Once the news got out, more than 100 people in the Point Pleasant, West Virginia region reported seeing "Mothman" over the next year [source: History]. The third creature in our list of mythical creatures hails from the East. In this dream the Great Spirit gave him a plan by which he could kill the man-eating creature which the Indians called the Piasa. Journalist John Keel showed up to investigate sightings of the Mothman in 1960s Point Pleasant, and soon began to receive messages from the Mothpeople, including a warning about a regional blackout that was to occur. They are described as being ghostly gaunt, with sunken gray skin, hollow eyes, and a shuffling gait. (Interestingly, a 1966 Associated Press article quotes a West Virginia professor as saying that what the people actually saw was a rare species of crane which had wandered out of its normal migration route.). They are sometimes said to be invisible, but not in all depictions. So, we thought it was about time to highlight America's most celebrated mythical beasts with a modern-day illustrated bestiary of the fifty absolutely made-up, imaginary monsters that definitely aren't creeping around your home state waiting to strike. Canadians call him Sasquatch. Legends of America. The most famous sighting was by police officer Ray Shockey in 1972. One of these more fearsome creatures was the tahsaia, a cannibal demon described by the Zuni people of the Southwest as huge and demon-like. He saw an animal lying beside the road, and when he approached, it got up on two legs and ran away! There are multiple origin stories/mythologies behind this Cajun critter. The story of the Wendigo comes from Native American folklore and is linked with cannibalism. He was hanged anyway. Upon the newly born child's sudden transformation, it grew a goat head, hooves, bat-like wings and a barbed tail. The Wendigo and the Wechuge may best be compared to todays modern zombies. Both versions say that Maria became consumed with guilt and sorrow after the boys' deaths, and began walking alongside the river crying out for them. It was ghost food. The Loogaroo is closely related to the Soucouyant of Trinidad and Guadeloupe. Stopping to investigate, they claim to have discovered a 6- or 7-foot (1.8 or 2 meters)-tall creature that resembled a man with large wings. He's the world's first mythical creature spawned on the Internet, and there's no question as to whether or not he really exists. Instead, they were strong, fierce, and brutally warlike. A similar goblin is also called Tzizimite, and other names depending on the local language. He didn't initially write much about it, but hinted at its evil character. It lives in the lakes and caves of Arkansas and got its name from the horrible sounds it makes. The bear, beaver, elk, eagle, owl, and snake are also frequently referred to, but also occur in the myths of Woodland and other tribes. Theyd toss the poor chicken into the water to drown, thus appeasing the sea monster. According to a 2012 Angus Reid survey, a full 29 percent of Americans and 21 percent of Canadians do. Mythical Water Creatures Part of the Mythic Creatures exhibition. Its heart is frozen and thus, unfeeling. Oct. 13, 2007. The 'Loch Ness Monster' of Alaska, Caddy the Tizheruk resurfaced in 2009 in grainy video footage shot by a fisherman who was, by all accounts, lucky not to be snatched from the deck by a notoriously snappy sea-monster. The Dover Demon is described as having rosy orange skin and a large head on a small, stick-like body. Another tale says a Cherokee warrior went on the hunt for a beast that was terrorizing his tribe. "The noise opened up again, as though Satan and a regiment of imps were coming forth for battle," wrote a reporter for the Des Moines Daily News after the area's resident man-shaped bat escaped into a mine shaft. North Americans aren't alone in their Bigfoot fanaticism; many cultures around the globe have stories about strange ape-like creatures mysteriously walking around. Sightings of this 80-foot-long serpent known as Tahoe Tessie continue to this day. One enterprising Arkansan claimed to have captured a Gowrow, and would let the public see it for a small price of admittance. The legend goes that a young girl named Susana in La Recoleccin yeah, she had pretty hair and big ol peepers (that means eyes) was admiring the moon and stars from her balcony one night when she was approached and serenaded by a man in a big hat. Disclaimer: this monster is actually real. Rather, it circled around when Native American warriors battled enemy tribes. The faces of these so-called Dark Watchers have never been seen and they never make a sound. Since the discovery of the San Pedro Mountains Mummy, the remains of other ancient little people have been found. The body was covered in scales, yet it had a human-like face. This 'goatsucker' made its name by leaving a trail of animal corpses in its wake although DNA tests have variously revealed the attacker to be a dog, coyote, or raccoon. Spotted in Maryland, this bushy-tailed beast is the enemy of another local legend: the flying, blood-sucking Snallygaster. The Native Americans had many names for large, ape-like giants that lived among their tribes or above the mountain tree line. "In the Northwest, the hirsute hominid, who dates to American Indian lore as Sasquatch, is a minor industry." Thor battling the Midgard Serpent. After the famous debut, the creature went on to emerge once per decade, giving mystery to its history. 