Terence McKenna
1946 – 2000

Terence McKenna

American ethnobotanist and mystic (1946–2000)

ethnobotanistlinguistphilosopheranthropologistethnologist
Born
1946-11-16, Paonia
Died
2000-04-03
Birthplace state
Colorado

Biography

Terence McKenna was born in Paonia, Colorado in 1946 and died in 2000. An ethnobotanist, linguist, philosopher, anthropologist, and author, he advocated for the responsible use of naturally occurring psychedelic plants and mushrooms. He lectured and wrote on psychedelic drugs, plant-based entheogens, shamanism, metaphysics, alchemy, language, philosophy, culture, technology, ethnomycology, environmentalism, and theories of human consciousness origins. Critical reception of his work was polarized, with some critics accusing him of promoting dangerous ideas while others praised his writing as groundbreaking and intellectually provocative.

Occupation

Terence McKenna is recorded as a ethnobotanist, a linguist, a philosopher, a anthropologist, a ethnologist, a biologist, a author and a writer, born in Colorado (1946–2000).

Connections to Colorado

Terence McKenna was born in Paonia, Colorado in 1946. Explore other notable figures from Colorado, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Colorado›Coloradohistory ›Historic sites in Colorado›
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Everything a full report reveals about Paonia

Terence McKenna came from Paonia. A full Aubrey report on Paonia pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Colorado

Other historical figures born in Colorado, ranked by historical prominence.

Willard Libby
Willard Libby
American physical chemist
Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey
American novelist (1935–2001)
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer (1883–1939)
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
American sociologist (1902 – 1979)
Edward Lawrie Tatum
Edward Lawrie Tatum
US genetics scientist (1909-1975)
John Searle
John Searle
American philosopher (1932–2025)
Dalton Trumbo
Dalton Trumbo
American screenwriter (1905–1976)

Frequently asked about Terence McKenna

Who was Terence McKenna?
Terence McKenna was American ethnobotanist and mystic (1946–2000), born in Colorado (1946 – 2000).
When and where was Terence McKenna born?
Terence McKenna was born on 1946-11-16 in Paonia.
When did Terence McKenna die?
Terence died on 2000-04-03.
What was Terence McKenna known for?
Terence McKenna is recorded as a ethnobotanist, a linguist, a philosopher, a anthropologist, a ethnologist, a biologist, a author and a writer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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