Katatra Vasquez

“Everyone has a history. What you do with it is up to you. Some repeat it. Some learn from it. The really special ones use it to help others.” – John Mark Green

Katatra Vasquez is an author, historian, and storyteller with a passion for uncovering the hidden stories in atomic era American history. Her mission is to inspire hope and unity, especially in children, by connecting them to our shared American human experience of hope through historical storytelling.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Katatra now calls Oak Ridge, Tennessee—once known as the Secret City—her home. As a graduate of Tuskegee University, her 20+ year career as an environmental scientist and historic preservation specialist has been dedicated to protecting American spaces and the stories they hold for future generations. Her work has garnered numerous accolades, and her commitment to history and preservation shines through her writing.

Katatra is the author of Atomic Hope: Our Words and Our Spaces, a unique cultural travel activity guide that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) to engage families in learning about African American contributions to Oak Ridge and beyond. She also penned the graphic novel Josie’s Hope: A Secret City Revealed, a thrilling look at the courage and determination of those who shaped the Secret City before it was know as the Secret City.

Her latest releases, Making a Little Red Wagon and its companion coloring book, invite young readers to discover the magic of collaboration and the value of every contribution. These beautifully illustrated works bring history to life, showing how teamwork and imagination can solve big problems and create something extraordinary.

In addition to her books, Katatra encourages visitors to explore Oak Ridge through a different lens with her self-guided tours, Freedom Day and A Secret City Revealed. Whether through her writing or tours, she reveals the untold stories that have shaped our nation’s history.