Hometown History

Think of Las Vegas, and your mind likely conjures images of slot machines, neon lights, and opulent shows—not mushroom clouds on the horizon. Yet, there was a time when the spectacle of atomic bomb tests was as much a part of Vegas attraction as any headline act on the Strip. In this second part of "Vegas Beyond the Neon," we revisit a chapter in Las Vegas history when the city's flirtation with t...

Las Vegas is synonymous with glitzy casinos, electric nightlife, and monumental shows. But beyond the neon facade lies a vibrant hometown with a history as captivating as any of its world-famous acts. In today's episode, we peel away the tourist veil to reveal "The Other Side of Vegas," featuring none other than the esteemed historian Mark Hall-Patton, whose extensive knowledge paints a picture of...

In the shadow of the grand domes and opulent halls of the West Baden Springs Hotel and French Lick Resort lies a trove of untold stories, waiting to be discovered. Our previous episode with Jeff Lane unpeeled the layers of these historic resorts' general past, setting the stage for today's deep dive into the hidden nooks, crannies, and curious tales that these walls hold. Welcome back to Hometown...

Imagine a structure so grand and pioneering that it earns the title of the "8th Wonder of the World" upon its creation. Hometown History proudly presents the awe-inspiring saga of the West Baden Springs Hotel, whose colossal dome rose above southern Indiana's landscape in 1902, challenging the architectural limits of its era. Join us as we journey through the rise of a resort that captured the nat...

Imagine the courage it takes to strap into a vessel that defies gravity, to brush the very edge of the cosmos, only to have destiny reroute your journey. This episode of Hometown History takes us to the stars as we recount the story of Gus Grissom, a man whose name is etched in the annals of space exploration as a symbol of skill, bravery, and an extraordinary twist of fate. Grissom, earmarked by...

Joe Lee's pen has captured the harrowing resilience of a Holocaust survivor in stark black and white, but today, we turn the page to a different chapter of his life—one painted in the vibrant colors of joy and jest. Welcome back to Hometown History, where we revisit the remarkable life of Joe Lee, not just as the author behind 'Forgiveness: The Story of Eva Kor, Survivor of the Auschwitz Experimen...

Words can etch history into our minds, but when paired with images, they carve the stories into our souls. In this chapter of Hometown History we delve into a unique biography that transcends traditional storytelling—a visual and narrative odyssey into the life of Eva Kor, Holocaust survivor and founder of the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center. As I recounted my visit and discovery to...

The ember of hate that ignited the CANDLES Holocaust Museum two decades ago did what flames often fail to consider: it sparked a greater force, a resolve to rise and rebuild. Welcome back to "Hometown History Podcast," where today's episode reunites us with Troy Fears, the Executive Director at CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute, Indiana. In the aftermath of a shattering...

In the quiet hours where today fades into tomorrow, a sinister glow rose in Terre Haute, Indiana — a fire set with malice, intended to erase the somber echoes of history. This episode of "Hometown History Podcast" takes you to the chilling morning of November 16, 2003, when hatred struck in the form of a firebomb, ravaging the heart of the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center, a sanctuary...

[Part 2] This Mother’s Day, join Shane Waters on a chilling adventure featuring 14 podcasters as they share sinister stories of motherhood. Mother’s Day is typically a time to honor the love and sacrifices of mothers, but today we’ll be exploring the twisted tales that lurk behind the shadows.  It’s an extra special, two parts, more than two-hour, Mother’s Day event.  Podcasts are listed here in o...

This Mother’s Day, join Shane Waters on a chilling adventure featuring 14 podcasters as they share sinister stories of motherhood. Mother’s Day is typically a time to honor the love and sacrifices of mothers, but today we’ll be exploring the twisted tales that lurk behind the shadows.  It’s an extra special, two parts, more than two-hour, Mother’s Day event.  Podcasts are listed here in order of a...

Venture with us into the swaying sawgrass and serpentine waterways of the Florida Everglades, where the story of America's indomitable spirit is not written in ink, but in the resolve of the Miccosukee Indian Tribe. In this installment of "Hometown History Podcast," we delve into the extraordinary saga of the only Native American tribe that never bowed to the might of the U.S. Government — the Sem...

