The 20 Most Famous Legends of Mythical Creatures
The award-winning artists and writers of Anderson Design Group have spent years traveling across the country and the world seeking unique experiences and inspiration. The result is over 3,000 original illustrations and poster art designs across 33 unique art collections.
During the team’s travels, they have heard whispers of mythical beings and legendary creatures said to inhabit some of the less traveled places in the world. From the Sasquatch of the American Pacific Northwest to the trolls and gnomes of Europe, these tales began to intrigue ADG founder Joel Anderson and capture his artist's imagination.
After delving into classic literature, Indigenous folklore, and hearing numerous ghost stories and campfire tall tales, Team ADG became inspired to create original illustrations and iconic, vintage-styled poster art of each spooky story and mythical creature. The result was the Literary Classics Collection and Legends of the National Parks and Mythical Creatures Around the World: a poster art collection and an assortment of products for all who appreciate monsters, mythical creatures, spirits, cryptids, humanoids, aliens, and ghosts.
To celebrate Spooky Season, we highlighted the 20 most famous legends of mythical creatures featured in our vintage poster art collection.
The Wendigo of Voyageurs National Park
This is one of the most terrifying beasts ever to haunt the minds and memories of Indigenous and Euro-American peoples living in the Great Lakes region. Thought to live in Voyageurs National Park but also said to frequent Isle Royale National Park, the Wendigo was once a man, a hunter, roaming the forest looking for deer.
But driven mad by his hunger, the hunter resorted to cannibalism, which turned him into a gruesome beast that looks like a cross between a haunted, emaciated deer and a tortured, rage-filled man.
The Leprechaun of Ireland
Leprechauns are usually depicted as small, bearded men wearing coats and hats. They are considered mischievous and sneaky but have also been known to reward unsuspecting travelers or people who have fallen on hard times.
Those who seek the luck of the leprechauns must be cautious, though. Even if a leprechaun chooses to help someone, it may be a trick!
The Gnome of Switzerland
Known worldwide as small, dwarf-like, garden-dwelling creatures, the word “gnome” comes from the Latin 'gnomus’ or Greek ’gnosis,’ which has roots in the ancient Greek words for ‘knowledge of hidden treasure’ and ‘earth dweller.’
The traditional Gnomes are closely linked to the mythology of the classical elements (Earth, Fire, Water, and Air) and were said to be the nocturnal protectors of the Earth. Swiss alchemist Paracelsus first discussed the alleged magical powers of gnomes during the Renaissance, hence the prominence of gnomes in Swiss folklore.
The Werewolf of England
Details of this mythical beast vary, but most agree a Werewolf is a creature that can shape-shift from human to wolf and back again, intentionally or unwillingly, due to the arrival of a full moon.
Many believe one becomes a werewolf by being bitten by another werewolf, but other accounts say one can become such a beast simply by wearing a belt made of wolfskin, drinking water from the footprint of a werewolf, or by sleeping outside on a summer night with the full moon shining directly on one’s face.
The Bigfoot of Mount Rainier National Park
With about 676 recorded sightings centering around the state's national parks (Mt. Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic), this part of the country does seem to be the preferred home and the “stomping grounds” of the Bigfoot creature.
Bigfoot sightings are so common in the forests and mountains of Washington State that nine out of every 100,000 Washington residents say they have seen Bigfoot!
The Devils Tower Aliens
Towering 1,267 feet above the plains of northeastern Wyoming is Devils Tower National Monument. This monolithic rock formation was featured in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 film, “Close Encounters of a Third Kind.”
The butte is also sacred to several Native American tribes, and the huge structure was the first U.S. National Monument ever designated.
The Minotaur of North America (The Miniwashitu of Theodore Roosevelt National Park)
The Miniwashitu is a frightening water monster said to live in the Missouri River in North Dakota, in and around Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The creature resembles a bison but has some serpentine and aquatic features.
As the legend goes, the creature is rarely seen out of the water but is bipedal, so be prepared to run if it leaves the river and approaches you!
The Jackalope of Grand Teton National Park
A creature of fame and the focal point of many a tall tale, the Jackalope is said to be a horned rabbit that races across the plains, prairies, mountainsides, and riverbeds of Grand Teton National Park and other parts of Wyoming.
And this creature is no joke! The official Jackalope hunting license sold by the state of Wyoming has this to say about the Jackalope, "They are normally peaceful, but become a 'bundle of fury' if startled or cornered, using their knife-like horns to the greatest advantage."
The Loch Ness Monster of Scotland
The Loch Ness Monster is often described as large, long-necked, with one or more humps protruding from the water. Some witnesses say it has a relatively small head but a long mouth with serrated teeth.