5. Of course, there are the boring monsters like the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti but these are a hell of lot scarier! Rougarou is most often been described as having a human body with the head of a wolf. Commonly described as a hoofed, flying creature, tales of the Jersey Devil are so popular that the state named its hockey team after the beast. This dragon-like beast was depicted in two Native American murals along the Mississippi River. Literacy Net. As soon as the news broke, hundreds of people suddenly claimed they, too, had spotted the Jersey Devil [source: The New Jersey Historical Society]. Officer Mark Matthews had a similar encounter a couple of weeks later. The legend of the Uktena originated among the Cherokee nation of the Southeastern U.S. Tennessee Wildman supposedly has either dark grey hair or dark ginger hair. They were happy together for a time, and she bore two sons. The sea creature has been said to snatch people from docks and piers. The Loch Ness Monster gets all the attention, but according to Native American myths and folklore, there are strange, unidentified sea serpents living in some of the larger lakes of North America, too. The name is a corruption of loup garou, the French werewolf. A cousin, perhaps, of New Mexico's Teratorn, the Thunderbird comes with extra special powers, such as the ability to stir up storms and shoot lightning bolts from its wings. It was said to be so large, in fact, that it could pluck an orca whale from the sea with as much ease as an eagle catching salmon in its talons. These bears were a bit larger than your typical bear but were also hairless and had oversized heads. One of these more fearsome creatures was the tahsaia, a "cannibal demon" described by the Zuni people of the Southwest as huge and demon-like. (Oct. 13, 2014) http://www.jerseyhistory.org/legend_jerseydevil.html, Urban Legends Online. In fact, their mythologies are rich in powerful and fearsome animals that permeate their legends and oral traditions. In 1932, the mummified remains of a fully grown adult, who was roughly 65 years old, was discovered in Wyoming. "The California Sightings List Page." The Van Meter Monster has been described by a handful of citizens as a human-shaped beast with giant bat wings. Altogether, this useful tale is told to keep young girls from flirting with strange men. A spate of werewolf-sightings around Elkhorn in the early nineties caught the attention of the national press although given one witness' suggestion that the terrifying creature had arms "like a man who had worked out a little bit" it's not too surprising that panic was kept to a minimum. Share. In 1887, a pair of lumberjacks chased a dog into a corner and poked it with a stick at which point the creature stood up on its hind legs, showing itself to in fact be a kind of man-dog, or dogman if you like. The Wendigo (or windigo, wee-tee-ko and other names), a mythical creature of several Algonquin tribes, and the Wechuge, a similar legend of the Athabaskan tribes of northwest Canada, were both magical creatures with a taste for human flesh. (Oct. 16, 2014) http://www.legendsofamerica.com/gh-lallorona.html, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. And history tells us that people are great storytellers. Worried and upset that their daughter was outside so late, Susanas parents forced her to come inside. The story grew as it was retold, and the original officers say they never thought the creature was a monster, but possibly an escaped pet. The animals were pulled under the water by the beast, allowing MacDougall and his group to escape. It's ashamed of its appearance, hence the tears. Muisca Mythology Muisca Mythology includes a wide variety of legendary creatures. Read the entire series on Legendary Monsters. Suddenly, he remembered the warnings and stories from local Native Americans, cutting loose several of his horses. Arizona's Mogollon Monster. According to legends, the Piasa Bird feasted on human flesh, but not fresh flesh. This list may not reflect recent changes. According to eyewitness reports, these sleek wood devils are so good at blending in with their surroundings that you might walk into one before you saw it. Thunderbird stirs up great black clouds with tremendous noise and wind. Similar sightings have been reported in Michigan and Ohio. According to Navajo stories, the only way to kill a Skinwalker is to dip a bullet into a white ash and shoot the creature with it. In one story, for example, the tahsaia