Episode Details

What if our ghost stories aren't really about the dead, but about the parts of history we've never fully faced?

In Episode 464 of The Art Box, Steve welcomes acclaimed author, historian, and researcher Betsy Gaines Quammen for a captivating conversation about curiosity, storytelling, and the American West. Best known for her celebrated books American Zion and True West, Betsy returns with her remarkable new work, This Haunted Land.

Together, they explore Betsy's passion for deep research and the joy of following questions wherever they lead. From abandoned uranium mining communities in Colorado and the centuries-old walls of America's oldest fort to the forests once inhabited by the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker, Betsy reveals how folklore, memory, and haunted places can illuminate the stories our history books sometimes leave behind.

More than a collection of ghost stories, This Haunted Land is an invitation to listen, to landscapes, to forgotten voices, and to the echoes of America's past. It is a thoughtful, sometimes chilling, and ultimately hopeful conversation about history, place, and the enduring power of curiosity.

Join us for an unforgettable episode that reminds us that sometimes the best way to understand the present is to listen carefully to the whispers of the past.

Find Betsy's books at: https://www.betsygainesquammen.com/