Maryland Unfolded

On this episode of Maryland Unfolded, we learn about the history of Indigenous people in the land now known as Maryland, from the time before British settlers arrived through the first centuries of colonization. Host Dr. Ashley Minner Jones is joined by living historian Drew Shuptar-Rayvis (Pekatawas MakataweU “Black Corn”) to discuss how Native people shaped the region and how Maryland’s contempo...

From colonial witchcraft accusations to 19th-century séances, Maryland’s history is full of stories about the supernatural. On this episode of Maryland Unfolded, host Mark Gunnery visits the Enoch Pratt Free Library to explore the history behind some of the state’s eeriest tales. First, Amanda Hughes, Manager of the Pratt’s Social Sciences and History Department, explains what it meant to be accus...

German immigrants have shaped Maryland’s history for generations, leaving their mark on everything from the farms of Frederick County to the churches, businesses, and cultural institutions of Baltimore. In this episode of Maryland Unfolded, we explore the waves of German immigration to Maryland, the communities they built, and the discrimination they sometimes faced, especially during times of war...

In the nineteenth century, oysters fueled Maryland’s economy—but competition over the Chesapeake’s oyster beds led to violent clashes known as the Oyster Wars. Host Gabe Ortis speaks with historian Noah Ulrich and oyster farmer Patrick Hudson about the Oyster Wars and their lasting impact on Maryland’s seafood culture, regulatory system, and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland Unfolded is...

For much of the nineteenth century, Black workers, both enslaved and free, dominated the ship caulking trade. The work was dangerous and demanding, but it also gave some Black Baltimoreans a path to economic power and autonomy, allowing them to buy their freedom, purchase property, support their families, and build community institutions. Among Baltimore’s best-known Black ship caulkers was Freder...

Long before Kentucky and Tennessee became synonymous with whiskey, Maryland was one of the country’s premier whiskey-producing states. Maryland played a central role in the development of American rye whiskey, but by the mid-20th century, most of the state’s distilleries were gone. Today, Maryland is reclaiming its rye whiskey tradition. On this episode of Maryland Unfolded, host Tom Hall talks wi...

Baltimore has many nicknames: the Monumental City, Charm City, the City That Reads. But one of its oldest is Mobtown, a name earned through a long history of political violence, riots, and street fighting. And at no time was that reputation more deserved than in the decade before the Civil War, when election days in Baltimore meant armed gangs, volunteer firefighters, police officers, and politica...

Host Mark Gunnery climbs aboard the Pride of Baltimore II for a three-night voyage from Norfolk to Baltimore, experiencing firsthand what life is like aboard Maryland's iconic sailing ambassador. Along the way, he explores the history of Baltimore Clippers, their role as privateers during the War of 1812, the loss of the original Pride of Baltimore, and the community effort that brought the ship b...

LGBTQ+ people have long been part of Maryland's story, but their histories have often gone untold. In this episode of Maryland Unfolded, host Dr. Kalima Young speaks with public librarian and historian Ben Egerman about his research into Maryland's LGBTQ+ past and his book, A Gay Little History of Maryland: Volume 1. Together, they discuss a 19th-century trans horse thief, Black drag balls during...

Two hundred and fifty years after the Declaration of Independence, it's easy to forget just how controversial the American Revolution was. Marylanders served on both sides of the conflict. Some joined the Continental Army in support of independence from Great Britain, while others remained loyal to the British Crown. For Black Marylanders, the choice was especially fraught. The Continental Army in...

In the premiere episode of Maryland Unfolded, host Marc Steiner explores two distinct chapters of Maryland history. First, he speaks with political scientist Matthew Crenson about Baltimore politics in the Revolutionary era, examining the often-contentious relationship between the city and the rest of Maryland and how the Revolution shaped state politics for generations. Then, Steiner celebrates t...