Bio
Greg Caggiano is an award-winning historian, lecturer, author, and consultant. He holds a degree in history from New Jersey City University and NJ State teaching certifications in history and elementary education.
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Since 2014, he has lectured as an instructor for Brookdale Community College in their Lifelong Learning department. In 2022, Greg was given the Invitational Lecture Grant Award by their Friends group for his presentation titled "Ernest Shackleton and the Age of Antarctic Exploration". He has also worked many years as a field guide for the Ocean Institute on Sandy Hook, which provides K-12 school field trips focused on local marine life, maritime history, and the history of the US Military’s presence at Fort Hancock. This program began at Brookdale and is now with Clean Ocean Action as the Seaside Environmental Academy.
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Aside from Brookdale, Greg has spoken to groups of all ages at numerous locations including colleges, libraries, museums, historic sites, community and senior centers, active adult communities, a military base, and even a bar/speakeasy! In his spare time, he has served on the Board of Directors of two museums: the Proprietary House in Perth Amboy, and most recently the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society, housed at the Strauss Mansion Museum. As a firm believer in volunteering and giving back to the community, he has helped fundraise tens of thousands of dollars for historic preservation over the years.
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Greg's first book, Investigating the Strauss Mansion, was published in 2014 by the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society. He recently had a second, Legends and Hauntings of the Jersey Bayshore, published in 2024 by Fonthill Media. In 2019 he helped co-edit the tour guide for the Strauss Mansion Museum, and recorded an audio version. Greg has also written for magazines such as Weird N.J. and Garden State Legacy. His work and research has been referenced in the New York Daily News, New York Times, Texas Monthly, Lancaster New Era, Asbury Park Press, NJ.Com, and Today.
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You can reach out to Greg by using the contact form on this website. He is available for speaking engagements to your group or organization, and also for private consulting on writing, social media marketing, fundraising, historical research, and food/beverage/hospitality.
Presentations
Greg Caggiano is known for his energetic and passionate speaking style, and a penchant for making people laugh. Whether in-person or through Zoom, a lecture by Greg to your organization is sure to have your members asking for more.
He lectures on a wide variety of topics within New Jersey, American, and world history, as well as lighter subjects such as the histories of liquor and food. As an avid paranormal investigator and researcher, Greg also speaks on numerous topics relating to the paranormal, including investigating techniques and methods, ghost stories at famous historic sites he personally experienced, and various folklore, legends, and occult topics. Greg and his paranormal group Ghosts on the Coast are available for hands-on workshops, full paranormal investigations of your location, and even fundraising assistance for non-profits and historic sites.
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These are some of the topics Greg can be booked for. They range from 60 to 120 minutes. Some can be custom-made to fit whatever structure or time-frame you require. Don't see a topic that interests you? Just ask! Greg loves to research new material and can put something together for your organization.
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Please note that due to Greg's lectures about paranormal and "creepy" subjects, October is usually very busy. Please consider booking fall dates as early as possible.
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General American/World History
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Booth, Lincoln, and the Shot that Changed America (90 minutes)
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The Titanic (90 minutes)
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Ernest Shackleton and the Age of Antarctic Exploration (90 minutes)
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Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life, Times, and Tragedies (60 minutes)
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How Did they Die? Famous Deaths of Famous People (60 and 90 minute versions)
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Monmouth County, New Jersey History
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NEW: Old Cemeteries of Eastern Monmouth County (60 minutes, AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2025)
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Mobsters and Mayhem: Prohibition on the Jersey Shore (45, 60, 90, and 120 minute versions)
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Colonel Tye and the Black Loyalist Movement (45 minutes)
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Slavery in Monmouth County (90 minutes)
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A Virtual Tour of the Strauss Mansion Museum & the Victorian Era in Atlantic Highlands (90 minutes)
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Robert Mantell: The Most Famous Person You've Never Heard Of (90 minutes)
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Culinary History
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The History of Liquor (60 and 90 minute versions)
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The History of Food: From Apples to Ziti (90 minutes)
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The History of Food: From Presidents to Pizza (90 minutes)
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The History of Food: What the Presidents Ate (60 minutes)
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The History of Food: An Army Marches on Its Stomach (60 minutes)
Paranormal/Occult Subjects
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The Haunted History of New Jersey (90 minutes)
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Book Talk: Researching Myths and Legends (90 minutes)
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Ghost Hunting 101 (90 minutes)
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Hands-On Paranormal Workshop (90 and 120 minute versions)
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Vampires: History, Myth, and Film (90 minutes)
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The History of Witchcraft (60 minutes)
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The Devil: A Biography (90 minutes)
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Multi-Session Power Courses (total hours can be broken into as many sessions desired)
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A Journey Through the American Civil War (6 hours)
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Reconstructing Reconstruction (4 hours)
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The History of Food: Famous Feasts (4.5 hours)​
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2025 Events
Upcoming​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​"Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life, Times, and Tragedies"
Jersey Shore Civil War Roundtable
Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Wednesday, May 14 at 7 PM
"Prohibition Secrets of Eastern Monmouth County"
Oceanic Free Library, Rumson, NJ
Thursday, May 15 at 7 PM
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"Botanicals and Booze"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Friday, May 16 at 5:30 PM
"The History of Liquor"
Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls, NJ
Saturday, May 17 at 1:30 PM
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"Ernest Shackleton and the Age of Antarctic Exploration"
Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ
Tuesday, June 10 at 11 AM
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"Botanicals and Booze"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Thursday, June 12 at 6 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Deep Cut Gardens, MIddletown, NJ
Friday, June 13 at 6 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Deep Cut Gardens, MIddletown, NJ
Thursday, June 26 at 6 PM
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"The American Civil War" (3 sessions)
Brookdale Community College
Tuesday, July 1, 8, 15 at 11 AM
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"Botanicals and Booze"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Thursday, July 17 at 6 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Friday, July 18 at 6 PM
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"How Did They Die?"
