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 (https://www.gilboafossils.org) 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

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🌴 Gilboa’s tropical past—when the region was south of the equator

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🦴 Fossil discoveries during Schoharie Reservoir construction

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🎨 Kristen’s murals and museum exhibits

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📚 A children’s book adventure through the Devonian

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🐟 Sea creatures, spore trees, and sedimentary surprises

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🏛️ How a generous hometown alum helped build a fossil-focused museum complex


🔗 Resources

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Visit the museum: ⁠gilboafossils.org⁠ (https://www.gilboafossils.org)

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Kristen Wyckoff’s children’s book: ⁠Dennis’s Devonian Adventure⁠ (https://www.gilboafossils.org/product...)

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Learn more: ⁠The Catskill Fossil Forest⁠ (https://www.gilboafossils.org/product...)  by Stein, Hernick, and Mannolini


📍 Broadcast Info


Kaatscast is now broadcasting a public radio edition! Saturdays at 11 AM on WJFF Radio Catskill (https://wjffradio.org) (90.5 FM). Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram (  / kaatscast  ) @kaatscast.