Though Savannah and New Orleans battle it out for which is the most haunted city in the United States, St. Augustine cannot be discounted just based on the centuries length of the city's existence. Ghost stories are a form of cultural history, people often use them to find a way to cope with grief or help make sense of unexplainable events.

Why do ghost tours, and other forms of dark tourism, take tragedies and romanticize them? Because it’s often easier for people to digest horrible history when presented in a fun “spooky” way. Therefore, the historical knowledge is passed forth, but it’s up to the person whether or not they want to confront the uncomfortable truth, or keep it as a fairytale.

In this talk, we will share tales from around the city learned through books, tours, and speaking to tourists, residents, and tour guides.

Nicole manages digital and physical collections and rotating exhibits. She is also focused on outreach assisting other institutions with their digital projects and collaborating on community projects. She holds an M.A. in History, with a focus on Public History and Archiving, and an M.I.S. in Library and Information Science.

This program will be presented on Monday, October 28 from 3 - 4 at River House (179 Marine St. in St. Augustine)

For ages 18 and up.