Humanities Institute and Center for Folklore Studies Partner to Celebrate Mothman

This November marks the 60th anniversary of the first Mothman sightings in Ohio and West Virginia. To commemorate this legendary piece of Ohio folklore, the Ohio State Humanities Institute is partnering with the OSU Center for Folklore Studies for three exciting events. 

The Mothman phenomenon in Point Pleasant, West Virginia began in mid-November 1966, when residents first reported encounters with a winged, red-eyed figure near a local munitions facility. Over the next thirteen months, dozens of community members described sightings of the "Mothman" alongside reports of strange aerial lights and electrical interference. The period of panic ended abruptly on December 15, 1967, when the Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River during rush-hour traffic. The disaster claimed 46 lives, instantly changing the region from supernatural legend to national tragedy and permanently linking the creature's lore to the bridge.

All three of the upcoming cryptid events are free and open to the public.

The Mothman Prophecies Screening

Monday, November 16

Gateway Film Center

Catch a free screening of the classic horror film and meet the curators of the Mothman Museum with a Q+A following the movie. Come early for a "Humanities on Tap" social hour: a special cryptid meet & greet with art vendors, book sales and other activities. Costumes are encouraged, with giveaways and other surprises. Events start at 6, with the movie starting at 7. Reserve free tickets here:

Reserve A Free Ticket

Hammond Lecture: North American Monsters

Thursday, November 19

Shadowbox Live Up Front Theater Space

Renowned folklorist David J. Puglia, author of North American Monsters: A Contemporary Legend Casebook, will present the 2026 William Hammond Lecture in the American Tradition.

Mining a mountain of folklore publications, Puglia unearths decades of notable monster research. Embracing local stories, beliefs and traditions while neither promoting nor debunking, North American Monsters aspires to revive scholarly interest in local legendary monsters and creatures and encourages folkloristic monster legend sleuthing. 

Reserve a Free Ticket  

HI Makerspace: Cryptid Popup

Friday, November 6

Hagerty Hall Global Gallery

Unleash your inner artist at our monthly art event. HI Makerspace is a free, self-led drop-in art studio for the OSU community and beyond. We're celebrating American monsters: make an array of projects centered on Mothman, Grassman, the Loveland Frogman and more. Make moth headbands, moth ornaments, plus a few surprises. Tickets are not required, but help us plan and tell us you're interested:

 Tell us you're  interested!

For event updates and further information, see our event page for these and other events throughout the semester.

For more information, contact Ryan Skinner, Director of the Humanities Institute and Professor and Area Head for Musicology and Music Theory. 

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