Chad Lewis doesn’t investigate paranormal phenomena to prove myths are real.

It’s the seeking he likes.

The folklorist spends his days traveling the world in search of explanations to legends and mysteries, ranging from unidentified flying objects to unexplained hauntings.

On June 26, at 7 p.m., Lewis will share findings from his Iowa investigations during a free presentation at the Marshalltown Public Library.

His lecture is filled with drawings, eye-witness testimony, photos and sound clips.

“It’s going to be a road trip to Iowa’s weirdest places,” Lewis said. “Anyone brave enough to show up is welcome.”

Lewis “blames” his 22-year investigative career on his home state of Wisconsin.

The Eau Claire native said Wisconsin boasts three UFO capitals of the world.

He grew up near one and interviewed spotters. In college and graduate school, further explored the topic through psychology research.

“I studied what is it about human perception and belief systems that make some people believe in the paranormal, when others don’t,” he said. “I would present on those findings and people in the audience would approach me and say, ‘I’m looking for help. I think my home’s haunted.’ Or, ‘I saw something in the woods I can’t explain. Can you help me investigate it?'”

So began Lewis’ fieldwork at paranormal sites.

There is no shortage of legends to research, he said.

Lewis receives approximately 200 emails every week from individuals around the country eager to share their personal experiences or stories.

Those tips are the start of his investigations.

“The first thing I like to do is research the case,” he said. “If it’s a haunting, I’ll look into the background, find out if these things have been going on for a long time. Try to sort fact from fiction. If the legend is ‘Old Man Lewis murdered his family,’ I want to make sure that happened.”

The next step is to travel to the location.

Lewis finds witnesses, conducts interviews and sorts through newspapers in historical archives.

He makes it a point to have a personal encounter with the site he is studying.

“In Marshalltown, when people say that when you sit in the cursed chair or Devil’s chair in Riverside Cemetery and you’ll be cursed or you die, have misfortune, mishap, bad luck – I want to sit there,” Lewis said. “I want to know what it feels like to sit in that chair to … figure out why people might be having these experiences.”

During his expeditions, he often is accompanied by colleagues or local research groups.

“I like having other people there not only because it’s safer if something were to happen, if you break a leg, … but also if something happens you have another witness and another set of eyes,” he explained.

Lewis enjoys uncovering clues that might help explain purported paranormal activity, but investigations also lead him to unexpected destinations.

“For me, half the adventure is the travel of it – hitting the back roads, stopping at the roadside attractions,” he said.

For instance, visiting the world’s largest Cheeto.

That is a common experience, Lewis observed. Many of the stories people share with him have less to do with the legends than the storytellers’ travel mishaps or visits to those unique sites.

Lewis conducted much of his research in Midwestern states.

He said this region of the country is distinctive.

“Every place around the world has their own legends and stories and beliefs; but what I love about the Midwest is people are forthcoming with their stories. They may not believe in it themselves but they’re willing to tell you sincerely about their cases,” Lewis said. “Not only do we have haunted legends, but we have UFO stories and mysterious creatures and a unique bizarreness that adds to the overall feeling of the Midwest.”

Lewis’ presentation is to explore some of those oddities, focusing on Iowa.

“One place is a small town called Tara,” he said.

Located west of Fort Dodge, a bridge referred to as “Terror Bridge” is said to be haunted with ghosts or werewolves, Lewis said.

Another legend concerns a bat-like creature that terrorized Van Meter.

“What I normally do is present what I found out, but then leave it up to the reader or audience to make up their own mind as to whether or not they believe these stories,” he said.

Lewis often shares directions to locations where his audience can have a firsthand encounter with the site.

“I hope that they don’t take my word for it either way – that they go out and investigate for themselves,” he said.

Of course, throughout his travels to remote country landscapes, fright is intrinsic to his occupation, Lewis said.

“I always say that when you go to these places, if you’re not getting scared, you’re not trying hard enough,” he said. “They’re creepy in themselves even if you don’t believe in ghosts or creatures. Just being out in the middle of nowhere, by yourself, late at night, wondering, ‘What if?’ I’m always scared when I go to these places. I think that’s part of the fun for me.”