Thursday, February 4, 2010

Bigfoot Exhibit: Legend, Hoax, Reality?

[In Buddhist lore, there is an entire class of creatures designated as yakkhas, variously translated as ogres or "demons." They are more than abominable snowmen in the Himalayas, Yetis, in that they possess superhuman abilities.]

The legend of Sasquatch is told through American tribal legends, modern-day hoaxes, and physical evidence that may point to the existence of the mythical creature, on display through June, 2010 (Photo courtesy of Washington State History Museum).

The legend of Sasquatch has sparked the interest of humans for centuries. In the Pacific Northwest, Sasquatch is a word derived from the Salish word sesqec, meaning “Wild Man.” In other parts of the world, the mysterious creature is called anything from Bigfoot to Yeti, or simply Ape Man.

Legends of large, hairy, ape-like creatures date back thousands of years, specifically among Pacific Northwest tribes. Stone carvings resembling ape-like heads perplex scientists as to why Northwest people in the ancient era would create something that mimicked the anatomy of the jugle-dwelling ape.

Mysterious prints of large, human-like feet have been cast, and images of large, furry, bi-pedal animals have been printed, all tying into the ongoing debate on whether or not the creature exists.

“Giants in the Mountains: The Search for Sasquatch,” the newest exhibit at the Washington State History Museum, takes visitors through the many aspects of the local tribal legends, the physical evidence, countless hoaxes and Sasquatch’s prevalence in current Northwest pop culture.

The exhibit does not prove or disprove the existence of Bigfoot, however much of the physical artifacts, such as the stone head carvings, foot casts and twisted tree branches, are intriguing and could be easy for the Sasquatch enthusiast to view as undisputable evidence. More>>

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