#michaelhuntington

[mhuntington7]

THE SKY WHERE MANTELL FELL - Franklin, Kentucky. On the afternoon of January 7th, 1948, students and teachers standing in front of the Lake Spring Community School - located here at Steele Road and Lake Spring Road - looked in this direction and observed a single-prop airplane spiral out of the sky, explode into pieces in mid-air, and fall in a fiery crash onto the Phillips Farm on Witt Road, just beyond the center tree line. The plane was an F-51D Mustang piloted by Franklin-born Captain Thomas F. Mantell, Jr. (C Flight, 165th Fighter Squadron Kentucky Air National Guard) and had just had a high-altitude engagement with a large, silvery Unidentified Flying Object that was tracked traversing the Kentucky skies. Although the unexplained accident was a likely result of misidentification and a lack of oxygen, the deadly “Mantell Encounter” still remains a true mystery and a famous case in the annals of UFO history and lore. Not far from this spot, a historical monument commemorating the event stands as a tribute to Captain Mantell. Mantell spent only two days of his life in Franklin - the day of his birth and the day of his encounter with The Unknown. Photo by Michael Huntington - May, 2015. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonFamily #HuntingtonAdventures #UFOTravel #ThomasFMantell #MantellUFOEncounter #1948MantellCrash #UFO #UFOs #UFOHistory #FamousUFOCase #UFOMarker #LakeSpringBaptistChurch #LakeSpringSchoolFranklinKentucky #FranklinKentucky (at Franklin, Kentucky) https://www.instagram.com/p/BukWClvlkqK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

DEADLY ENCOUNTER: THE MANTELL UFO INCIDENT - On January 7th, 1948, following a flurry of reports, an unknown round, silvery UFO was tracked (and observed) by Fort Knox’s Godman Field as it traversed the clear blue skies above the state of Kentucky. Flying nearby, National Guard pilot Captain Thomas F. Mantell, Jr. and his squadron of four F-51D Mustangs (C Flight, 165th Fighter Squadron Kentucky Air National Guard) were ordered to investigate the high-altitude bogie. Pursuing the object, squadron planes soon peeled off from the chase, one-by-one, as they began to run out of fuel and altitude. The plane to get closest to the mysterious object, Mantell’s plane, was later found crashed on a rural farm in Franklin, Kentucky after it had broken up in mid-air. The subsequent media frenzy surrounding this deadly encounter (the popular media already having been in the midst of the “Flying Saucer Craze”) propelled the “Mantell Encounter” into the popular culture and UFO Lore. Official Air Force Investigations concluded that the tragedy was most likely the result of Mantell having blacked out while chasing a balloon or Venus. Many find this interpretation to be laughable and suggest a more hostile encounter with a malevolent craft of Other-Worldy Origin. What really happened to Captain Mantell on this day remains a classic Mystery in UFO History that will, most likely, never be solved. In an odd coincidence, Mantell died in the same town as his birth. An historical marker stands in Franklin to commemorate this tragic event in which a pilot died while chasing a UFO. Graphic by Michael Huntington - January, 2018. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #ThomasFMantell #MantellUFOEncounter #1948MantellCrash #UFO #UFOs #UFOHistory #UFOLore #FamousUFOCase #ProjectBlueBook #BadUFOEncounter #DeadlyUFOEncounter #FranklinKentucky https://www.instagram.com/p/BdqxV7dACBJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

