Dave Does History

On this episode of Dave Does History , we confront one of the darkest and most overlooked chapters of Reconstruction—the Colfax Massacre of 1873. Over a hundred Black men were killed defending their right to vote and hold office in a small Louisiana parish. Their killers walked free. We dig into the political chaos, the brutal events of Easter Sunday, and the Supreme Court decision that crippled f...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we fire up the rockets and revisit one of the boldest gambles in American spaceflight: the launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-1 in April 1981. This was not a test run—it was the first flight of a brand-new spacecraft with astronauts aboard. We will meet Commander John Young and Pilot Robert Crippen, unpack the mission’s high-stakes challenges, and explor...

This week on Dave Does History , we dive into the story behind the birth of the United States Navy Submarine Force. On April 11, 1900, the Navy quietly purchased a strange, cigar-shaped vessel called Holland VI , changing naval warfare forever. We explore the life of inventor John Philip Holland, the trials of his revolutionary design, and how one stubborn Irish schoolteacher reshaped the future o...

On April 10, 1963, USS Thresher —the Navy’s most advanced nuclear submarine—slipped beneath the Atlantic for deep-dive trials... and never resurfaced. In this episode of Dave Does History , we explore the events of that fateful day, the suspected cause of the disaster, and how the loss of 129 souls reshaped the U.S. Navy forever. It’s a story of innovation, tragedy, and transformation. Listen now...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we journey back to April 9, 1865 — the day the guns finally fell silent at Appomattox Court House. It wasn’t just the end of a war; it was the beginning of reconciliation. We’ll walk the weary roads with Lee’s starving army, sit inside the McLean House where Grant offered mercy, and witness the quiet dignity that defined one of America’s most powerful moments...

In this episode of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live , we head north—way north—to uncover the bizarre moment when the United States almost claimed part of Greenland. It started with a bad map, involved a lost Danish expedition, and ended with two frostbitten heroes proving the truth. From mistaken geography to geopolitical consequences, Dave unpacks how a simple cartographic error nearly redrew...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we uncover the oily roots of America’s first major political scandal: Teapot Dome. Long before Watergate, this 1920s tale of secret deals, bribes, and backroom betrayals rocked the nation and shook public trust in government. Join Dave as he explores how a dusty Wyoming oil field, a red-faced Cabinet secretary, and a few well-connected oil barons brought sham...

Join Dave Does History as we explore the life and legacy of Renaissance master Raphael—born in 1483 in the cultured court of Urbino, and destined to become one of the most beloved painters in Western art. In this episode, we uncover how Raphael rose from orphaned prodigy to the Pope’s favorite artist, creating timeless masterpieces like The School of Athens and the iconic Madonnas. With insight, w...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we shine a long-overdue spotlight on Benjamin Harrison V—Founding Father, Virginia governor, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Born into privilege at Berkeley Plantation, Harrison stood tall—literally and politically—among the giants of his age. He helped shape the birth of America, raised a future president, and left behind a legacy that still e...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we turn our gaze to ancient Rome and the stormy life of Emperor Caracalla—warrior, builder, butcher, and the man behind one of the bloodiest family feuds in imperial history. Born into power and raised on ambition, Caracalla ruled an empire with a sword in one hand and a scowl carved into marble. From the grandeur of the Baths of Caracalla to the chilling mur...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we saddle up and gallop into one of the most iconic yet short-lived chapters of the American West—the Pony Express. Born out of urgency and ambition in 1860, this daring mail service bridged nearly 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, linking East to West in just ten days. Though it ran for only 18 months, its legend endures. We’ll explore the facts, the folklore,...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we dive into one of the most pivotal speeches in American history—President Woodrow Wilson’s April 2, 1917 address to Congress, calling for a declaration of war against Germany. With a nation divided and neutrality hanging by a thread, Wilson laid out his case in moral and measured tones. Why did America finally join the Great War? What tipped the scales—from...

