The Mystery Airship Wave

Between November 1896 and May 1897, thousands of Americans reported seeing mysterious airships in the sky. These sightings occurred years before the Wright Brothers’ first flight and described technology that did not officially exist.

The Sightings

Beginning in California and spreading eastward, witnesses reported cigar-shaped craft with wings or propellers, bright lights, and sometimes visible occupants. The objects moved against the wind and performed maneuvers beyond contemporary technology.

The Pattern

The wave started in Sacramento in November 1896, spread through California, and then moved across the Midwest in spring 1897. Newspapers of the era covered the sightings extensively.

The Occupants

Some witnesses claimed to have communicated with the airship pilots. These occupants were invariably human, often claiming to be inventors testing secret devices. None of these inventors ever came forward publicly.

Explanations

Skeptics suggest misidentified stars, hoaxes, and newspapers inventing stories for sales. True believers propose secret inventors who succeeded before the Wright Brothers or visitors from elsewhere.

Assessment

The 1896-97 airship wave remains one of history’s great mysteries. Whether mass delusion, secret technology, or something stranger, the wave demonstrates that unexplained aerial phenomena predate the modern UFO era.