Ghosts of the Rockies: Folklore and Haunted Tales of Colorado

Please join adjunct history faculty, Kelle Roberts on Wednesday, November 19, at 6pm in the auditorium. Colorado is a land rich with legends. From mining camp phantoms and railroad spirits to tales passed down in Indigenous, Hispanic, and immigrant communities, the state’s ghost stories carry far more than chills—they hold pieces of history. In this talk, we’ll explore how folklore has preserved community memory, explained the unexplainable, and offered comfort or caution during times of hardship. Rather than just telling spooky tales, we’ll uncover what these stories reveal about the people who lived here: their struggles with loss, their encounters with the unknown, and their hopes for justice or belonging. This lecture invites you to see Colorado’s ghost stories not only as entertainment, but as a living folklore that continues to connect past and present.

This lecture is free and open to the public.