April 1st isn't just for pranksters—it's for historians with a wicked sense of humor. In this episode on Bill Mick Live , Dave peels back the glittery nonsense of April Fools’ Day to uncover its shadowy (and often fictional) past. From Chaucer’s chicken to a Flemish prank poem, and the legendary hoax that duped the Associated Press, it all leads to one irresistible conclusion: we should be...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we journey back to March 31, 1870—one day after the Fifteenth Amendment was certified. In a small town called Perth Amboy, New Jersey, a man named Thomas Mundy Peterson quietly made history. Born to an enslaved mother and a free father, Peterson became the first African American to cast a vote under the new constitutional protections of the Fifteenth Amendmen...

On March 30, 1981 , a bullet changed history—and a jar of peanut butter changed my life. In this episode of Dave Does History , I take you back to the surreal day President Reagan was shot, seen not from a D.C. press room, but through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old navigating high school, Navy dreams, and a cantankerous grandfather with strong opinions and crunchy peanut butter ambitions. This i...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we turn our attention to a man many have forgotten—but whose actions echo through every peaceful transfer of presidential power in American history. John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States, never won the office by vote, yet he forever changed the presidency. From Virginia aristocrat to accidental Commander-in-Chief, Tyler’s term was riddled with...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we saddle up and ride west—far west—to the rugged terrain of New Mexico in 1862. While most folks picture Civil War battles back east, there was a fiery clash in the high desert that proved just as pivotal. Known as the “Gettysburg of the West,” the Battle of Glorieta Pass was a bold Confederate gamble to seize the Southwest—and its gold. But what unfolded in...

In the wake of the Civil War, America faced a new battle—not for territory, but for the soul of the republic. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 aimed to secure basic rights for newly freed African Americans, but President Andrew Johnson had other ideas. His veto of the bill ignited a fierce showdown with Congress, laying bare the deep rifts in post-war America. Today we explore the Act’s introduction,...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we are heading back to 1351 for one of the most curious, chivalrous, and downright cinematic episodes of the Hundred Years’ War—the Combat of the Thirty. Picture it: thirty knights loyal to England, thirty to France, meeting under a lone oak tree in Brittany for a fight to the death—not for land, not for gold, but for honor. Or so the story goes. Was it a nob...

This morning on Dave Does History , we head back to 1805 for a political showdown that nearly shattered the balance of power in America. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase —a signer of the Declaration and a fiery Federalist—stood trial in the Senate, impeached by Jefferson’s allies for partisan bluster from the bench. But was it justice, or just politics? Today we unpack how a bitter feud between...

Born Erik Weisz in 1874, Harry Houdini became the most famous escape artist in history—and one of the most fascinating figures of the early 20th century. In this episode of Dave Does History , we explore the real man behind the myths: from his daring milk can and water torture cell escapes to his battles with spiritualists, his short-lived film career, and even his aviation adventures. Houdini was...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we ride back to a moment that quietly transformed the modern world— March 23, 1857 —when a bearded mechanic named Elisha Otis cut the rope and changed the skyline forever. Long before skyscrapers kissed the clouds, one man's bold demonstration made it possible to go up without fear of coming down. Join us as we explore how a wooden platform, a steel sprin...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we head back to 1765, when Parliament passed a law that lit the fuse of American rebellion—the Stamp Act. It was more than a tax on paper; it was a bold assertion of control over the colonies. What followed was outrage, protest, and the first sparks of unity among the American people. Join me as we unpack the motives behind Britain’s decision, the colonists’...

In March of 1943, Nazi Germany was on the defensive. The catastrophe at Stalingrad had shattered the myth of Hitler’s invincibility, and inside the German military, resistance was brewing. Among those who saw Hitler as a threat to Germany’s survival was Rudolf-Christoph von Gersdorff, a decorated officer willing to sacrifice himself to end the dictator’s reign. On March 21, 1943 , during a Heroes’...

Baseball has always been a game of tradition, but every so often, someone comes along who challenges the status quo. In the early 1900s, Amanda Clement did just that—not by swinging a bat, but by making the calls. She was the first woman ever paid to umpire a baseball game, stepping onto the field with authority in an era when women weren’t even supposed to be there. Her story isn’t just about bas...