History of Loch Ness Monster in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 6, 2025

The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is a cryptid purported to inhabit Loch Ness in Scotland. Described as large with a long neck and humps, it gained worldwide attention in 1933. Evidence for its existence remains anecdotal, relying on disputed photographs and sonar readings. Despite the lack of concrete proof, Nessie remains a popular cultural icon and a subject of ongoing fascination and speculation.

April 1933: Aldie Mackay's sighting

On April 15, 1933, Aldie Mackay and her husband John witnessed an enormous creature with a whale-like body rolling in the water of Loch Ness while driving on the A82.

May 1933: First article about Loch Ness creature

On May 2, 1933, The Inverness Courier published an article by Alex Campbell about Aldie Mackay's sighting of a "beast" or "whale-like fish" in Loch Ness, with the word "monster" reportedly being applied for the first time.

July 1933: George Spicer's sighting

In July 1933, George Spicer and his wife reported seeing a strange animal with a large body and long neck crossing the road in front of their car, sparking modern interest in the Loch Ness Monster.

August 1933: Francesco Gasparini publishes first news article

In August 1933, Italian journalist Francesco Gasparini submitted what he said was the first news article on the Loch Ness Monster.

August 1933: King Kong inspiration

In August 1933, Researchers suggest Spicer's sighting was inspired by King Kong, a film popular in London at the time, where a long-necked dinosaur rises out of a lake.

August 1933: George Spicer's sighting

In August 1933, the Courier published George Spicer's account of a sighting, causing a surge in public interest and numerous letters detailing various sightings, eventually leading to the name "Loch Ness Monster."

November 1933: Hugh Gray's photograph

On November 12, 1933, Hugh Gray took the first photograph alleged to depict the Loch Ness Monster near Foyers, though it was blurred and possibly showed his dog fetching a stick, an otter, or a swan.

1933: Folklore references to kelpies

In 1933 a study indicated that Ness was the loch most frequently cited in Highland folklore in references to kelpies, water horses and water bulls.

1933: Campbell notes loch had a fearsome monster for generations

In 1933, Alex Campbell's article stated that "Loch Ness has for generations been credited with being the home of a fearsome-looking monster".

1933: Creature compared to plesiosaur

In 1933, it was suggested that the Loch Ness creature bears a striking resemblance to the plesiosaur.

1933: Connection of Saint Columba story

In 1933, skeptics suggest that the tale of Saint Columba became associated with the modern Loch Ness Monster legend by proximity and believers seeking to bolster their claims, while Ronald Binns deemed it the most serious early sighting.

1933: Daily Mirror publishes photo of tree trunk

In 1933, the Daily Mirror published a picture of a tree trunk washed ashore at Foyers, suggesting it could be responsible for the reported appearance of the Loch Ness Monster.

1933: Worldwide attention to Loch Ness Monster

In 1933, the Loch Ness Monster gained worldwide attention, sparking popular interest and belief in the creature inhabiting Loch Ness.

1933: Aldie Mackay sighting 90th Anniversary

In August 2023, a high-tech search was done in observance of the 90th anniversary of the 1933 Aldie Mackay sighting.

1933: Road construction

In early 1933, some claimed sightings of the monster increased after a road was built along Loch Ness, bringing more people to the area, although the loch was already accessible due to the Caledonian Canal.

January 1934: Arthur Grant's sighting

In January 1934, Arthur Grant, a veterinary student, reported nearly hitting a creature resembling a cross between a seal and a plesiosaur near Loch Ness.

April 20, 1934: "Surgeon's Photograph" reported

On April 20, 1934, British newspapers reported Robert Kenneth Wilson's claim of sighting the Loch Ness Monster the day before, describing it with a small head and swan-like neck.

July 1934: Edward Mountain Financed Search

Beginning on July 13, 1934, Edward Mountain financed a five-week search of Loch Ness. Twenty men with binoculars and cameras positioned themselves around the loch for 9 hours each day. Twenty-one photographs were taken, but none were considered conclusive.

September 1934: James Fraser's Filming

On September 15, 1934, supervisor James Fraser remained by Loch Ness, filming. The film is now lost. Zoologists and professors of natural history concluded that the film showed a seal, possibly a grey seal.

1934: Mackenzie's sighting published

In 1934, D. Mackenzie's 1871/1872 account of seeing an object resembling a log in Loch Ness was published, after popular interest in the monster increased.

May 1938: Taylor films something in the loch

On 29 May 1938, South African tourist G. E. Taylor filmed something in Loch Ness for three minutes using 16 mm color film.

August 1938: Chief Constable's letter about hunting party

On 15 August 1938, William Fraser, chief constable of Inverness-shire, wrote a letter expressing his belief in the monster's existence and his concern about a hunting party determined to catch it.