Sightings of the beast go back as far as the sixth century AD, yet evidence of the creature is almost entirely anecdotal.
The Rake of Grand Canyon National Park
In September 2014, filmmaker and documentarian Bill Brock and his team traveled to Peach Springs, Arizona, to a cave called the Grand Canyon Caverns.
Their mission? Follow up on whispers and rumors of a monster called the Rake that is said to live near the Grand Canyon. They did not find conclusive evidence of the creature, but spooky events mired their journey!
The Golem of the Czech Republic
Golems have appeared in numerous mythological stories, but most legends trace the creature back to Jewish folklore. According to those stories, the golem is an animated, anthropomorphic being created entirely of inanimate matter, often clay, mud, rocks, or sand.
Accounts vary, but many historians agree the most famous golem narrative involves Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the late 16th-century rabbi of Prague, in the Czech Republic.
The Djinn of Saudi Arabia
The 'Djinn' (also spelled 'Jinn') is a spirit entity mentioned in religious and cultural texts throughout the Arab world, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
Similar to the Bible's angel, the djinn is referenced numerous times in the Qur'an and is thought to be a spirit that can take on the form of an animal or a human. Djinns were believed to be made of a smokeless fire, to have free will, and to be either good or evil, much like humans.
The Tengu of Japan
These seemingly supernatural beings are winged Japanese mountain and forest ‘yōkai.’ Yōkai are a special class of supernatural entities in Japanese folklore who sometimes take on a divine role as messengers.
The Tengu’s supernatural powers include the ability to shape-shift into human or animal forms. The creature can speak to humans without moving its mouth, it can also move instantly from place to place without using its wings, and it has the magical ability to appear uninvited in the dreams of the living.
The Jersey Devil of New Jersey
This unique beast is said to have the face of a horse or a goat, the head shape of a dog, bat-like wings, goat-like horns, and a serpentine tail. The beast is said to be kangaroo-like in how it moves and stands.
Also called the Leeds Devil, the Jersey Devil is a legendary creature said to inhabit the Pine Barrens in South Jersey. (The Pine Barrens are the largest remaining example of an Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecosystem, stretching across more than seven counties of New Jersey).
The Rakshasa of India
A demon spirit and sorcerer capable of shapeshifting at will, the Rākshasas of India are worthy of the fear and reverence given them in ancient Hindu mythology.
The Rākshasas reside on Earth but possess incredible supernatural powers, which they usually use for evil acts such as disrupting Vedic sacrifices or even eating humans!
The Ircenrraat of Lake Clark National Park
The Ircenrraat people, also known as “Ddhaw Dana” or the “little people” of Alaska, are said to live deep within the mountains of Yup’ik territories in hidden caves.
Small and humanlike, they enjoy causing mischief and are known for luring hunters and trespassers away from trails with strange sounds until they are completely lost. Then, they make their appearance clear, offering help to trespassers before leading them deeper into the forest and into their caves.
The Extraterrestrial of Great Sand Dunes National Park
As if Great Sand Dunes National Park was not already mesmerizing and uniquely different from most North American landscapes, the region is also home to… aliens?
Indeed, there have been over 70 UFO sightings in Great Sand Dunes National Park since the year 2000!
The Yowie of Australia
In Aboriginal legends, yowie-type creatures are discussed in great detail, with the creature described as a hairy, ape-like man anywhere from 6ft to 11ft tall. The yowie’s feet are much larger than a human’s, and its footprints are inconsistent in shape and toe number, making it difficult to track.
The Yowie is said to have a large, flat nose, a huge mouth, and bat-like ears. Descriptions of the yowie range in both its visual appearance and its demeanor. Some describe the beast as timid or shy, and others say it is violent and aggressive.
The Death Worm of Mongolia
The Mongolian Death Worm is a creature alleged to exist in the Gobi Desert. The creature first came to Western attention due to Roy Chapman Andrews’s 1926 book On the Trail of Ancient Man.
According to legend, the dreaded Mongolian Death Worm — which local people call olgoi-khorkhoi or loosely translated, “large intestine worm” — has lived up to its name.
More Spooky Creatures to Come
ADG’s popular art collection, Legends of the National Parks and Mythical Creatures from Around the World, is home to 85 original illustrations and vintage-styled posters of spooky beings said to live in American National Parks and countries across the continents. But as ADG artists travel far and wide, they’re undoubtedly going to find out about new and exciting monsters. Keep an eye on the collection, as it’s sure to grow!
Happy Spooky Season,
-Ren Brabenec
Anderson Design Group Staff Writer
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