Before the Catskills: Gilboa’s Fossil Forest
Did you know the Catskill region was once tropical—and south of the equator?! In this episode, Brett Barry visits the Gilboa Museum and Juried History Center to explore one of the oldest fossilized forests on Earth. Education Chair Kristen Wyckoff shares her decades-long passion for paleobotany, the story behind Gilboa’s world-famous Devonian tree stumps, and discoveries unearthed during the Schoharie Reservoir construction, dam restoration, and creek bed fossil hunts.
From lungfish and sea scorpions to the mysterious “snake tree,” we dig into the prehistoric past of upstate New York and learn how mud, minerals, and mural magic preserve a forest that predates the Catskills themselves.
🪨 Highlights
🌴 Gilboa’s tropical past—when the region was south of the equator
🦴 Fossil discoveries during Schoharie Reservoir construction
🎨 Kristen’s murals and museum exhibits
📚 A children’s book adventure through the Devonian
🐟 Sea creatures, spore trees, and sedimentary surprises
🏛️ How a generous hometown alum helped build a fossil-focused museum complex
🔗 Resources
Visit the museum: gilboafossils.org
Kristen Wyckoff’s children’s book: Dennis’s Devonian Adventure
Learn more: The Catskill Fossil Forest by Stein, Hernick, and Mannolini
📍 Broadcast Info
Kaatscast is now broadcasting a public radio edition! Saturdays at 11 AM on WJFF Radio Catskill (90.5 FM). Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @kaatscast.
