We put a man on the moon, invented cellphones and computers, and even made satellites that photograph the Earth. Yet, we can't find Bigfoot. Decades have passed, and people still wonder if the creature is real or not.
What Started the Bigfoot Legend?
The legend of Bigfoot is as old as human history. Before cameras were even invented, there were reports of people finding this mysterious creature in the woods.
Britannica.com says in 1811, British explorer David Thompson found a set of large sasquatch footprints in northwest Montana. He also noted that the tracks show "a small nail at the end of each toe,” possibly resembling a bear.
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, an 1884 article from the British Colonist in Victoria describes the capture of a “half man and half beast.” It was nicknamed ‘Jacko’, and seemed to be “something of a gorilla type” creature.
According to Idaho State University, Sasquatch book author John Green compiled a list of over 3,000 sightings and track reports in the United States. Green’s work in the field even led some to refer to him as “Mr. Sasquatch.”
Alleged photo of Bigfoot in 1967. Photo from GettyImages
Bigfoot’s Popularity in Media
History.com writes that journalist Andrew Genzoli from the Humboldt Times in California received a letter from a reader in 1958. It described “mysteriously large footprints” in the woods.
Genzoli joked that they were from “a relative of the Abominable Snowman,” which eventually led to Bigfoot’s popularity in the media. It has since been portrayed as a character in books, television, sports and environmentalism.
Now there are even Bigfoot yard signs, serving as Halloween props. They are easily accessible on websites like Amazon. Some states also have official warnings in common sighting areas.
One of the most popular yard signs is on Pikes Peak Highway in Colorado. Travelers can find the “Bigfoot Crossing” yard sign, which serves as a tourist attraction. Pikes Peak is a hiking trail, so many people stop by to see it.
'Bigfoot Crossing' yard sign in Pikes Peak, Colorado.
Is Sasquatch a Myth?
With growing attention worldwide, people started searching for the “real” Sasquatch. Unfortunately, scientists have continually proved that alleged evidence of Bigfoot has been false.
The Guardian reported in 2014 that the University of Oxford collected 36 samples of “Bigfoot hair” from across the world. For each sample, they cleaned and analyzed the DNA. Results showed the origins to be common animals like bears, dogs, horses and cows.
The FBI investigated Bigfoot in 1976 upon a request sent in a letter, and released the documents findings in 2019.
According to History.com, Peter Byrne, Director of the Bigfoot Information Center and Exhibition in Oregon, sent the FBI “about 15 hairs attached to a tiny piece of skin.” The document says that Byrne had been searching for the creature for five years.
He suspected that the FBI had previously investigated Bigfoot before, and said his organization couldn’t identify the source of the hair. The FBI made an exception and looked into it. Their results concluded that the source was from deer family origin.
Hair samples sent into the FBI for testing, believed to be from Bigfoot. The document can be found here
The Legend of Bigfoot in New York
Despite lacking proof of Bigfoot’s existence, people in Whitehall have kept the legend alive. Every year they hold an event known as the “Sasquatch Festival & Calling Contest”.
It’s a yearly event with free admission, and includes a variety of Sasquatch games, food, music and more. In the calling contest, people compete to see who has the best Bigfoot call sound. The winners receive a variety of prizes including cash and gift cards.
According to ABC News 10, the legend started in the 1970s, and now Bigfoot plays an important role in the community. The town made Bigfoot their official animal, and there’s even a breakfast named after it.
Do You Believe in Sasquatch?
While science has shown current evidence of Bigfoot to be false, it hasn’t been proven that Sasquatch can’t exist. As time passes, the truth may come out and our questions will finally be answered. For now though, the legend and myth of Bigfoot lives on.
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