Fall Lecture Series: Haunted by Slavery

Join us on October 22nd at 5:30 PM at Dinosaur Journey for a thought-provoking presentation by Dr. Sean Gallagher, Assistant Professor of History at Colorado Mesa University, titled “Haunted by Slavery.” This talk delves into the unsettling intersection of ghost stories and America’s history of slavery, examining how supernatural folklore often reflects the hard truths we seek to avoid.

Dr. Gallagher explores how cities like Savannah and Charleston use ghost tours to evoke the spirits of enslaved African Americans, and how the haunting imagery of the antebellum South—Victorian estates, willow trees, and walking daguerreotypes—reveal deeper fears and repressed memories. Through tales of apparitions, demons, and even the myth of zombies, Dr. Gallagher argues that Americans remain haunted by the past, still fearing the possibility of an uprising by those once enslaved.

Don’t miss this captivating exploration of folklore, memory, and the unresolved legacies of slavery.

This is a free event for CMU students and Museums of Western Colorado members. We welcome members from the community to attend for a $5 General Admission ticket, which can be purchased at the event.