December 1954: Sonar readings

In December 1954, sonar readings taken by the fishing boat Rival III detected a large object moving at a depth of 146 meters for 800 meters.

July 1955: MacNab's photograph

On 29 July 1955, Peter MacNab took a photograph at Urquhart Castle depicting two long black humps in the water, which was later published.

1957: MacNab's photograph published in Constance Whyte's book

In 1957, Peter MacNab's photograph was published in Constance Whyte's book on the Loch Ness Monster.

October 1958: MacNab's photograph published by Weekly Scotsman

On 23 October 1958, Peter MacNab's photograph of two long black humps in the water of Loch Ness was published by the Weekly Scotsman.

1959: Francesco Gasparini admits fabrication

In 1959, Francesco Gasparini reported sighting a "strange fish" and fabricated eyewitness accounts.

April 1960: Dinsdale films dark object

On 23 April 1960, aeronautical engineer Tim Dinsdale filmed what he believed to be a dark hump that left a wake crossing Loch Ness.

1961: Analysis of Taylor's film

In 1961, Maurice Burton published a single frame from G.E. Taylor's 1938 film in his book, concluding it depicted a floating object rather than an animal.

1962: Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau Formed

In 1962, the Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau (LNPIB) was formed to study Loch Ness and identify the Loch Ness Monster, or determine the causes of reports of it.

1963: Burton comes into possesion of lantern slides

In 1963, Maurice Burton obtained lantern slides of Hugh Gray's photo suggesting it depicted an otter.

1965: Caravan camp and viewing platform at Achnahannet

From 1965 to 1972, The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau had a caravan camp and viewing platform at Achnahannet and sent observers to other locations.

1966: JARIC analyzes Dinsdale's film

In 1966, the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (JARIC) analyzed Tim Dinsdale's 1960 film and concluded that the object was "probably animate."

1967: LNPIB effort led at Loch Ness

From 1967 to 1968, The Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau led an effort involving collaboration between volunteers and professionals at Loch Ness.

1967: World Book Encyclopedia Grant

In 1967, the LNPIB received a grant of $20,000 from World Book Encyclopedia to fund a 2-year programme of daylight watches from May to October, using 35mm movie cameras with long lenses.

1968: Tucker's Sonar Experiment

In 1968, D. Gordon Tucker volunteered his sonar expertise at Loch Ness as part of an effort led by the LNPIB from 1967 to 1968. He tested a prototype sonar transducer at Temple Pier, identifying multiple targets, some moving at speeds up to 10 knots.

1968: F.W. Holiday proposes bristleworm theory

In 1968, F. W. Holiday proposed that Nessie and other lake monsters might be large invertebrates like bristleworms.

1969: LNIB Membership

According to the bureau's 1969 annual report, the LNIB had 1,030 members, of whom 588 were from the UK.

1970: Nessie Prop Found

During a survey of Loch Ness, an underwater robot found a Nessie prop created for Billy Wilder's 1970 film "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes" which sank during a filming test.

1972: Rines' Academy of Applied Science Search

In 1972, Robert H. Rines led a search involving sonar examination of the loch and a submersible camera to record images below the surface. Rines took precautions to avoid murky water with floating wood and peat.

1972: Flamingo Park Zoo discovers hoax 'monster' corpse

In 1972, a team from Yorkshire's Flamingo Park Zoo discovered a large body in Loch Ness, which was later revealed to be a bull elephant seal deliberately disfigured as a hoax by education officer John Shields.

1972: LNIB Disbanded

In 1972, the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau (LNIB), formerly the LNPIB, disbanded.

December 1975: Surgeon's Photograph fake article

In December 1975, a Sunday Telegraph article suggested that the Surgeon's Photograph was a fake.

1975: Nessiteras rhombopteryx Name

In 1975, British naturalist Peter Scott announced the creature's scientific name as Nessiteras rhombopteryx, intending to add it to the British register of protected wildlife. This was met with controversy.

1975: Rines' Second Search and Photographs

In 1975, a second search was conducted by Rines. Some of the photographs seemed to show unknown animals. One photo appeared to show a plesiosaur-like animal, while another depicted a horned "gargoyle head".

1976: Mackal requests use of photograph

In 1976, Roy Mackal requested to use Peter MacNab's photograph in his book but discovered the original negative differed from the published photo, suggesting it had been doctored.

May 1977: Anthony "Doc" Shiels' photograph

In May 1977, Anthony "Doc" Shiels, a magician, claimed to have summoned the Loch Ness Monster and took what he alleged to be the clearest photograph of it at the time, describing it as an "elephant squid". However, the photograph was widely considered a hoax due to the lack of ripples in the water.

