The infamous Fox Sisters from upstate New York whose alleged communication with spirits in 1848 captivated the nation. The rapping sounds in their home were soon hailed as the voices of the dead, sparking a global fascination with the afterlife. But as their fame grew, so did the rumors of deception. What started as innocent wonder soon unraveled into a shocking revelation: the sisters' supernatural encounters were nothing more than clever tricks. 

Today we explore the thin line between belief and manipulation, the rise of a spiritual movement, and the lingering question—did the Fox Sisters fool the world, or did they believe their ghostly tales?

Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe. 

Connect with us on our socials: 

• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on TikTok
• Follow us on Facebook

Learn more at www.hauntedhistorypod.com.

Episode Source Material   

History of Modern Spiritualism by the BBC 
The Rise and Fall of the Fox Sisters Mediums by Buzzfeed Unsolved Network  
A Mentalist Explains: The Fox Sisters and the Birth of Spiritualism by Jeff Newman 
The History of Spiritualism by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  
How A Hoax by Two Sisters Helped Spark the Spiritualism Craze by Becky Little 
Maggie Fox, Co-Founder of American Spiritualism by Nancy Rubin Stuart 
They Spoke with the Dead by Barbara M. Weisberg  
A Skeleton’s Tale: The Origins of Modern Spiritualism by Joe Nickell 
A Magician Among the Spirits by Harry Houdini