Loch Ness Monster

Famous 1934 “Surgeon’s Photograph” of the Loch Ness Monster (Quad-City Times, via Newspapers.com™)

The Loch Ness Monster is a folkloric marine creature said to be living in Scotland’s Loch Ness. The modern legend as it is known today arose in 1933 when a local couple claimed they’d seen “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface” of the lake. More than a thousand sightings of “Nessie” have been reported in the years since newspapers first shared the story.

Skeptics and believers proposed theories about the true nature of the “monster,” and claims have been met with equal parts curiosity and doubt. Much of the evidence given to support Nessie’s existence has been discredited. Nevertheless, the Loch Ness Monster continues to be a subject of speculation and intrigue.

Learn more about the Loch Ness Monster through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Loch Ness Monster

Skeptical article calls Loch Ness Monster a "mass hallucination," rejects plesiosaurus theory (1933) 16 Nov 1933, Thu Daily Herald (London, London, England) Newspapers.comMultiple Loch Ness Monster sightings miles apart prompts idea "there may be more than one" (1933) 28 Dec 1933, Thu Evening Post (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England) Newspapers.com"Sea Serpent in Atlantic" "No Possibility of Doubt" U-boat officer reports Nessie sighting (1933) 30 Dec 1933, Sat The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.comContemporary humor article on Loch Ness Monster pokes fun at witness statements, descriptions (1933) 31 Dec 1933, Sun Sunday Mirror (London, London, England) Newspapers.comMarmaduke Wetherell finds "Four-Fingered Beast" footprint at Loch Ness, says legend is fact (1934) 17 Jan 1934, Wed The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio) Newspapers.comLoch Ness Monster: "It's Our Own Monster" "that's why we like it" (1934) 23 Jan 1934, Tue Manchester Evening News (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England) Newspapers.com"The Loch Ness 'Monster'" "Eyewitness Accounts...Creature Seen By Many People In Scotland" (1934) 06 May 1934, Sun The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) Newspapers.com"There'll Always Be A Monster in Loch Ness" Nessie stories persist into WWII years (1941) 05 Oct 1941, Sun The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com"Loch Ness Monster Just a Shark?" Basking shark carcass prompts Nessie rumors, death reports (1942) 03 Jul 1942, Fri The Messenger (Belleville, Illinois) Newspapers.com"Loch Your Doors!" Satire article on Loch Ness Monster (1958) 20 May 1958, Tue The Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) Newspapers.comOpinion article on Loch Ness Monster legend vs others, its impact on Scotland tourism season (1959) 11 Jan 1959, Sun St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com"Loch Ness Monster Becomes Increasingly Believable" Op-ed writer persuaded by Nessie evidence (1967) 29 Nov 1967, Wed The Anniston Star (Anniston, Alabama) Newspapers.com"He's on Loch Ness 'Monster' Trail" Biologist Roy Mackal compares Nessie with known animals (1968) 30 Jun 1968, Sun Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida) Newspapers.com"Loch Ness Monster: Sub May Find a Herd" (1969) 27 Sep 1969, Sat The Buffalo News (Buffalo, New York) Newspapers.com"Loch Ness Monster: Tale Or Truth?" Articles discuss interest in Nessie, sightings, theories (1970) 27 Dec 1970, Sun The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) Newspapers.comInterview with Robert Rines on search for Loch Ness Monster, science, & photographic proof (1973) 28 May 1973, Mon Tucson Citizen (Tucson, Arizona) Newspapers.comFamous 1934 "Surgeon's Photograph" of the Loch Ness Monster 10 Jun 1973, Sun Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) Newspapers.com"If not the Loch Ness monster, what could it be?" recounts 1933 sighting, personal anecdote (1975) 19 Feb 1975, Wed The Sun (Biloxi, Mississippi) Newspapers.com"Nessie" "Not a legend" "Not a monster" New underwater photos of Loch Ness Monster discussed (1975) 17 Dec 1975, Wed The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Newspapers.com"Loch Ness legend can be traced back 1400 years" Nessie stories began with St. Columba (1976) 22 Aug 1976, Sun Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas) Newspapers.com"Monster Hunter" Lee Frank discusses thoughts on Loch Ness Monster being a water dinosaur (1979) 18 Oct 1979, Thu Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas) Newspapers.com"Nessie and a big-game hunter's monster ego" Famous Loch Ness photo revealed to be a hoax (1994) 13 Mar 1994, Sun Sunday Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com"Circus elephants newest Loch Ness monster theory" (2006) 08 Mar 2006, Wed The Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.com