Somerset – International Paranormal Museum
Outer space has a lot of names. Some call it the universe. The original writers of Star Trek called it “the final frontier.” Many believe nothing exists outside of it, and nothing else like it exists. Well, almost nothing.
Enter the human imagination.
It was imagination that created our desire to travel to the moon, rove the surface of Mars, and photograph the birth of stars in the far reaches of our galaxy. Human ingenuity proved these things can happen. Space launches and satellite images sent back to Earth quantify what our imagination told us was possible.
But what about those other things that we want to believe, or even maybe know are true, yet aren’t easily quantified — at least not by generally accepted scientific means? Some call them legends, others “the paranormal.” I call them fun.
So one Saturday last month I took a trip with my best friend to the International Paranormal Museum and Research Center in Somerset to learn more, or at least amuse ourselves. We got all that and more.
Within two hours we were standing face-to-chest with a replica of Bigfoot , aka Sasquatch, aka The Big Cheese of cryptozoology, which is the study of animals that no one has really proven exist (or so we’re told, wink wink). Memorabilia from times when Kentuckians were captured by space aliens or stared down “goblins” were on display. A piece of wheat pulled from a British crop circle was under glass over here, a stash of ghost hunting gadgets over there.
My imagination began working overtime.
What In The Blue Blazes Is This About?
Science fiction in film dates back at least as far as George Méliès’ 1902 “A Trip To The Moon” which had a huge following in the US. Average Americans had never seen anything like it. By the time the 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds aired, the world’s fascination with other worlds — good or bad — was cemented.
Allied pilots during WWII would later talk about “foo fighters,” and I’m not talking about Dave Grohl’s band. These foo fighters were light circles the pilots claimed to see beside their planes on missions. More and more stories emerged, leading to countless books, films, and smash TV shows like Star Trek.
Of course not everyone believes these stories are science fiction, but rather just science. Tales of UFOs date back as early as the mid 1500s. Massachusetts’ colonial governor John Winthrop wrote about seeing one in 1639.
Then there were the up-close-and-personal encounters much closer to home. Two of the most fantastical happened right here in Kentucky. And the museum here in Somerset has an exhibit dedicated to the experience.
The Hopkinsville Goblins
The image of a silver biped with pendulous arms and glowing eyes looks out of a far wall at the museum. It’s a depiction of a creature that has been followed by the paranormal community for decades. And its story begins on a family farm in west Kentucky in 1955.
It was in August that year when a farm family rushed the Hopkinsville, KY police station after coming within a few feet from what they described as “little men” with silver bodies, very long arms, glowing eyes, and talons. The family claimed the “men” had climbed out of a space ship spewing rainbow exhaust and terrorized the farm for hours.
The story made the national news and became the fodder for stories of other encounters. “Little men” became “little green men” as the account-turned-legend grew.
Some modern truth seekers (we’ll call them) say the “little men” could have been a Great Horned Owl. These owls have a massive wing span, talons, and gold-color eyes — an appearance that could be mistaken for a space alien. Who can say for sure? Not me.
1976 Kentucky Abduction
Even more spectacular (if that’s even possible) is the story of the Jan. 6, 1976 abduction of three Liberty, KY women who claim they were abducted by space invaders on a drive back from a nice dinner. The women told authorities they were taken aboard a UFO, physically examined by space aliens, then deposited somewhere near Stanford an hour or so later.
All three were given lie detector tests later that year by a Lexington Police Department detective. All three passed.
News clippings of the reported abduction that became known as “the Stanford Abduction” are at the museum, as is a prominent display of a tee shirt marking the event. The shirt is autographed by one of the alleged abductees (Mona Stafford, I think). Which is also incredible, and absolutely true.
1976 would be a year when several UFO sightings were reported in Kentucky. There were independent reports in southern Kentucky where the three women lived. But there were sightings in other counties, too. My own mother — who had never showed any interest in the paranormal — called our FBI agent neighbor George Fritz after seeing a UFO above our cul-de-sac in Northern Kentucky that year.
Mom said the agent looked at the object from his kitchen window. He then told her, “I see it, but I don’t believe it.” And Momma didn’t lie, folks.
Bigfoot, Mothman and More
Cryptozoology — or the study of animals whose existence is unsubstantiated — is a big focus of the museum. It has a substantial collection documenting the alleged existence of at least a dozen legendary creatures, from across the US and beyond.
If you didn’t know about all of these monsters — er, animals– you aren’t alone. I didn’t either until I saw them outlined on a map on the museum’s wall. Undoubtedly the most widely known is Bigfoot (aka Sasquatch, and other names, too) with reported sightings in states from the Pacific Northwest to Upper Midwest and places in between. Castings of what some believe to be Bigfoot’s legendary feet are on display, along with a life-size replica of the big guy, or maybe gal.
Space here is also dedicated to the Mothman — a giant winged and red-eyed creature reportedly seen before deadly events in West Virginia, maybe elsewhere. I’m just going to call this thing a monster, because LOOK. Yikes.
Make The Trip
The International Paranormal Museum and Research Center covers ground that is too deep and wide for this very finite space. There are too many cult movie posters, ghost hunting gadgets, and fantastic media to mention. Luckily you can experience it all yourself on a trip to museum this year.
Just do it. And give Bigfoot my love.
The museum is located at 107 N Main Street in Somerset in the basement of the Carnegie building. For details and updates, check out their Facebook page.