1979: Power and Johnson claim "surgeon's photograph" was an elephant

In 1979, California biologist Dennis Power and geographer Donald Johnson claimed that the "surgeon's photograph" of the Loch Ness Monster was actually the head and trunk of a swimming elephant.

1979: W. H. Lehn explains atmospheric refraction

In 1979, W. H. Lehn showed that atmospheric refraction could distort the shape and size of objects, including animals, leading to misidentification as the Loch Ness Monster.

1980: Bengt Sjögren links monster beliefs to kelpie legends

In 1980, Bengt Sjögren wrote that beliefs in lake monsters like the Loch Ness Monster are associated with kelpie legends, which have evolved from horse-like creatures to reflect modern awareness of plesiosaurs.

1982: Maurice Burton proposes Scots pine logs theory

In 1982, Maurice Burton suggested that sightings of the Loch Ness Monster could be fermenting Scots pine logs rising to the surface of the loch, propelled by gas pressure.

1983: Ronald Binns' "The Loch Ness Mystery Solved" publication

In 1983, Ronald Binns, a former member of the Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau, published "The Loch Ness Mystery Solved," a skeptical book suggesting that the monster sightings are due to human psychology and misidentification, not a real creature.

1986: Edwards' Disputed Photograph

In 1986, George Edwards took a photograph that he initially claimed was genuine in a National Geographic documentary, but later admitted in October 2013 to faking a separate photograph from 2011, while still maintaining the authenticity of the 1986 one.

1987: Operation Deepscan Gargoyle Head

During Operation Deepscan in 1987, a tree stump was filmed bearing a striking resemblance to the gargoyle head photographed during a search in 1975.

1987: Operation Deepscan

In 1987, Operation Deepscan deployed 24 boats with echo sounding equipment across Loch Ness. Scientists made sonar contact with a large, unidentified object. Analysis indicated debris and motion, possibly seals.

January 1991: Spurling admits to hoax

In January 1991, Christian Spurling admitted that the "Surgeon's Photograph" was a hoax involving a toy submarine.

1993: Loch Ness Discovered Documentary

In 1993, Discovery Communications produced the documentary "Loch Ness Discovered", featuring a digitally enhanced version of the Dinsdale film. An enhancer noticed a shadow unseen in the original, suggesting the rear body of an underwater creature. This enhancement changed the enhancer's skepticism about the Loch Ness Monster.

1993: Analysis of Surgeon's Photograph

In 1993, the Discovery Communications documentary "Loch Ness Discovered" analyzed the uncropped "Surgeon's Photograph" and found a white object that was believed to be the cause of the ripples.

1994: Widespread agreement of hoax

Since 1994, most agree that the "Surgeon's Photograph" was an elaborate hoax.

1999: Publication of how the photo was taken

In 1999, the book "Nessie – the Surgeon's Photograph Exposed" was published, containing a facsimile of the 1975 Sunday Telegraph article and revealing details of how the photograph was taken.

2000: Loch Ness 2000 Centre

In 2000, Adrian Shine, a marine biologist established the Loch Ness 2000 Centre in Drumnadrochit, providing information and research related to the Loch Ness Monster.

2001: Rines' Academy of Applied Science Videotapes

In 2001, Rines' Academy of Applied Science videotaped a V-shaped wake and an object resembling a carcass. They also found marine clamshells and a fungus-like organism, suggesting a connection to the sea.

July 2003: Fossil planting hoax discovered

In July 2003, Gerald McSorely discovered a fossil in Loch Ness, but it was determined to be a planted hoax.

2003: BBC Sponsored Search

In 2003, the BBC sponsored a search of Loch Ness using 600 sonar beams and satellite tracking. The search, which aired on BBC One as "Searching for the Loch Ness Monster", found no animal of substantial size, leading scientists to conclude the monster was a myth.

2004: Five TV documentary creates animatronic plesiosaur

In 2004, a Five TV documentary team constructed an animatronic model of a plesiosaur named "Lucy" to create the illusion of a monster in the loch, resulting in about 600 reported sightings.

2005: Students find hoax deer tooth

In 2005, two students claimed to have found a large tooth embedded in a deer body on the shore, which was later revealed to be a publicity stunt for a horror novel.

2006: Clark suggests circuses allowed elephants to bathe in the loch

In 2006, palaeontologist Neil Clark suggested that travelling circuses might have allowed elephants to bathe in Loch Ness, leading to the misidentification of their trunks as the monster's neck and head.

May 2007: Gordon Holmes' Video

On May 26, 2007, Gordon Holmes videotaped a large, black object moving quickly in Loch Ness. Described as "the best footage ever seen", the video was broadcast by BBC Scotland on May 29, 2007, and STV News North Tonight aired it on May 28, 2007. A marine biologist suggested the object was an otter, seal, or water bird.

