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Paulding Light
A mysterious light appears nightly in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It glows, splits, changes colors, and has been seen by thousands. The Forest Service posted a sign acknowledging the mystery.
1966 - Present
Paulding, Michigan
10000+ witnesses
The Paulding Light appears almost every night in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
The Legend
According to local accounts:
The light:
- First reported in 1966
- By teenagers
- Appears almost nightly
- On a power line clearing
- Red, white, or green colors
The Folklore
Stories claim:
- A railroad brakeman killed on tracks
- Carries his lantern still
- Or a Native American spirit
- Or a crashed mail plane
- Multiple origin tales
The Light Itself
Observers report:
- Single bright light
- Sometimes splits into two
- Changes colors
- Appears to approach
- Then retreats
The Explanation
In 2010:
- Michigan Tech students investigated
- Proved many lights are car headlights
- From Highway US-45
- Several miles away
- Refracted by atmosphere
But Questions Remain
The car headlight theory:
- Explains modern sightings
- But not pre-highway reports
- Not all characteristics
- Debate continues
- Some believe both sources
Today
The site features:
- Forest Service acknowledgment sign
- Popular tourist stop
- Nightly visitors
- Clear viewing area
- Part of UP folklore
Sources
- Michigan folklore documentation