{"id":97178871,"date":"2016-06-24T16:21:36","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T16:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/?p=97178871"},"modified":"2025-05-06T13:38:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T13:38:03","slug":"mythical-monster-museums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/mythical-monster-museums\/","title":{"rendered":"Mythical Monster Museums: Institutions Dedicated to Legendary Beasts"},"content":{"rendered":"

We hate to admit it, but there are some people who actually think that museums are boring. It seems that the whole idea of organizing a quiet place to learn and see first-hand the most valuable art and artifacts of history just doesn’t appeal to everyone.\u00a0But there are museums that refuse to be stuffy, dull… Or even centered around subject matters that have been proven to exist. Seriously, what\u2019s more fun than a place dedicated (often with a sense of humor) to a monstrous urban legend? <\/span><\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re looking for a \u201cfun\u201d museum to check out, here are six very real and entertaining museums about mythical and legendary creatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

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International Cryptozoology Museum – Portland, Maine<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to the <\/span>International Cryptozoology Museum\u2019s website<\/span><\/a>, Cryptozoology is \u201cthe study of hidden or unknown animals\u201d and \u00a0\u201cone of the newest life sciences.\u201d But the scientific community views it as nothing more than a pseudoscience. For the most part, self-proclaimed \u201ccryptozoologists\u201d hunt for evidence to prove that creatures like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster are real. And the ICM is dedicated to preserving the history of those searches and sharing them with the public through exhibits, displays, possible evidence, and artist renderings of creatures. The museum, which is currently in the process of moving, reopens on 1 July.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bigfoot Discovery Project – Felton, California<\/b><\/h2>\n

Bigfoot, the legendary bipedal simian that somehow populates North America but has never been proven to exist, is often chalked up to a mix of folklore, hoax, and witness confusion\u00a0(bear or Bigfoot?). For over ten years, the <\/span>Bigfoot Discovery Project<\/span><\/a> in northern California, not far from Bigfoot\u2019s home turf, has been open to visitors interested in the legendary hairy beast. The attraction is dedicated to displaying a history of the creature’s sightings, as well as its pop culture prominence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interested in listening to Bigfoot’s favorite tunes? Check out our piece on the Sasquatch Music Festival<\/a> in Central Washington.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Mothman Museum – Point Pleasant, West Virginia<\/b><\/h2>\n

From late 1967 to late 1968, the West Virginia town of Point Pleasant was home to a series of sightings of a flying man-like creature with ten-foot wings and glowing red eyes. The incidents gained national attention and an ensuing book, which inspired a 2002 movie starring Richard Gere \u00a0(<\/span>The Mothman Prophecies<\/span><\/i><\/a>) somehow tied the creature to the collapse of a nearby bridge that killed over 40 people. Visitors can learn more about the Mothman and the resulting pop culture effect at the <\/span>Mothman Museum<\/span><\/a> in Point Pleasant, which is also home to an annual festival about the legend every September. <\/span><\/p>\n

Expedition: Bigfoot! (Sasquatch Museum) – Cherry Log, Georgia<\/b><\/h2>\n

Like the Bigfoot Discovery Project in California, Georgia\u2019s <\/span>Expedition: Bigfoot<\/span><\/a> is a museum dedicated to the monster\u2019s history and profile, but in a larger space and with a dedication more to investigating Bigfoot and raising public awareness to help find evidence that Bigfoot exists. It\u2019s also easier to visit for Bigfoot fans that can\u2019t make it to the West Coast.<\/span><\/p>\n

You Might Also Enjoy: Let’s Get Weird: The 4 Strangest, Freakiest Museums in New York City<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Mothman<\/a>

Mothman statue, Point Pleasant, West Virginia by OZinOH<\/a> licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Rhinelander Logging Museum (Home of the Hodag) – Rhinelander, Wisconsin<\/b><\/h2>\n

Equal part folklore and tongue-in-cheek hoax, the Hodag was first reported in 1893 by a Wisconsin resident Eugene Shepard in the woods just outside of the town of Rhinelander. Shepard suspiciously blew up the first Hodag with dynamite, but was able to \u201ccapture\u201d one the next year and bring it to the town fair… With much press and fanfare. Rhinelander has since adopted the animal whose features include\u00a0\u201cthe head of a frog, the grinning face of a giant elephant, thick short legs set off by huge claws, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail with spears at the end” as its mascot. Hodag statues and banners can be found throughout the community. But if you want to get the best lowdown on the Hodag head to the <\/span>Rhinelander Logging Museum<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Skunk Ape Research Headquarters – Ochopee, Florida<\/b><\/h2>\n

Besides calling the Florida Everglades home, the big difference between the skunk ape and Bigfoot is the smell, hence the name. Visitors can learn all about skunk apes, along with suggestions on where in the nearby Big Cypress National Preserve one might be spotted at the <\/span>Skunk Ape Research Headquarters<\/span><\/a>, founded and run by Shealy brothers–who also own and run the Trail Lakes Campground, where the museum is located and which hosts a couple annual skunk ape festivals \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FAQs:<\/em><\/h2>\n

Q: Are these museums kid-friendly? <\/strong>
\nA: Yes, most mythical monster museums are family-friendly and offer interactive or educational displays suitable for children. Some, like the Mothman Museum and Skunk Ape Headquarters, even have gift shops with kid-oriented merchandise.<\/p>\n

Q: Do these museums have guided tours? <\/strong>
\nA: Some do. For example, the Expedition: Bigfoot Museum and International Cryptozoology Museum often offer self-guided tours with staff available for questions. It\u2019s best to check each museum\u2019s website for specific tour availability or contact them directly.<\/p>\n

Q: Can I buy tickets online ahead of time? <\/strong>
\nA: That varies by location. Larger or more established museums typically offer online ticketing or reservations, especially for special events or festivals. Smaller institutions may be walk-in only. Always check the museum\u2019s official website before visiting.<\/p>\n

Q: Are the museums open year-round? <\/strong>
\nA: Most of them are open year-round but may close on major holidays or have reduced winter hours. For example, the International Cryptozoology Museum is closed during its relocation and scheduled to reopen July 1. Always verify hours before visiting.<\/p>\n

Q: Are there accommodations near these museums? <\/strong>
\nA: Yes, many are located in or near tourist towns with local motels, campgrounds, or hotels nearby. For instance, the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters is associated with a campground for overnight stays.<\/p>\n

Q: Do the museums host any special events or festivals? <\/strong>
\nA: Definitely. For example, Point Pleasant hosts an annual Mothman Festival, and the Skunk Ape Headquarters has multiple events. These usually include guest speakers, vendors, and live entertainment, so check local calendars or museum websites for schedules.<\/p>\n

Q: Can I submit my own mythical creature sightings or evidence? <\/strong>
\nA: Some museums, especially those focused on cryptids like Bigfoot, welcome community-submitted sightings or stories. Institutions like the Bigfoot Discovery Project often collect and archive anecdotal evidence from the public.<\/p>\n

Have you ever spotted a mythical creature in its natural habitat? Let’s talk about it in the comments below!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We hate to admit it, but there are some people who actually think that museums are boring. It seems that the whole idea of organizing a quiet place to learn and see first-hand the most valuable art and artifacts of history just doesn’t appeal to everyone.\u00a0But there are museums that refuse to be stuffy, dull… […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":97178872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1416],"tags":[2087,2084,2085,485,2086],"class_list":["post-97178871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-guide","tag-bigfoot","tag-folklore","tag-legends","tag-museums","tag-urban-legends"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97178871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97178871"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97178871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97228341,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97178871\/revisions\/97228341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97178872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97178871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97178871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97178871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}