Revolution 250: Stories From The First Shore

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we examine Lord Dunmore, Virginia’s last royal governor. Once welcomed by the colony’s leaders, his decisions to shut down the legislature, flee to British ships, and issue a proclamation that reshaped the war helped hasten Virginia’s path to revolution.

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we examine Benedict Arnold before his betrayal. Once hailed as a hero of the Revolution, Arnold’s early service was marked by battlefield success—and mounting frustration with Congress. This episode explores how the foundations of his defection were laid long before it became history’s most famous turn.

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we explore the Thoroughgoods, a family whose history mirrors Virginia’s own. From an indentured servant who helped expand the colony to descendants divided by revolution, their story reveals how independence reshaped families, loyalties, and the land itself.

In early 1776, a tense standoff between British warships and Patriot forces ended with the bombardment of Norfolk. What began as a dispute over supplies quickly spiraled into destruction, leaving one of the colonies’ largest cities in ruins. This episode looks at how Norfolk became an early casualty of the Revolution.

In colonial Virginia, religious music ranged from pipe organs and formal hymns to simple psalms and early spirituals. Different faith communities worshipped in different ways, but together their voices created a shared soundscape in a society on the edge of revolution.

Christmas in Colonial Virginia takes listeners back to the Tidewater of the 1700s, when the holiday looked and felt very different from today. From candlelit homes and twelve days of Christmastide to taverns, plantation gatherings, and wartime upheaval, the program explores how Christmas was observed across colonial Virginia—and how the coming Revolution reshaped the season in Hampton Roads, inclu...

Billy Flora, a free Black sentry at the Battle of Great Bridge, fired the first shot and held his position under heavy fire. His last-minute move to slow the British advance shaped how the battle unfolded. This episode looks at his actions and why they mattered.

In December 1775, Patriots and British forces clashed at Great Bridge, a vital crossing south of Norfolk. The Patriot victory came quickly but carried major consequences, opening the way to Norfolk and shifting the momentum in Virginia. This episode explores how the battle unfolded and why it mattered.

Behind the battle lines was another fight—one for basic sustenance. Soldiers endured long stretches in camp, scarce supplies, and the uncertainty of their next meal. Discover how food shaped morale, endurance, and the Revolution itself.

During the American Revolution, many Native nations sided with Britain, hoping to slow colonial expansion into their lands. But tribes were divided, and the choices they made came with lasting consequences. This episode explores the difficult decisions facing Native communities during the war.

Robert Mursh, a Pamunkey student at the Brafferton Indian School, later became one of the Indigenous soldiers who fought in the American Revolution. From major battles to a year as a prisoner of war, his story reflects a complex and often overlooked chapter of Virginia’s past.

In 1775, the Revolution reached Virginia. At Kemps Landing, an early British victory fueled false confidence—only to collapse weeks later at Great Bridge. Explore how a brief skirmish helped shift power in Hampton Roads and accelerate Virginia’s march toward independence.

Join Barry Graham as he explores how Colonial Virginia was alive with sound—bawdy songs in taverns, genteel music in ballrooms, and rhythms carried into the fields by enslaved Africans. Music reflected English, Scottish, and African traditions, transcending class and connecting communities. Discover how sound became part of Virginia’s cultural identity and history!

Before Boston’s famous protest, Yorktown staged its own act of defiance. In 1774, townsmen dumped British tea into the York River—rejecting Parliament’s authority and proving rebellion had already reached Virginia’s shores. Discover the story of the Yorktown Tea Party.

The Siege at Yorktown is remembered as the last major battle of the American Revolution—but few know how the strategy, engineering, and coordination truly secured America’s independence. Historian Jim Gallagher of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown joins WHRO’s Connor Worley for an in-depth look at the tactics behind the victory that changed history.

In October 1775, a British supply ship ran aground near Hampton. When locals seized and burned it, Lord Dunmore launched the first British assault on a Virginia town. Hampton’s militia and townspeople fought back, repelling two days of attacks and forcing a retreat. Discover how this coastal skirmish became Virginia’s first Revolutionary battle

France gets most of the credit for aiding the American Revolution—but another European power made victory possible. Spain supplied money, weapons, and a global strategy that helped corner the British. Join WHRO as we speak with national historians to dig deeper into Spain's crucial role in American Independence and the fight against British forces at Yorktown. From hidden funding networks to darin...

In 1781, American and French forces surrounded the British at Yorktown in a campaign of precision, deception, and determination. The surrender that followed ended major fighting in the Revolution—and secured America’s independence.

Spain was America’s other great ally in the Revolution. From battlefield victories under Bernardo de Gálvez to the silver raised in Havana that funded Washington’s troops, Spain’s support was crucial—and nearly forgotten. Discover the story of America’s often-overlooked ally.

Colonial balls were stages of power and performance, where silks, minuets, and candlelight masked political tension. In autumn 1774, the guests danced at Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace for the final time at the Loyalist affair. Unaware, guests probably had no idea the enchanting ballroom music would soon give way to marching drums and gunfire. Discover how the last colonial ball signaled the end...

As Washington and Rochambeau’s armies marched toward Yorktown, thousands of Virginia militia under Governor Thomas Nelson Jr. stopped at Endview Plantation. It's spring, and the grounds offered water and rest before the encirclement that sealed British defeat. Discover how this colonial homestead became a witness to America’s victory.

Produced by award-winning producers, Dr. Barry Graham (with Connor Worley), we take a deeper listen to how Colonial Virginia was alive with sound—bawdy songs in taverns, genteel music in ballrooms, and rhythms carried into the fields by enslaved Africans. Drawing from English, Scottish, and African traditions, music transcended class and became part of Virginia’s cultural identity.

*Content Advisory - This episode contains descriptions of torture which may be unsettling to some listeners. Discretion is advised* Loyalty in a time of rebellion carried a heavy cost. Nearly one in five colonists sided with Britain during the Revolution, including immigrants, enslaved people, and Native allies. Seen as traitors by their communities, they endured harassment, violence, and the loss...

What was for dinner in colonial Virginia? Meals were hearty, seasonal, and deeply rooted in tradition. Indigenous crops, African influences, and European methods combined to create a distinctive culinary culture that reflected the colony’s diversity. Explore how everyday meals helped shape Virginia’s identity.

In colonial Virginia, music was everywhere. From bawdy ballads in taverns to candlelight concerts in Williamsburg. Blending English, Scottish, African, and European traditions, these sounds carried stories of love, politics, faith, and freedom. Discover how music became the heartbeat of Virginia’s culture and set the stage for revolution.