The North American Bigfoot Center
Boring, Oregon is anything but boring; in fact, the town motto is “The most exciting place to live.” Well, I don’t know about that, but I do know that as a Bigfoot enthusiast, it’s a top destination.
Don’t be fooled by the nondescript exterior; the interior is packed to the brim
Tucked away in the foothills of Mount Hood, about 20 miles from Portland, Boring is said to have inspired the cartoon Gravity Falls and also celebrates Halloween twice a year. It is also home to the North American Bigfoot Center.
It’s been a bucket list item for a while, but I have to admit that my heart sank a little upon arriving. The brown building, faded banners, and weathered sign made me wonder if I had built it up too much in my mind. I am so glad that I didn’t turn around and leave.
Upon entering, I was greeted by Murphy, the resident Squatch, and I knew I was in the right place.
Murphy seems pretty real to me
My family did a quick walk-through, but I happily spent over an hour lost in Bigfoot lore. The museum has the expected footprint casts and photos, but it also has a display of iconic video footage and a sniff station where visitors can experience what it is like to smell a sasquatch.
As someone who wears a size 6 shoe, this honestly blows my mind
They also do a good job of honoring the Bigfoot stories of Indigenous peoples from North America and around the world, presenting them alongside eyewitness accounts and historical findings, and folklore.
A display describing pictographs from the Tule Indian Reservation outside of Porterville, California
Of course I had to visit the gift shop on my way out. The museum was inexpensive, but I did leave with a lighter wallet and fuller hands. My favorite purchase? A bumper sticker declaring that “I am pro-Bigfoot and I vote.”
What surprised me most wasn’t the displays themselves, but how thoughtfully they were presented. It’s worth the road trip.
Whether you’re a skeptic or someone who wants to believe, there is plenty to discover in the exciting town of Boring.
Want more Bigfoot? Check out the Bigfoot Trap near Jacksonville.
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