Monroe Township Senior Center, Monroe, NJ
Monday, July 28 at 1:30 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Thursday, July 31 at 6 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Deep Cut Gardens, MIddletown, NJ
Friday, August 8 at 6 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Friday, August 15 at 6 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Ocean County Library, Jackson, NJ
Wednesday, September 3 at 6 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Ocean County Library, Toms River, NJ
Monday, September 8 at 6 PM
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"Ernest Shackleton and the Age of Antarctic Exploration"
Ocean County Library, Brick, NJ
Tuesday, September 9 at 6 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Ocean County Library, Point Boro, NJ
Friday, September 12 at 2 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Monmouth County Library, Wall, NJ
Monday, September 15 at 2 PM
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"Ernest Shackleton and the Age of Antarctic Exploration"
Ocean County Library, Manchester, NJ
Tuesday, September 23 at 2 PM
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"The Titanic"
Ocean County Library, Lakewood, NJ
Thursday, September 25 at 2 PM
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"Old Cemeteries of Eastern Monmouth County"
Monroe Township Senior Center, Monroe, NJ
Monday, October 6 at 2 PM
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"How Did They Die?"
New Jersey National Guard Militia Museum, Sea Girt, NJ
Saturday, October 11 at TBD
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"The Haunted History of Monmouth County"
Monmouth County Historical Association, Freehold, NJ
Thursday, October 16 at 7 PM
(Virtual)
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"The Haunted History of New Jersey"
Harmony Network, Jackson, NJ
Monday, October 27 at 1:30 PM
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"The Haunted History of New Jersey"
Canal Walk, Somerset, NJ
Thursday, October 30 at 7 PM
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Past
"Colonel Tye and the Black Loyalist Movement in Monmouth County"
National Guard Militia Museum, Sea Girt, NJ
Friday, May 9 at 1 PM
"Botanicals and Booze"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Friday, April 25 at 5:30 PM
"Booth, Lincoln, and the Shot That Changed America"
Ocean County Library, Brick, NJ
Monday, April 14 at 6:30 PM
"Ernest Shackleton and the Age of Antarctic Exploration"
Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls, NJ
Saturday, April 12 at 1:30 PM
Book Talk: "Researching Myths and Legends"
Oceanic Free Library, Rumson, NJ
Wednesday, April 9 at 7 PM
"Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life, Times, and Tragedies"
Monroe Township Senior Center, Monroe, NJ
Monday, March 24 at 2 PM
"Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life, Times, and Tragedies"
Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ
Wednesday, March 19 at 10:30 AM
"Prohibition in Monmouth County"
Navesink Library, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Thursday, March 13 at 7 PM
"Mobsters and Mayhem"
East Brunswick Senior Center
Monday, March 10 at 11:30 AM
"Botanicals and Booze"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Friday, March 7 at 5:30 PM
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"How Did They Die?"​
Villas of Jumping Brook, Neptune, NJ
Thursday, March 6 at 1 PM
"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Canal Walk, Somerset, NJ
Sunday, March 2 at 2 PM
"Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life, Times, and Tragedies"
Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls
Saturday, March 1 at 1:30 PM
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Friday, February 28 at 5:30 PM
"Booth, Lincoln, and the Shot that Changed America"
Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls
Saturday, February 15 at 1:30 PM
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"Colonel Tye and the Black Loyalist Movement"
Monroe Township Senior Center, Monroe, NJ
Tuesday, January 21 at 10:30 AM
(Virtual)
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"Mobsters and Mayhem"
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
Friday, January 10 at 5PM
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"Ernest Shackleton and the Age of Antarctic Exploration"
Canal Walk, Somerset, NJ
Sunday, January 5 at 2 PM​
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Get in Touch
For consultation and booking inquiries, please contact Greg using the form on this website.
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Greg is available for speaking engagements to your group or organization both in-person and virtually through Zoom.
Check Out Greg's Local History Documentary Series!
"Haunted History" is a documentary series launched by Greg's paranormal team Ghosts on the Coast in 2023. Throughout the year, they feature new specials highlighting historic locations, discussing their history and folklore, and then investigating to see if they are haunted. Greg hopes these will stir up interest at sometimes forgotten historic sites, prompting people to visit them.
Selected Publications
Books and Journal Articles
Ghost Hunting Confidential: Investigating the Strauss Mansion
Atlantic Highlands Historical Society
William Franklin and the Price of Dissent
Garden State Legacy
The Invented History of Port Monmouth's "Spy House"
Garden State Legacy
Legend and Hauntings of the Jersey Bayshore
Fonthill Media