From grainy footprints to thermal-camera footage, the legend of Bigfoot has transformed with each generation.
Few cryptids have captured the public’s imagination like Bigfoot—also known as Sasquatch. But the story of Bigfoot sightings has changed dramatically over the past century, reflecting not just alleged encounters, but also our evolving technology and culture.
Early 20th Century: Whispered Folklore
Indigenous oral traditions long predate Western accounts, but Bigfoot entered wider American folklore in the early 1900s. Loggers and hunters in the Pacific Northwest spoke of massive, hairy humanoids leaving oversized tracks in remote forests.
1950s–60s: The Birth of a Modern Legend
In 1958, Jerry Crew famously plaster-cast enormous footprints found near Bluff Creek, California. Newspapers coined the term “Bigfoot,” sparking national curiosity. The now-iconic 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film, showing a large, hairy figure striding through a clearing, cemented Bigfoot as a cultural phenomenon.
1970s–80s: Pop Culture Explosion
From TV documentaries to kitschy roadside attractions, Bigfoot became a pop culture icon. Sightings surged across the U.S., and cryptid enthusiasts began organizing hunts and conventions.
1990s–2000s: Technology Joins the Hunt
With the rise of camcorders, night-vision scopes, and later thermal imaging, researchers tried to capture harder evidence. While convincing proof remained elusive, the quantity and variety of alleged encounters grew.
2010s–Present: Digital Age of Sasquatch
Smartphones and social media gave a new platform to eyewitnesses. Bigfoot videos, whether hoaxes or genuine mysteries, spread instantly. Online forums and podcasts fuel debates over DNA evidence, trail-cam photos, and unexplained howls.
Global Cousins
While North America claims Sasquatch, other cultures have their own versions: the Yeti of the Himalayas, the Yowie of Australia, and Russia’s Almasty—each adding global depth to the legend.
Why Bigfoot Endures
• Cultural resonance – Bigfoot represents the untamed wilderness and the hope that mystery still exists in a mapped world.
• Scientific intrigue – Even skeptics admit that vast forests could hide unknown species.
• Evolving evidence – From plaster casts to high-definition footage, each era brings new methods of search, keeping the legend alive.
A century after those first plaster footprints, Bigfoot continues to fascinate. Whether you’re a seasoned cryptid hunter or a curious skeptic, the story of Sasquatch is as much about our own fascination with the unknown as it is about a creature that might still roam the forests.