It's so mysterious that most people doubt it's real. Still, the legendary "Bigfoot" has excited imaginations for a long time. Bigfoot has sparked TV shows, movies, and books. People still search for the creature. But how did Bigfoot's story get off the ground in the United States?
It all began with a lighthearted California newspaper article.
Andrew Genzoli wrote a column for The Humboldt Times. In 1958, he included a reader's letter in one of his columns. It was about some huge footprints discovered by a logging crew. The prints were spotted in muddy soil in northern California. The letter claimed the footprints looked human, only they were much larger.
Genzoli had no idea what his article would start.
Readers were hooked, so other articles followed. Betty Allen was the first reporter to print a name for the mysterious footprint maker. The loggers had called it "Bigfoot."
The stories about Bigfoot didn't slow down. Instead, they spread nationwide—and the weird character became a superstar with a loyal following.
It wasn't the first time huge, ape-like creatures were discussed. People had told stories about strange, hairy beasts long before. But the newspaper reports based on the loggers' accounts got a lot of attention, and Bigfoot became…big.
Over the decades that followed, blurry photos, cartoons, and costumes appeared. They suggested what the mythical figure might look like. People announced sightings in several locations.
Then, in 2002, a secret was told by the family of Ray Wallace. He was one of the loggers who discovered the muddy prints.
After Wallace died, his family said he was prankster who liked to clown around. They said Wallace made the footprints himself as a joke. He used a set of carved wooden feet.
The confession didn't spoil the fun, though. It didn't stop the search so many enjoy, either. Some say there have been too many other sightings to let go of the legend.
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QUESTION 2
QUESTION 2 OF 4
2 / 4
Think about the article. Which of these is true about the story of Bigfoot?
A.The legend of Bigfoot began when an article was printed in 1958.
B.The legend of Bigfoot began when loggers took photos of it.
C.The legend of Bigfoot began when Ray Wallace found prints in California.
D.The legend of Bigfoot began when Ray Wallace found a creature in California.