The Mothman phenomenon began on November 12, 1966, when five men digging a grave near Clendenin, West Virginia, reported seeing a brown humanoid figure fly from nearby trees. Three days later, two young couples near the abandoned TNT plant outside Point Pleasant reported being chased by a 'large flying man with ten-foot wings' and glowing red eyes. The creature reportedly kept pace with their car at 100 mph. Over the following months, dozens of witnesses reported similar sightings. Descriptions were consistent: gray, man-sized, with large wings and hypnotic red eyes. Skeptics suggested the witnesses saw a sandhill crane or barn owl; believers saw something else entirely.

The Silver Bridge connected Point Pleasant to Gallipolis, Ohio, across the Ohio River. On December 15, 1967, during rush hour traffic, a single eyebar in the bridge's suspension chain failed. The bridge collapsed in under a minute, dropping 31 vehicles into the icy river. Forty-six people died. Investigation revealed the bridge had been carrying loads heavier than its 1928 design anticipated, and a small defect in one eyebar had slowly grown into catastrophic failure. The disaster led to national bridge inspection standards. But in Point Pleasant, the collapse became inseparable from the Mothman sightings - which ended the same day the bridge fell.

John Keel's 1975 book 'The Mothman Prophecies' cemented the legend, connecting the creature sightings to the bridge disaster and weaving in UFO reports, Men in Black encounters, and apocalyptic prophecies. The book portrayed Point Pleasant as a nexus of paranormal activity, with Mothman as either a warning entity or a manifestation of coming doom. A 2002 film adaptation starring Richard Gere brought the story to wider audiences. Whether Mothman predicted the collapse, caused it, tried to prevent it, or had nothing to do with it depends on whom you ask. The mystery is the point.

Artist Bob Roach created the Mothman statue, installed in downtown Point Pleasant in 2003. The 12-foot stainless steel sculpture depicts a muscular humanoid with massive wings and those famous red eyes. It's become the town's most photographed landmark. The Mothman Museum opened nearby, displaying newspaper clippings, witness accounts, and movie props. The annual Mothman Festival, held each September, draws 10,000-12,000 visitors for guest speakers, vendors, live music, and costume contests. Point Pleasant has embraced its strange legacy - turning tragedy and the unexplained into economic opportunity and community identity.

The Mothman Statue is located at 4th Street and Main Street in downtown Point Pleasant, West Virginia. It's free to view 24/7 and well-lit at night when the red eyes glow. The Mothman Museum at 400 Main Street charges admission and houses extensive Mothman memorabilia. The TNT Area, site of many original sightings, is north of town. The Silver Bridge Memorial stands at the former bridge site. The Mothman Festival is held the third weekend of September. Point Pleasant is accessible via US Route 35 from Charleston (60 miles southeast) or Ohio Route 7 from the north. Yeager Airport in Charleston provides commercial service. The town is small but walkable; allow 2-3 hours for full Mothman tourism.