lured a couple of beautiful young girls back to his cave. A really cool feature of these creatures is while they mostly live in water, they can swim . White Owl Woman stirs up thick, fast-moving white clouds that blow a piercing wind.. "We tell ourselves stories because we (humans) are storytelling animals," said Shira Chess, assistant mass media professor at the University of Georgia in a Washington Post article. "The Wendigo." You do have to be careful with your words though, you are Read More, Higgypop brings you daily paranormal news, in-depth occult articles, analysis of trending conspiracy theories and the latest weird news. The legends surrounding the Katshituashku claim it stalked, killed, and devoured humans. By and large, Native Americans transmit culture, history, values, hopes, and dreams through what they say and do, wrote Sam D. Gill and Irene F. Sullivan in Dictionary of Native American Mythology. The series of monsters continues with a look at a few strange stories from North America. Psychologists and scholars of comparative mythology have long debated why human culture is so fascinated by hybrid creatures that combine attributes of both humans and animals. This category has the following 8 subcategories, out of 8 total. If the Loogaroo sucks out too much blood, the victim will die and become a Loogaroo himself. We've all heard of Bigfoot, the elusive monster that is said to wander around the forests of the Pacific Northwest, but have you heard of the car-mauling Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp in South Carolina? Photograph by Flickr user Paul-W. Loveland, Ohio, has multiple sightings recorded of an unusual reptile, which has become known as the Loveland Frog. These mythical creatures have been brought to life in stories, dances, ceremonies and works of art. November/December 2013. Several sightings were reported, in Clendenin, Point Pleasant, and Salem, of a flying creature that was. Thankfully, the Van Meter Monster (and his imps) must have just been leaving, as they've not been spotted since. 22. Point Pleasant, meanwhile, embraced its moment in the spotlight, erecting a Mothman statue and creating the Mothman Museum and Mothman Festival. Category:Legendary creatures of the indigenous peoples of North America, Legends and tales of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:American_legendary_creatures&oldid=1076025965, This page was last edited on 9 March 2022, at 00:35. During the 1970s, people would report seeing a strangely dressed woman popping out of the woods, leading some donkeys to water [source: McCullough]. A thunderbird is a huge bird with an enormous wingspan who was directly connected to adverse weather conditions. The Gowrow was described as a twenty-foot-long reptile with enormous tusks that ate livestock. Here are two. Nominally a werewolf, shapeshifting seems to be involved you might end up as a human-wolf, human-otter, or were-cow, depending which variation on the curse/genetic defect afflicts you. International Business Times. To ensure safe passage, they would bring a chicken or rabbit or another small animal with them. (Oct. 13, 2014) http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/06/03/the-complete-terrifying-history-of-slender-man-the-internet-meme-that-compelled-two-12-year-olds-to-stab-their-friend/, Florida Skunk Ape. Creepiest of all, it's half-cat, half-woman. Well, basically it's a gigantic snapping turtle. Baba Yaga (Turkic- Altai- Bulgarian Mythology) www.slavorum.org Baba Yaga is a demon like creature that perverts man and is the symbol of evil. It has a thick neck and was reported to have a wingspan of 12 feet. In this myth, if a Wendigo possesses you, you'll go out and start eating people. June 3, 2014. Numerous tales in the Zuni oral tradition describe the tahsaia abducting and cannibalizing young women. "Wild Story Produced in Wildlife Preserve." The following 66 pages are in this category, out of 66 total. In this manner, stories of the Wendigo and Wechuge served as cautionary tales warning people against wandering the woods alone. So small that they would fit in the palm of your hand. (Oct. 13, 2014) http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/30/the-story-of-slenderman-the-internets-own-monster/, Dewey, Caitlin. The depths of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia are said to be home to a giant sea serpent-like monster that is more than 40 feet long. Many of the stories were created long ago, when presumably a lack of education, mass communication and critical thinking made such fables easier to believe. Many Native Americans and white settlers spoke of the Wendigo, blaming it when friends or family members went into the forest and mysteriously disappeared. Before the noose was slipped around his neck, he claimed it wasn't his fault a Wendigo had gotten inside of him and made him do it. Although she never harmed anyone, the thought of a hug from Miss Molly is enough to make kids keep curfew. The Dover Demon is described