BIG MUDDY MONSTER ENCOUNTER, 1988 - Murphysboro, Illinois. On the evening of June 9, 1988, Bob Reiman was called to his Murphysboro salvage yard by his night watchman, Charlie Straub, who claimed that a trespassing someone - or something - was heard to be moving amongst the bushes behind the yard. After arriving, Reiman and Straub took their flashlights and began to investigate the property’s perimeter. They soon encountered the strange visage of a creature called “The Big Muddy Monster,” or “The Murphysboro Mud Monster” (reportedly last seen in the area in 1973-75), snarling its way through the brush. It stood over 8 feet-tall, weighed 400+ lbs., and was a white-furred “Bigfoot” with glowing red eyes. And it smelled horrible. In fear, the men fled to the yard’s metal shop building, where they were soon joined by Joyce Juerge and Cheryl Reiman. Disbelief soon turned to terror as something large began to forcefully pound on the shop’s metal walls from the outside. Luckily, the fearsome assault soon ended and the mysterious assailant retreated back into the dark night. In the following days, local media lauded the “Return of the Big Muddy Monster” and showed photos of the Bigfoot-sized prints found along the tracks near the yard. Photo by Michael Huntington - July, 2022. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonFamily #HuntingtonAdventures #MurphysboroMudMonster #MudMonster #BigMuddyMonster #Mongo #BigMuddyMonster1988 #ReimanEncounter #Bigfoot #IllinoisBigfoot #AlbinoBigfoot #Cryptid #StrangeIllinois #BigMuddyRiver #MurphysboroIllinois (at Murphysboro, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgc7m6bM78Q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

THE LUBBOCK LIGHTS - Lubbock, Texas - First seen on August 25, 1951 by a group of local professors, the strange formation of nocturnal lights known as "The Lubbock Lights" would be seen (and photographed by Carl Hart Jr. on August 30th) by dozens of local witnesses over the following weeks. Reported by the popular media (including LIFE Magazine), and investigated by the US Air Force, the encounters at Lubbock would come to be known as one of the first celebrated mass sightings in UFO history. Skeptics of the period attributed the sightings to a formation of reflective birds. Graphic by Michael Huntington - August, 2016. @huntington_strange_travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #LubbockLights #AerialPhenomena #AerialAnomalies #UFO #UFOs #UAP #FamousUFOCase #UFOHistory #LubbockTexas https://www.instagram.com/p/BJhclDbh6Fs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

THE LAST NATIVE MOUND IN ST. LOUIS - St. Louis, Missouri. Known as Sugarloaf Mound, this native earthen structure is the last remaining Cahokia/Mississippian Culture (600s-1300s CE) ceremonial/burial mound to be found in the Metropolitan St. Louis area. This platform mound is over 40 feet high and 75-100 feet around. As many as 40 earthwork mounds were originally to be found in this area of the city - some rivaling the structures found across the river in nearby Cahokia, Illinois. Short-sighted urban progress of the early 19th century decimated the archaeological/engineering marvels that once stood here. The location is now owned by, and under the protective stewardship of, the Osage Nation people. Photo by Michael Huntington - August, 2022. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #MississippianCulture #Mississippian #NativeMound #IndianMound #EarthenMound #Moundbuilders #Mounds #SugarloafMound #Cahokia #CahokiaMounds #StLouisMounds #MoundCity #OsageNation #StLouisMissouri (at St. Louis, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3Ss01pqw1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

SPOOKY HAUNTED UPPER BIG LAKE - Charleston, Missouri. A few miles north of Charleston, The Upper Big Lake (a former bend in the Mississippi River before the river changed course centuries ago) is an allegedly haunted area where unaccounted-for voices are supposedly heard and misty apparitions are said to be seen. It is definitely spooky (and we did hear something strange) - but the vibe here in this leechy, swampy area is more “Stand By Me” than haunted abode. Nighttime blackness may tell a frighteningly different tale. Photo by Michael Huntington - June, 2022. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #Paratravel #HuntingtonFamily #HuntingtonAdventures #StrangePlaces #Paranormal #Haunted #Ghosts #GhostHunting #HauntedArea #HauntedLake #HauntedSwamp #HauntedUpperBigLake #UpperBigLake #HauntedMissouri #HauntedBootheel #HauntedCharlestonMissouri #CharlestonMissouri (at Charleston, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeoXMivOEoT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

