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What befell the 115 inhabitants of the Roanoke Colony who mysteriously vanished in 1590? Left with only two cryptic clues—the words "CROATOAN" and "CRO" carved into a post and tree—this centuries-old American mystery continues to captivate our imaginations.

Governor John White's journey is particularly heartbreaking. After establishing the colony in 1587 with settlers including his own daughter Eleanor and newborn granddaughter Virginia, he sailed to England for supplies. What should have been a brief trip stretched into three agonizing years as the Anglo-Spanish War prevented his return. When White finally made it back to Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina, he discovered a ghost town where a thriving settlement once stood.

The most compelling theories suggest the colonists didn't vanish mysteriously but rather integrated with friendly Native American tribes. Archaeological evidence supports this idea, with discoveries showing English artifacts alongside indigenous items in the same soil layers. Researcher Scott Dawson argues the colonists likely joined the Croatoan tribe, with whom they'd established friendly relations, to escape starvation and conflict with hostile tribes. Other possibilities range from disease outbreaks to violent ends, though the complete absence of human remains raises questions about these darker scenarios.

Whether a tale of survival through cultural integration or America's first major disappearance, Roanoke's legacy endures in our cultural consciousness, inspiring everything from scholarly research to popular entertainment like American Horror Story. What's your theory about what happened to America's lost colonists? Share your thoughts and subscribe for more explorations of history's most fascinating mysteries.

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The shadowy history of Sachs Covered Bridge comes alive in our final Gettysburg episode as we explore one of America's most haunted structures. Built in 1854, this blood-red bridge harbors the restless spirits of three Confederate soldiers executed as spies—including a presence locals call "Tennessee" who mysteriously smokes cigarettes left on the bridge's ledge.

Under the cover of night, we witness the eerie stillness of Gettysburg Battlefield where thousands died during those fateful days in July 1863. Standing at its edge, a transparent soldier carrying a weapon materializes briefly before vanishing into the darkness. This fleeting encounter leaves us with the unmistakable feeling that the past never truly fades in this historic Pennsylvania town.

Beyond our personal experiences, we share bone-chilling accounts from others who've encountered Gettysburg's supernatural side. Meet the shop employee who fled her job after invisible hands scattered money throughout her office, and the skeptical biker named Charlie whose braided pigtails were repeatedly tugged by unseen forces in the orphanage basement. These stories remind us that Gettysburg doesn't just preserve history—it allows visitors to experience it in unexplainable ways.

Whether you're fascinated by Civil War history or paranormal phenomena, Gettysburg offers both in abundance. The town's charm extends beyond its haunted reputation, with welcoming locals and charming shops that make any visit worthwhile—ghostly encounters or not. Looking for your own supernatural adventure? Remember our golden rule: always politely inform spirits they cannot follow you home!

Email your personal paranormal experiences to [email protected] and visit sanctumofstrange.com to see photos from our Gettysburg expedition. Find us on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to continue exploring the strange and unexplained with us.

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The innocent question "What's your favorite childhood memory?" takes on a haunting significance as we step into the shadowed past of a Gettysburg orphanage where childhood itself was a nightmare for many.

Our adventure begins with strange experiences in town – mysterious tugs on my jacket with no one there, and somehow hearing my friend Jane's voice ask "Where's Nikki?" when she hadn't spoken a word. These unexplained moments foreshadowed our main destination: a haunted orphanage with a history darker than we ever anticipated.

What we discovered wasn't just another ghost tour, but a heart-wrenching journey into institutional cruelty. While the first headmistress created a safe haven, the second – Rosa T. Carmichael – transformed it into "hell on earth." We witness the remnants of her reign: a wooden cradle that rocks by itself, a blue door where a soldier's spirit appears, and most chillingly, a dungeon where children were beaten, chained, and tortured for the smallest infractions.

The narrow staircase leading down to the dirt-floored dungeon creates immediate claustrophobia, but nothing compares to the emotional weight of the space itself. Here, in pitch-black darkness, we roll marbles across the floor, trying to engage with a spirit named Tommy while EMF detectors spike around us. Nearby, a small hole in the wall – barely large enough for a child – still contains toys that mysteriously break overnight, crushed by some unseen force.

I leave behind a small red firetruck for the ghost children, a gesture that feels simultaneously futile and necessary. How do you comfort spirits trapped in trauma for over a century? This orphanage experience transcends ordinary ghost hunting, becoming instead a witness to suffering that refuses to fade with time.

Join us for this powerful exploration of Gettysburg's darker history, where the true horror isn't in jump scares or floating apparitions, but in recognizing the very real human cruelty that created these hauntings in the first place.

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This is the first part of our trip to Gettysburg PA. Talking about all the sights, ghosts and BOB!

Send us your strange and spoopy stories and it might be featured on an episode!

I little intro on things to come!