as having rosy orange skin and a large head on a small, stick-like body. Witnesses who got a good look at Shunka Warak'in described it as being nearly black, with high shoulders and a back that sloped downward much like a hyena. Here are the 10 most common mythical horse creatures: Tulpar. Also called Altie, this creature inhabits small streams and abandoned rice fields in southeastern Georgia. A list of ten monsters of North America leaves a lot of favorite monsters out, so expect part two of this post next week! The most famous of the Comanches was Quanah Parker, who led them in their last days as an independent power and into life on reservations. Open daily, 10 am-5:30 pm. When the moment came, though, the lights stayed on but a bridge in Point Pleasant collapsed, killing 46 people. Oh, La Llorona! And Slenderman, since the awful near-killing of a child to please him took place in my home state of Wisconsin. You have some interesting energies in your health and lifestyle sector. If these diminutive aliens don't sound super-frightening, take care to note that bullets bounce off them like metal! Sometimes he had multiple arms, other times none. Her ghost came back and continued the vigil, wailing and screaming in the night. The Menehune have not often been seen by human eyes. It also had three teeth, and a white star on its forehead. Maybe next time. Legend has it that the pooka have used their shape-shifting powers to change into cats, rabbits, horses, ravens, goats, goblins, and even humans. The Penobscot Indians of the East Coast told stories of a giant, menacing mythical creature named the Katshituashku, or Stiff-Legged Bear. These dudes can be human or nonhuman, and whatever their powers are typically involves cannibalism to some degree. Unfortunately, nobody has managed to catch the Bear Lake Monster so any potential prize money remains as insubstantial as the monster itself. Iowa residents claimed to see a half-human, half-winged animala few even tried shooting it to no avail. No matter the exact scenario, the Jersey Devilis depicted as having a horse head, bat-like wings and claws although it's rarely seen. If it wasn't for his three-toed footprint, it would be easy to mistake this hairy, stinky, sandwich-stealing hominid for somebody's dad. Witnesses describe the Thunderbird as very colorful, with a lot of yellow and red tints. Some said the beast was spawned from a failed NASA experiment; others claimed that the disease AIDS originated in the chupacabra [source: Ross]. It was said in thunderbird legend that the bird caused thunder . The fishermen claimed they heard a "zipping" sound and saw a glowing object hovering above the ground. This tragic figure dressed in white wails along riverbanks, mainly in the Southwest U.S., mourning her two young sons who she killed. Knudsen's photo depicted a tall, willowy, fuzzy figure. Taking its name from the Arapaho word for strong, the Teihiihan were said to have made their homes on the plains of Wyoming and Colorado, where they could prey upon the Native American people also living there. Today, the owner of the stuffed creature refuses to have Shunka Warak'in ( meaning "carries off dogs") DNA-tested, so what the monster truly is remains a mystery. Read More Champ, Nessie, & Ogopogo Symbolism & Meaning Those who claim to have seen them describe them as more than seven feet tall and covered in grayish hair. The Snawfus is an albino deer from the folklore of the Ozarks in Arkansas and Missouri. "10 Mythical American Monsters" The chimerical creature has a lot in common with the real-world Hawk, so it often symbolizes keen vision, transcendence, and spiritual enlightenment. Such was supposedly the case with Swift Runner, a Native American. Gaze upon them in these seven works dating from the ancient to medieval periods, excerpted from the newly revised and updated edition of Phaidon's 30,000 Years of Art . In terms of Cajun folklore, the Rougarou may be the most popular. Another version of the story says Maria was the wild one, going out at night to entertain men and often leaving her young boys home alone. Most sightings have been in the Pacific Northwest, but there have been Bigfoot reports from nearly every state and Canadian province. While the Thunderbird falls squarely into the realm of mythology, there have been interesting sightings and encounters even to present day of enormous birds in North America. The Piasa, a Native American myth, has haunted the area ever since. In the 1960s, an actor named Fred Stevens dressed up as this hairy monster to frighten passing road users, apparently to provide a juicy ongoing story for a newspaper editor friend. Fantastical Creatures and Magical Beasts Monsters: Evil Beings, Mythical Beasts, and All Manner of Imaginary Terrors Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: Good compilations of monster myths from all over the world, including Native American monsters. 