THE WICKLIFFE CEREMONIAL MOUND - Wickliffe, Kentucky. A view of the Ceremonial Mound located at the Wickliffe Mounds (15BA4) complex site. This central village mound was one of many such earthen structures (10 mounds in all, surrounding a central plaza) which were built by the native Mississippian Moundbuilder culture that thrived in this region (Mississippi and Ohio River Convergence flood plain) from 1100s to 1300s C.E. Large, high platform mounds served as residences for the families occupying the highest positions in the hereditary caste system - such as chiefs or shamans. The population of this village is believed to have reached into the multiple hundreds. Photo by Michael Huntington - June, 2022. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #MississippianCulture #Mississippian #NativeMound #IndianMound #EarthenMound #Moundbuilders #Mounds #WickliffeMounds #WickliffeKentucky (at Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, Kentucky) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf_8dBlOJGe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

THE GRAVE OF RICHARD SHARPE SHAVER, FATHER OF ALIEN MYSTERIES - Yellville, Arkansas. Layton Cemetery. Richard Sharpe Shaver (1907-1975) was an American science fiction writer, artist, cultural influencer, paranormal/UFO personality and “alien contactee” (and likely schizophrenic). Oh, and a historical “rock whisperer.” Shaver’s 40s-era “Shaver Mystery” stories in popular pulp-mag “Amazing Stories” - with tales of receiving messages from advanced civilized beings from hidden realms, the Deros - set the the sci-fi/alien visitor template for the culture in the years leading up to the Flying Saucer Age. Shaver, later in life, then focused on finding secret ancient alien visual narrative clues hidden in our Earth rocks - he shared his astonishing interpretations/finding in his famous “rock books.” Devoted fans sometimes travel to this area from afar seeking such Shaver rocks. Photo by Michael Huntington - April, 2022. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonFamily #HuntingtonAdventures #ParanormalTravel #UFOs #InnerEarth #ShaverMystery #ShaverMysteryClub #RichardSharpeShaver #Deros #AmazingStories #RayPalmer #Subgenius #LaytonCemetery #YellvilleArkansas (at Yellville, Arkansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdbgzyNl38s/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

THE OHIO-MISSISSIPPI RIVER CONFLUENCE - Cairo, Illinois. The very spot at the southern tip of Illinois where the Ohio River (left side) and the Mississippi River (right side) meet. Fort (Camp) Defiance once stood on these park grounds, as this position was of strategic importance during the Civil War period. Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri are visible from this location. The boys got a kick out of being able to put their hands into two rivers at the same time. Photo by Michael Huntington - June, 2022. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonFamily #HuntingtonAdventures #HuntingtonBoys #OhioMississippiConfluence #FortDefianceStatePark #AmericanCivilWar #FortDefiance #CampDefiance #CairoIllinois (at Fort Defiance State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfKEaadlEZq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

PROFESSOR HYNEK - Dr. Josef Allen Hynek (5/1/10 - 4/27/86) - Astronomer and UFO Investigator/Ufologist. USAF Project Blue Book Scientific Consultant and Public Personality/Celebrity. Field Investigator of many Famous Cases and primary Swamp Gas Originator. Developer of the Hynek UFO Classification System and vocal Proponent of the Scientific Study of UFO Phenomena. Founder and Director of the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). Author of several UFO books, including "The UFO Experience" (1972), and Technical Advisor to Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" motion picture feature (1977). Considered to be the "Father of Modern Ufology." Michael Huntington - May, 2017. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #MichaelHuntington #DrJAllenHynek #JAllenHynek #Hynek #HynekUFO #HynekClassification #UFOExperience #SwampGas #CloseEncounters #CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind #CE3K #CUFOS #UFO #UFOs #Ufology #UFOHistory #FamousUFOs #FatherOfUfology #NutsAndBolts https://www.instagram.com/p/BTj0DmBgMwV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

