Jannette Quackenbush is a folklorist, historian, and author of more than forty books exploring authentic American ghost stories, cryptids, and folklore. She is the founder of the 21 Crows American Folklore Archives, a national project documenting hauntings, legends, and oral traditions across the United States through verified historical sources.
Research & Work
Her research combines archival investigation with fieldwork. She combs through historic newspapers, courthouse records, and manuscripts to uncover firsthand accounts of hauntings, disasters, and strange encounters. Through interviews, local archives, and travel across the U.S., Quackenbush preserves stories that link folklore to real historical events and people.
Publications
Quackenbush is the author of the Haunted Ohio, Haunted West Virginia, and Haunted Pennsylvania series, as well as The Big Book of American Ghost Stories and The Big Book of American Cryptids. Her works have been recognized for their authenticity and depth, drawing from verified documents rather than modern embellishments or “tourist lore.”
Media Features
Jannette’s work and research have been featured in multiple news outlets highlighting her efforts to preserve authentic American folklore and Appalachian history:
- “How the Ghosts of Moonville Are Keeping the Town’s History Alive” — Ohio Newsroom / State News, 2023
A feature highlighting Jannette Quackenbush’s work preserving the history and folklore of Moonville, Ohio, and the real events behind its legendary ghost stories.
https://www.statenews.org/news/2023-10-12/how-the-ghosts-of-moonville-are-keeping-the-towns-history-alive- Telegram News Interview (Jackson, Ohio) — The Telegram News, Jackson, Ohio, 2023
An interview discussing Ohio ghost stories, folklore, and Jannette’s work as a folklorist and author. The segment has been shared via Telegram News’ Facebook video:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A6mssHjzL/- “Spooky Spots to Visit in Southern West Virginia” — Visit Southern West Virginia
A travel feature mentioning paranormal investigator and writer Jannette Quackenbush in connection with haunted locations in southern West Virginia.
https://visitwv.com/blog-post/spooky-spots-to-visit-in-southern-west-virginia/- “North Market Past: A History of the 143-Year-Old Business” — 614Now, 2019
A historical feature on Columbus’ North Market citing research from Jannette Quackenbush’s book Columbus Ohio Ghost Hunter Guide to trace the site’s origins as the Old North Graveyard.
https://614now.com/2019/food-drink/north-market-past-a-history-of-the-143-year-old-business- “Moonville Night Hikes” — Hocking Hills Tourism and Visitor Association / thehockinghills.org, 2024
- The official Hocking Hills tourism bureau highlights Jannette Quackenbush’s Moonville Night Hikes—guided events exploring the haunted history of the Moonville Tunnel and the folklore of Vinton County, Ohio.
- https://thehockinghills.org/Moonville_Night_Hikes.htm
- Mothman Festival Interview — WOUB Public Media, 2019
Coverage of the Mothman Festival featuring an interview with Haunted Hocking author Jannette Quackenbush about documenting unexplained phenomena and regional folklore.
https://woub.org/2019/10/30/video-reporting-from-the-2019-mothman-festival/- “That’s Mine — A Ghost Story of Moonville Tunnel (The Brakeman)” — Sometime Between Dusk & Dawn Podcast, 2023
A narrated ghost story and historical exploration of the haunted Moonville Tunnel, written and told by folklorist Jannette Quackenbush as part of her Sometime Between Dusk & Dawn series.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/betweenduskanddawn/episodes/Thats-Mine—A-Ghost-Story-of-Moonville-Tunnel–The-Brakeman-e13euth- “It Ain’t No Whistlin’ — Jack in Moonville” — Sometime Between Dusk & Dawn Podcast, 2023
An episode hosted by folklorist and author Jannette Quackenbush exploring the legend of “Jack” at the Moonville Tunnel in Ohio, combining historical accounts and ghost story traditions.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/betweenduskanddawn/episodes/It-Aint-No-Whistlin-Jack-in-Moonville-e398tc7- “Haunted Ohio — Dark Journeys with Jannette Quackenbush” — YouTube Channel, 2025
A video episode from Jannette Quackenbush’s YouTube series Dark Journeys with Jannette, exploring real Ohio ghost stories and the history behind America’s most haunted places.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M5eOWD_Wwg- “Hocking Hills Visitors Guide 2024” — Great Lakes Publishing, 2024
- Featured in the visitor’s guide for the Hocking Hills region (pages 16-17), spotlighting author and folklorist Jannette Quackenbush and her work documenting local haunted history and hiking folklore.
- Link to the guide: https://issuu.com/greatlakespublishing/docs/hocking_hills_visitors_guide_2024
These stories document her long-standing contributions to cultural preservation and her role in reviving forgotten histories through ghost stories and regional legends.