statue in Gunn park and visit the museum named for the giant creature. In addition, the annual Mothman festival is held each September in Point Pleasant. As a matter of fact, monster junkies look forward to this each year.

More than 40 years have passed since the first Mothman sightings in November of 1966 and many who either witnessed the sightings themselves or had ties to the community are still unsettled. To others, the Mothman phenomenon is pure entertainment and inspiration for monster Halloween costumes.

John Keel, a parapsychologist and journalist, traveled to Point Pleasant in December of 1966 to investigate the strange sightings. His book, Mothman Prophesies, http://www.amazon.com/Mothman-Prophecies-John-A-Keel/dp/0765341972 was published in 1976 and a movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265349/ by the same name and based on the book was released in 2002. The book was re-released in 2002 as well. Richard Gere starred in the movie and played the part of Keel.

As with any strange phenomena, there are many differing opinions about Mothman, whom a reporter named after a character in the 60's television show Batman. Those who witnessed the strange sightings along with John Keel stand by their story and believe the red-eyed scary monster to be genuine. Others believe it to be a hoax or a figment of overworked imaginations. Some believe Mothman was actually a crane and others believe it was an owl. Still others believe there was a government cover-up as Mothman was rumored to hail from a toxic waste sight.


The Mothman Death List http://www.lorencoleman.com/mothman_death_list.html
lists the names of the victims of the Silver Bridge collapse including the two that were never found. In addition, the names of those with any ties to the Mothman phenomena who have since passed away are included on this list.

Unsolved Mysteries, http://www.unsolved.com/0221-Mothman.html the show hosted by the late Robert Stack broadcast a segment on Mothman in 2002 which coincided with the movie's release and the launch of the Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.