THE LOST BOAT AT WONDER PARK - Arnold, Missouri. The Huntingtons took I hike yesterday to look for a lost, abandoned river boat along the shores of the Meramec River near Arnold which I saw on Google Earth. The boys now say they are Urbexers. Ollie did a great job, Diane fell and hurt her arm. She was a trooper, though, as were they all. Beautiful day! Photos by Michael Huntington - April, 2023. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonFamily #HuntingtonAdventures #HuntingtonBoys #UnusualFamilyOutings #Urbex #MeramacRiver #WonderPark #ArnoldMissouri (at Arnold, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq6lTHNMyRO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

STRANGE BOOKS I AM READING - Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Some weird-genre literature which I will be perusing over the coming weeks. A few of these will be re-reads. A couple are for research, but all are for enjoyment. I am fortunate enough to be friends with several of these authors and look forward to exploring their stories. Photo by MichaelHuntington - February, 2023. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #UnusualFamilyOutings #UFOs #UFOTravel #UAP #UFOChasersAtlas #Cryptids #Bigfoot #Mothman #Ghosts #Haunted #UrbanLegends #Folklore #Paranormal #RemoteViewing #MadGasserOfMattoon #ThomasKuhn #Stargate #BigMuddyMonster #Wendigo #JacquesVallee #UFOLibrary #UFOBooks #CryptidBooks #Phenomenon (at Cape Girardeau, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cof6dHPu8Mh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

CREATURE CORNER - Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Some of my alien artwork creations temporarily occupy a basement corner at Strange Travels HQ. Multiple dozens of unique para-genre pieces - including an army of Mothman renderings - make this weird subterranean space a home. Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Photo by Michael Huntington - February, 2023. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonFamily #UFOs #UFOTravel #FamousUFOSpots #UFOHistory #UAP #Paratravel #Cryptids #Cryptotourism #Bigfoot #Mothman #HauntedTravels #Ghosts #Haunted #UrbanLegends #Folklore #Paranormal #AlienArt #HuntingtonArt #UFOArt #Aliens #CapeGirardeauMissouri (at Cape Girardeau, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoahSYePx_d/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

STRANGE TRAVELS HQ 2023 - Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Michael Huntington - 2023. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonFamily #HuntingtonAdventures #HuntingtonBoys #UnusualFamilyOutings #AviationMuseums #SpaceMuseums #XPlanes #UFOs #UFOTravel #FamousUFOSpots #UFOHistory #UAP #Paratravel #Cryptids #Cryptotourism #Bigfoot #Mothman #HauntedTravels #Ghosts #Haunted #UrbanLegends #Folklore #Paranormal #RoadsideAttractions #SetJetting #FilmLocations #NativeMounds #FuturoHouse (at Cape Girardeau, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoS3ctNvfta/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED - Near Clear Lake, Iowa. It was here, in the early morning hours of February 3rd, 1959, where rock legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson (along with pilot Roger Peterson) perished in a tragic plane crash that shocked and saddened the nation and a generation. Known as “The Day the Music Died” - after its melancholy reference in singer Don McLean’s 1971 song of innocence lost, “American Pie” - this rock-n-roll tragedy is still remembered by fans to this day. Photos by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #DonMcLean #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #BuddyHollyMemorial #BuddyHollyMarker #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #RoadsideAttraction #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #clearlakeiowacarshow (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8HsZcgFQHH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

HUNTINGTON BOYS AND DAD - Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Robbie, Michael and Sammie Huntington show off their new t-shirts that wife Diane Huntington bought for them to demonstrate their weird personalities and senses of humor. Photo by Diane Huntington - 2023. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonFamily #HuntingtonAdventures #HuntingtonBoys #UnusualFamilyOutings #AviationMuseums #SpaceMuseums #XPlanes #UFOs #UFOTravel #FamousUFOSpots #UFOHistory #UAP #Paratravel #Cryptids #Cryptotourism #Bigfoot #Mothman #HauntedTravels #Ghosts #Haunted #UrbanLegends #Folklore #Paranormal #RoadsideAttractions #SetJetting #FilmLocations #NativeMounds #FuturoHouse - Follow Our Adventures now on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and TUMBLR! (at Cape Girardeau, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cne-M1cOf55/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=