Banjo Strings and Drinking Gourds

Being located in the Shenandoah Valley, we don't often talk about ships and the navy. For this 4th of July, however, we thought we'd bring in our ship expert, Mark, to talk about the role of navies during the American Revolution. In this episode, we'll discuss shipbuilding, sailor impressment, and just how a small, upstart American fleet managed to mostly hold its own against the strongest navy in...

Today's episode focuses on the earliest movement toward abolition. Who were the movers and shakers who started a movement that changed the world? In this first of two parts, we discuss just who was involved in protesting slavery and its egregious loss of life and liberty from the earliest moments. Britain's empirical aspirations rested firmly on the backs of enslaved persons throughout her colonie...

We decided that with summer vacation coming up, we'd help out with the often-tiresome search for that beach read. In this episode, we review Matt Siegel's 2021 book, The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat. As historians, there were a few nit-picky things, but overall, this was an enjoyable, easy read that we highly recommend for all your summer...

Despite Alex's promise to never again produce an episode on the amorphous idea of a single century, here we have a brief, scattershot attempt at introducing the 18th century. It's a pretty sure bet that there will be many episodes springing off the topics raised in this podcast, hopefully in the far distant future. Intro Music: Zac Bell Transition Music:  European Archive: Henry Purcell, The...

In this episode, our guest, Steve Frysinger, discusses medical interpretation. He explains the difference between medical interpretation and reenactment, how someone can learn about historic medicine, and some interesting anecdotes about medicine in the past. Medical history is not for the squeamish! Intro Music: Zac Bell Transition Music: Zac Bell End Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana Cover Art: Emi...

Lights, camera, action! In this episode, we take a peek at what kind of discussions can happen around the breakroom table at the Frontier Culture Museum regarding pop culture. Movies, books, TV shows, video games, toys...all of these are vehicles for historical content and of course, historical interpreters have a lot of feelings about all of it.  Intro Music: Zac Bell Closing Music: Jean Cla...

This episode started as Alex's ambitious project to encapsulate just why the 17th century should be considered a formative century, one that had a direct impact on the formation of the modern world. That...may not be what actually happened. We did learn a valuable lesson, however, namely that we should not attempt to cram such a broad, wide-ranging topic into a typical episode. But, we did have a...

To finish our special Women's History Month series, Mary Kate describes an unusual aspect of women's history: women in trades. As one of the Frontier Culture Museum's blacksmiths, Mary Kate is well-versed in the historical role of women participating in the so-called men's trades. In this episode, she describes a fictional blacksmithing family and the role of the women with that trade.

Continuing our Women's History Month series, Makayla details the life of a Virginia farmer's wife in the mid-19th century. Her recounting includes actual quotes from contemporary sources, like the American Frugal Housewife, first published in 1828. Be sure to compare this Day in the Life to the others across time and place. Music: Zac Bell Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

We're continuing our set of episodes for Women's History Month. Today, Misti describes a spring day in the life of women of the Eastern Woodlands. Seasonal and year-round activities each have their own place in the day and the visitor to a village can observe the rhythms of life.

For Women's History Month, we thought we'd change things up a bit and give you a taste of what a typical day would be like for some of the women we talk about at the Frontier Culture Museum. This month, we'll be bringing you four short episodes, in both first and third person, that paint a picture of daily life for women of the past. This week, we start in the 17th century with a typical spring da...

In this episode, we take a turn for the serious in observance of Black History Month. Mark, who has been a guest previously discussing navigation and shipping, talks to us about the traumatic and often deadly journey from freedom to enslavement via the Middle Passage.  Intro Music: Zac Bell Close Music: Jean-Claude Hatungimana Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

Have you ever thought about how easy it is to buy clothes in the modern world? Or how much automation goes in to making them? In the past, of course, everything was more labor intensive, particularly in the pre-industrial periods. But that labor intensity meant that finished products often held a higher societal and economic value. In this episode, we (attempt to) figure out just why clothes were...

For another episode on current topics, we feature Makayla Baker Paxton discussing the long history of inoculation and vaccines. Featuring such notable figures as Catherine the Great, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, the story of vaccines, ever present in our minds today, has many similarities with the situation under COVID-19. Intro Music: Zac Bell End Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana Cover...

In this episode, we talk about archaeology: what it is, why we care, and how it interacts with history. Archaeology and the archaeological record is a valuable resource for knowing how people lived in the past. When written records are scarce or misleading, archaeology can fill in the gaps. The physical traces left behind by people tell their own stories. Open Music: Zac Bell Close Music: Jean Cla...

In this holiday episode, we discuss the myths, misconceptions, and evidence (or lack thereof) surrounding the first Christmas tree. This ubiquitous holiday decoration doesn't have as simple of an origin as you might think.  Music by Julius_H from Pixabay Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

In this episode, we dramatize a holiday story written in 1883. The adventures of the Peterkin family were chronicled by Lucretia P. Hale throughout the mid to late 19th century. The well-intentioned, but slightly sideways, family tended to create their own obstacles and were usually saved by a "Lady from Philadelphia." This Christmas installment is a perfect case in point! Voices:  Mr. Peterk...

In this episode, which we recorded outside in August (cicadas, road noise, and all), our guest discusses the vernacular styles of architecture housed at the Frontier Culture Museum. He also discusses how those styles were brought over to America and elements were further blended and cherrypicked, creating new styles of vernacular structures.  Intro and Transition Music: Zac Bell End Music: Je...

This episode, we invite the Executive Director of the Frontier Culture Museum, Dr. Megan Newman, to talk about some exciting up-coming projects and improvements to the museum. We also discuss some of the impact COVID-19 has had on the FCM and Dr. Newman's favorite visitor experience. Intro and Transition Music: Zac Bell Exit Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana Cover Art: Emily Noble Day Find us at fron...

We're back with a new season! And just in time for some chilling local legends and lore from around Staunton and the Shenandoah Valley. Our guests this episode tell some of the creepy stories brought by immigrants into the Valley and some that are more homegrown. Enjoy the spooky kickoff to season two! Also, check out our new blo g for more details about each episode and further sources! Intro Mus...

Ever heard the old chestnut that women in the past often died by flaming petticoat? How about the one that people were shorter in the past? Ever wondered if everything "they say" is true? Then this is the episode for you! We're busting, or not, some of the commonly held perceptions and common wisdom about the past. Be prepared to be surprised! We're also going to be taking a short hiatus from podc...

Happy Independence Day! In this episode, we've veered off the traditional focus on the Revolution and the Declaration of Independence to focus on the bigger picture of martial conflicts in the years before 1776. Just what was happening to help form the crucible that would produce open rebellion against England? Our guests detail conflicts you may not have heard of that happened on American soil or...

You may have heard of Juneteenth, which just became a Virginia state holiday. But what is so special about that date? Join us as we explore the meaning behind the observance of the day, the traditions involved, and some of the music important to the day. Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana and Mark Mazzochi            Modified: Work, John Wesley, Fisk University Jubilee Singers, Alfred Garfield King, N...

We went a little overboard with our research into London in 1666 for our Worst Years in History podcast. We didn't want to publish an hour and a half episode, so here's the stuff that didn't make the cut the first time! London in 1665 and 1666 was nobody's idea of a good time, but this episode looks a little closer at just what was going on and gives you some first-hand accounts of fire, warfare,...

Have you ever wondered how a museum decides what goes into a historic house? Or when to use artifacts or reproductions? Then this is the episode for you! Joining us is our Curator, David Puckett, who will answer our questions about what curation is, how decisions are made, and all the research that goes into every object a visitor sees on site. Intro and Transition Music: Zac Bell End Music: Jean...