1. The legend of the Jackalope may have come from sightings of rabbits infected with the Shope papillomavirus, which causes hornlike growths. Swamp creatures have long been part of human folklore, so it's probably not surprising that a state with vast tracts of swampland birthed such a myth. Wendigo is described as being gaunt to the point of emaciation, its skin pulled tightly over its protruding bones. The lizard man is true horror movie material: in operation since the 1980s, he'll leap on your car if you try to drive away. The Nimerigar, whose name means people eaters, lived in the Pedro Mountains near the Wind River in Wyoming. The man in the hat returned and serenaded her each night, making it impossible for her to sleep, and whenever her parents would try to feed her, shed find the food contaminated with dirt. Christine Copelan Nov 30, 2018 Step aside, Bigfootyou're not the only mythical creature skulking about the United States.. However, there have been other sightings, particularly one from 1955. According to folklore, the monster was huge and roughly bear-shaped, but with a much larger head and thick, unyielding legs. People who have glimpsed the beast describe a large, red-eyed creature covered in long dark hair. Their wings were more commonly associated with their swift speed rather than with flight. Over time Slenderman spread onto other forums and his description began to morph. Some Missouri residents believe this creature is a 12-foot-tall gorilla that escaped a circus train; others describe it as wolf-like. Locals have speculated that the eel-like creature had been living in a prehistoric underground cavern that had filled with water from a sinkhole. El Cipito pursues pretty girls and torments them if they reject his advances. Maria walked the riverside in her white gown, crying for her sons, until she died of starvation on the river bank. There are many different Latin American folktales and legends with different creatures and spirits in the staring role. He is short and wears a thick belt and heavy boots. Elsie resembles a combination of a plesiosaur and a sea serpent. Cetan is a creature originating from the oral stories in Native American Mythology. Look away! Wikimedia Commons. As the name implies, Thunderbirds were associated with storms. Those who have been unlucky enough to run into them, report tiny humans with huge heads lurking in the woods. This terrifying creature is the Wampus Cat. Witnesses describe Teratorns as having wings spanning at least 20 feet. They are most commonly seen as black horses with a flowing mane and luminescent orange eyes. The mythology in America can be split into two groups. The Native American or Indian peoples of North America do not share a single, unified body of mythology. Chinese Dragon Ancient Chinese culture perceives the dragon as a symbol of good luck, strength, and power. To the Arapaho, Thunderbird is the summer bird who challenges White Owl Woman, the winter bird, to see whose powers are greater. It's said that on the monster's head was a horn that glowed like a searchlight. It was described as six to feet tall with huge wings and red eyes in the center of its headless body. Melanie Radzicki McManus According to witnesses, the creature seemed to have no neck and was six to seven feet tall. That's almost more intriguing than the beast himself. The creatures include dwarves, elves, trolls, ghosts and lesser known beings such as seamonsters, milk carriers, half-humans and half-animals, giant whales, and the mythical kingdom of Trllbotnaland. Never mind that she'd only been dead two months and was buried in coldest winter; she was probably a vampire. Amikuk by Behane. However, Mothman sightings subsequently cropped up around the globe. Trending pages Boitat Wendigo Maria Caninana Jaci Boiuna Wampus cat Iara Inuit mythology All items (181) # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U Visible only right after dark or early dawn, this half-woman, half-cat haunts the Appalachian region and is rooted in Cherokee folklore. Wendigo folklore is a fascinating aspect of Native American mythology that has gained popularity in recent years due to its inclusion in popular . Fellow forum posters added details, as did Knudsen. According to Connecticut legend, these small humanoids with bulbous heads are the inbred decedents of escaped criminals who resorted to cannibalism to survive the area's harsh winters. According to lore, the beast demands a blood sacrifice before it will allow anyone to cross the lake. What happened to Sam Harris? "Legend of the New Jersey Devil." He is the Wild Man of the Woods, the Keeper of Drowned Souls, and children are taught to be wary of him, writes Cheryl Shearar in Understanding Northwest Coast Art: A Guide to Crests, Beings and Symbols. Oct. 25, 2012 (Oct. 25, 2014). One of the only mythical creatures to have a shade of eye shadow named after it. "He looks as if he might be the twin brother of Barnum's wild man, and is fierce and untameable," wrote the New York Times on February 8, 1889.
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