Imagine cruising down a quaint downtown street where the hum of your car treads across a melody etched in asphalt, a line that doesn't just divide two states but strums the strings of a rich musical heritage. In this episode of "Hometown History Podcast," we journey to the heart of northeastern Tennessee and into the embrace of Virginia, to a place where country music pulses in the very air and th...

Step into the world of southern Indiana, a place not forged by the clanging hammers of industry or the smokestacks of factories, but transformed by the delicate strokes of a paintbrush and the vision of one man. Today's episode of "Hometown History Podcast" paints a portrait of how art can become the economic and cultural cornerstone of a community. We're diving into the story of T.C. Steele, an a...

This Easter, join Shane Waters on a whimsical adventure featuring 13 podcasters as they share true stories of con artists and fake deaths. Delve into the magical world of the Enchanted Easterlands, where you’ll encounter peculiar characters and captivating true crime tales. Discover the history and origins of Easter, and experience a journey like no other.   It’s an extra special, two part, more t...

This Easter, join Shane Waters on a whimsical adventure featuring 13 podcasters as they share true stories of con artists and fake deaths. Delve into the magical world of the Enchanted Easterlands, where you’ll encounter peculiar characters and captivating true crime tales. Discover the history and origins of Easter, and experience a journey like no other.  It’s an extra special, two part, more th...

Imagine standing knee-deep in a frigid river, the current tugging at your boots, eyes narrowed in focus as you swirl a pan of silt and water – you’re not just looking for gold, you’re traveling back in time. In today's episode of "Hometown History Podcast," we're taking you along on a unique adventure that transcends the pages of history books and enters the tangible realm of experience. Join me,...

In the heart of southern Indiana, nestled among the echoes of melodies and strings, lies a monument to the father of Bluegrass—Bill Monroe . As we step inside his Bluegrass Hall of Fame Museum, I invite you to tune your ears to the notes of a trivia that harmonizes with the strings of American music history. Take a moment, listen closely; can you guess the answers to our musical queries? Who penne...

Abraham Lincoln's legacy looms large, not just in the annals of history, but also in the unique and fascinating details that distinguish his life's story. Did you know that our 16th president wasn't just a leader but a man of towering height, innovative mind, and even athletic prowess? In this second part of our journey through Lincoln's early years, we dive into the lesser-known aspects of his li...

Have you ever felt the presence of greatness, not in grand halls or towering monuments, but in the quiet, unassuming corners of the world? This is the essence of what I discovered at Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood National Memorial. Our 16th president, a man who shaped the fabric of American history, once roamed these woods and fields as a child, his future unwritten but destined for greatness. Lincoln...

The saga of Lakeview High School's indomitable 1963 football team continues in this concluding episode. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes—or, in this case, the dust—this team's story is a profound reminder of the power of perseverance and community. In the face of a divided nation, the young athletes of a small segregated school in South Carolina not only chased a ball across a chalked field bu...

Imagine stepping onto a football field, where the echo of your footsteps stirs not just the dust beneath your feet, but the whispers of history. This isn't any ordinary field; it's "the dust bowl," the unlikely crucible for the 1963 Lakeview High School South Carolina State Championship Football Team—a team that triumphed not only in sport but in spirit, during the turbulent times of segregation....

In our final chapter on the enigmatic history of New Harmony, Indiana, we pivot from past ideals to the present fascination with communal living. Have you ever toyed with the idea of joining or creating a commune? Have you pondered over the mechanisms that drive such communities or the reasons behind their often-inevitable demise? If these thoughts have ever crossed your mind, you're in the right...

…12 dates … …14 love gone wrong stories… …Will YOU be my Valentine? This Valentine’s Day, prepare for a unique podcast experience! Shane Waters will introduce 14 crime podcast hosts. Each host brings a new, love gone wrong true story to mix. It’s an extra special, two part, more than two-hour, Valentine event.  Part 2 of 2. Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance: In this Part 2 Episode: 1...

…12 dates … …14 love gone wrong stories… …Will YOU be my Valentine? This Valentine’s Day, prepare for a unique podcast experience! Shane Waters will introduce 14 crime podcast hosts. Each host brings a new, love gone wrong true story to mix. It’s an extra special, two part, more than two-hour, Valentine event.  Part 1 of 2. Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance: In this Part 1 Episode: 1...