Hayes Presidential staff members pen book on Ohio folklore, creature stories

FREMONT – First it was a special exhibit at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums on Ohio folklore, legends and cryptid creatures.

Now it’s a book that builds on the exhibit and takes an in-depth look at these fascinating stories that have been told and retold for generations.

“Unnatural Ohio: A History of Buckeye Cryptids, Legends and Other Mysteries” by Kevin Moore, Hayes Presidential curator of artifacts, and M. Kristina Smith, Hayes Presidential marketing/communications manager, will be published by The History Press on Monday, Sept. 18.

Moore and Smith will give an author talk and sign copies of their book at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, in the Hayes Presidential museum auditorium. The book will be available for sale in the Museum Store, and it can also be pre-ordered here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unnatural-ohio-m-kristina-smith/1143313694.

The book covers Ohio cryptids – animals that some believe may exist but whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science – ghost stories and phenomena related to unidentified flying objects, also called unidentified anomalous phenomena. It resulted after Hayes Presidential had a special exhibit in 2020 and 2021 that covered some of the same stories and unexplained phenomena..

Some of the most notorious UFO incidents on record took place in Ohio, and it is also home to some of the most famous creature legends in the country, such as Bigfoot and Mothman (which it shares with West Virginia). These, in addition to well-known Midwest cryptids, such as the Dogman of Defiance, South Bay Bessie and the Loveland Frog, are featured in the book.

“Unnatural Ohio” takes an in-depth look at these stories and incidents and uses primary and secondary sources, as well as interviews with experts, to examine these stories and how they have evolved over time.

Moore has been writing since he was 8, pecking away on his mom’s typewriter. He enjoys reading and writing fiction. Kevin decided to pivot his life toward studying history professionally about 10 years ago and hasn’t looked back since.

He now gets to research, preserve and share history as the curator of artifacts at Hayes Presidential. He also hosts “Can’t Make This Up: A History Podcast,” where he gets the privilege of interviewing authors and historians. Kevin lives in Toledo with his family.

As a child, M. Kristina Smith read every book on the Loch Ness Monster she could find at the Defiance Public Library in Defiance, Ohio. Since then, she has been interested in cryptids, the paranormal and unexplained phenomena.

 As a former investigative reporter, she spent years asking questions, digging through public records and researching materials to find the facts behind stories. Today, she shares the history and stories of the collections, people and events at Hayes Presidential, where she has been a marketing/communications manager since 2015. She also works as a freelance writer and reporter, featuring stories about people, wildlife and places around Ohio.

This is her second book. Her first, "Lost Sandusky," was published by The History Press in 2015.

The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is America’s first presidential library and the forerunner for the federal presidential library system. It is partially funded by the state of Ohio and affiliated with the Ohio History Connection. The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is located at Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues.

For information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org. Like Hayes Presidential on Facebook at @rbhayespres and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @rbhayespres.