Mothman Museum

 Several years ago, as is detailed somewhere here on this blog, I was asked to drive to the wilds of Maine to speak at my friend Richard's funeral. I was honored to do so, but it was also more than a bit depressing. Consequently, I decided to drive through Portland, Maine so that I could visit the International Cryptozoological Museum, which I'd heard about for years but had never visited. Mainly I was just looking for some slight ray of happiness in the midst of an exhausting and depressing trip. I thought of this recently when I was back home in Indiana, having made a wild drive through a near blizzard to not actually arrive in time to be there for his passing - and then was frustrated and angered by my family, per usual, collapsing in upon itself. In need of a little joy in the face of family misery and idiocy, I left Cincinnati and headed due east, partially to try and drive south of another storm, but mainly to head to Port Pleasant, West Virginia to visit the Mothman Museum. While I didn't end up missing the storm, at least not entirely, I was successful in significantly boosting my morale. I've known about the legend of the Mothman for a long time, and had also heard about the Museum, but on all my my odd little journeys I had never been even remotely close to Point Pleasant (although, come to think of it, I wonder if it would have been an option on my Trip of Excellence with my friend Sanford on our drive to Oklahoma before I left for a year in Abu Dhabi?). Technically, I shouldn't have been close to Point Pleasant on this trip, but I bent time and space to my needs (sort of like the Mothman did). Actually, the Museum was great and it was a cool way to break up a long drive and to spend an hour or so. It also housed an appropriately rich souvenir store. After spending over $180 on souvenirs - many of my friends received Mothman swag for Christmas this year - the nice girl at the front desk packed everything away in a sweet Mothman bag, which was comped (which is all you needed to know about how much money I spent).

To be fair, I don't know who else would have a Mothman Museum.

One of the many representations of the Mothman in the Museum, and my favorite - although it pales in comparison to the statue in the street (featured below).

Can you have an American urban legend with a Man In Black?

I loved all the copies of newspaper reports from the time.

We're all afraid of the UFO-Bird!

A wonderful Korean movie poster, although feel free to pass on seeing The Mothman Prophecy, although Laura Linney was, as always, very good in a pretty hopeless role.

As I was checking out with my Mothman swag I asked the nice young lady where the famous statue was. She told me to head out the door and take a left, and there it was, in all it's glory!

Next time I'm definitely going to checkout the Mothman 66 Except Room adventure. There were several stores and restaurants (not to mention the annual Mothman festival) there, so clearly I will have to return.

I guess I should add that, sadly, I have a better chance of actually seeing the Mothman than my family all in one place at one time: Scudder Family Happiness, a fitting subject for cryptozoology.