2008: Rines' Extinction Theory

In 2008, Rines theorized the Loch Ness Monster may have become extinct, citing a lack of sonar readings and eyewitness accounts. He conducted a final expedition, believing they failed to adapt to temperature changes.

April 2010: Release of chief constable letter

On 27 April 2010, the National Archives of Scotland released a letter from 1938 by William Fraser, the chief constable of Inverness-shire, expressing belief in the monster's existence and concern over a hunting party.

August 2011: Marcus Atkinson's Sonar Image

On August 24, 2011, Loch Ness boat captain Marcus Atkinson photographed a sonar image of a 1.5-meter-wide unidentified object following his boat at a depth of 23 meters for two minutes, dismissing the possibility of a small fish or seal.

November 2011: Edwards' "Nessie" Photo Taken

On November 2, 2011, George Edwards captured a photo that he later claimed in August 2012 showed "Nessie", after searching for the monster for 26 years.

2011: Edwards' Photo Claim

In 2011, George Edwards captured a photo. He claimed in August 2012, that it showed Nessie. He later admitted in October 2013 that the photo was a hoax.

April 2012: Algae and Zooplankton Explanation

In April 2012, a scientist from the National Oceanography Centre said that the Marcus Atkinson's sonar image from August 2011 is a bloom of algae and zooplankton.

August 2012: George Edwards Claims "Nessie" Photo

On August 3, 2012, skipper George Edwards claimed a photo he took on November 2, 2011, shows "Nessie". Edwards, who searched for the monster for 26 years, likened it to a manatee but not a mammal and suggested three humps sightings are separate monsters.

July 2013: The Scientific American Blog Network Analysis

On July 10, 2013, The Scientific American blog network published a survey of literature about supposed Loch Ness Monster sightings, including photographs, and concluded that none of them were actual sightings.

August 2013: David Elder's Mysterious Wave Video

On August 27, 2013, tourist David Elder presented a five-minute video of a "mysterious wave" in Loch Ness, which he attributed to a 4.5-meter "solid black object" just below the surface. Sceptics suggested the wave was caused by a wind gust.

October 2013: Edwards Admits Hoax

In October 2013, George Edwards admitted that his 2011 photograph was a hoax, but insisted that a 1986 photograph was genuine.

2013: Mackay recalls screaming "Stop! The Beast!"

According to a 2013 article, Aldie Mackay recalled yelling "Stop! The Beast!" when she witnessed the Loch Ness Monster.

2013: Jeremy Wade investigates and proposes Greenland shark theory

In 2013, Jeremy Wade investigated the Loch Ness Monster as part of the "River Monsters" series and proposed that the creature is actually a Greenland shark.

2013: Researchers suggest Spicer's story was fake

In 2013, researchers at Columbia University suggested that George Spicer's sighting was likely fictionalized.

April 2014: Satellite Image on Apple Maps

On April 19, 2014, a satellite image on Apple Maps showed what appeared to be a large creature, possibly the Loch Ness Monster, just below the surface of Loch Ness, measuring about 30 meters long. Possible explanations included a boat wake, seal-caused ripples, or floating wood.

July 2015: Feltham theorizes monster is Wels catfish

In July 2015, after a long vigil, Steve Feltham theorized that the Loch Ness Monster is an unusually large Wels catfish released in the late 19th century.

2017: Ronald Binns' "The Loch Ness Mystery Reloaded" publication

In 2017, Ronald Binns released "The Loch Ness Mystery Reloaded", where he suggests that people see what they want and expect to see. He considers the monster as a sociological phenomenon.

2017: Courier publishes excerpts from Campbell article

In 2017, the Courier published excerpts from Alex Campbell's 1933 article, which was titled "Strange Spectacle in Loch Ness."

June 2018: DNA Survey of the Lake

In June 2018, an international team conducted a DNA survey of Loch Ness, looking for unusual species. The results were published in 2019.

2018: DNA sampling project begins

In 2018, scientists from New Zealand started a massive project to document every organism in Loch Ness based on DNA samples.

2019: DNA survey results published

In 2019, the DNA survey results found no DNA of sharks, sturgeons, or catfish, and a lot of eel DNA. There was no reptilian DNA found, leading to the conclusion that it is unlikely that there is a giant reptile in Loch Ness.

2019: DNA sampling project results

In 2019, the results of the DNA sampling project confirmed the presence of European eels and the absence of DNA from large animals like catfish, Greenland sharks, or plesiosaurs.

September 2021: Creature captured on live-stream

In September 2021, a 20-foot creature was reportedly captured on a live-stream near Loch Ness.

August 2023: High-Tech Search

In August 2023, a high-tech search was conducted to observe the 90th anniversary of the 1933 Aldie Mackay sighting. The technology used included sonar, thermal imaging drones, and hydrophones, but there were no conclusive sightings.