Podcast
Revolution Revisited
Hosted by Virginia Museum of History & Culture · EN
Explore the American Revolution in a whole new way as we delve into the stories that shaped a nation.
This multi-season podcast offers a fresh examination of the origins and impacts of the American Revolution. Produced as part of the VMHC’s 250th Initiative and as a companion to its marquee exhibition, Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation, this podcast is a must-listen resource as part of America’s milestone anniversary.
The show is a fascinating look at the people, ideas, and events that changed the world. Beyond familiar figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, Revolution Revisited™ will uncover the pivotal roles of lesser-known individuals, like Clementina Rind, in the burgeoning nation's quest for independence. Go behind the scenes with leading historians, authors, and other experts and learn about key artifacts at the VMHC that connect the ideals of the past with our world today.
Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform and join us for a captivating journey through the American Revolution. Seasons 1 & 2 available now!
Revolution Revisited™ is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin. © 2026 Virginia Museum of History & Culture
28episodes
Episodes
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Worlds Collide: The Siege of Yorktown
5d ago00:46:44Tap to summarizeSome people call it the Miracle of Yorktown, that they could actually arrive with all these different units at the same time. In this episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie Creech and historian Dr. Iris de Rode trace how the Franco-American alliance made the 1781 Siege of Yorktown possible, featuring Dr. de Rode's research on French Major General François Jean de Chastellux. After Cornwallis entrenched at Yorktown, Washington and Rochambeau weighed attacking New York or the South, but French reconnaissance and relationship-building—led by Chastellux, a key English-speaking liaison and strategist—helped shift the plan. Inside the Episode:The episode follows the complex coordination of Washington and Rochambeau’s 9,000-man march, deceptive tactics to mislead the British, and the decisive naval role of Admiral de Grasse, whose fleet controlled the Chesapeake after the Battle of the Capes. It highlights the brutal fighting for Redoubts 9 and 10, Cornwallis’ surrender on October 19, and the war’s continuation until the 1783 Treaty of Paris, plus Chastellux’s friendship and correspondence with Washington and the rediscovery of his long-lost archive.Guest:Dr. Iris de Rode, Historian, Author, & SpeakerDr. Iris de Rode is a historian of the French role in the American Revolution. In the family château of Major General François-Jean de Chastellux in Burgundy, she uncovered his unpublished papers. Chastellux, a French officer in Rochambeau’s army and close friend of George Washington, became the focus of her PhD (2019) and her book (2022), which received the Prix Guizot of the Académie Française in 2023. She has held more than twenty research fellowships, appears in Ken Burns’s PBS series The American Revolution, advises major museums and digital-heritage projects on both sides of the Atlantic, and is now completing a book on the French in the American Revolution.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to Revolution Revisited00:35 Yorktown in Context01:11 Meet Dr. Iris de Rode01:44 Alliance Strategy Takes Shape03:57 Chastellux Archive Discovery07:59 Winning Trust in Newport10:17 Chastellux Meets Washington14:51 Choosing the Southern Campaign16:40 French Fleet to Chesapeake18:01 The March to Virginia21:00 Deception and British Delays23:25 Siege Lines at Yorktown25:02 Battle of the Capes29:15 Bombardment Begins30:04 Storming Redoubts 9 and 1033:32 Cornwallis Surrenders35:56 Aftermath and Human Cost36:51 Why Yorktown Mattered40:03 Treaty of Paris and Legacy40:43 Washington and Chastellux Farewell42:42 Why Chastellux Was Forgotten45:42 Closing Credits
Transcribe →The War Moves South: A Southern Campaign to End the War
2w ago00:31:43Tap to summarizeVirginia's the source of supplies and troops for the Southern effort for the Americans, and the British general, Cornwallis, knows that, so he really wants to conquer Virginia and knock it out of the war. In this episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie Creech and historian Robert (Bert) Dunkerley explain how Britain’s shift to a Southern Campaign in 1780 made the South, and ultimately Virginia, decisive in the final years of the Revolution.Inside the Epsiode:After early failures in 1776, Britain captured Savannah and Charleston, where many Virginia Continentals were taken prisoner, and fought brutal, morale-shaping actions like Waxhaw under Banastre Tarleton. Despite American disasters such as Camden, Patriot victories at Kings Mountain and Daniel Morgan’s Cowpens blunted British momentum, culminating in Guilford Courthouse, a costly British win that weakened Cornwallis. The episode follows the war’s expansion into Virginia: Jefferson’s capital move to Richmond, Benedict Arnold’s 1781 raid and destruction, attacks on Petersburg and Osborne’s Landing, raids toward Charlottesville stopped by Jack Jouett’s warning, and Cornwallis’s move to Yorktown, where Washington and Rochambeau marched south to besiege him.Featured GuestRobert M (Bert) Dunkerly, author and historianRobert M. (Bert) Dunkerly is a historian, award-winning author, and speaker who is actively involved in historic preservation and research. He holds a degree in History from St. Vincent College and a Masters in Historic Preservation from Middle Tennessee State University. He has worked at fourteen historic sites, written over a dozen books, and numerous scholarly articles. His research includes archaeology, colonial life, military history, and historic commemoration. He is a past President of the Richmond Civil War Round Table, and serves on the Preservation Commission for the American Revolution Round Table-Richmond. He has taught courses at Central Virginia Community College, the University of Richmond, and Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Dunkerly is currently a Park Ranger at Richmond National Battlefield Park. He has visited over 500 battlefields and over 1000 historic sites worldwide. He enjoys exploring local bookstores, battlefields, and breweries, not necessarily in that order.Show Notes00:00 Welcome to the Series00:42 Why the South Mattered03:17 British Strategy Shift05:40 Georgia and Charleston Fall07:34 Waxhaws and Tarleton11:42 Camden to Cowpens Turnaround13:44 Guilford Courthouse Clash16:20 Virginia Giant Legend18:34 War of Attrition Explained20:45 Arnold Raids Richmond25:18 Petersburg and Statewide Raids29:15 Yorktown Trap Set30:47 Closing and Next EpisodeRecommended Resources:Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution – The Journal of the Southern Campaigns of the American RevolutionThe Virginia Continental Line, by John SettleThe Revolution in Virginia, by John SelbyRevolution Revisited™ is produced by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin.© 2026 Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
Transcribe →War in the Shadows: Espionage & Spy Craft in the American Revolution
3w ago00:37:32Tap to summarizeIntelligence is on the docket. It is shadowy stuff, but it is not in the shadows for this early government.In this episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie Creech is joined by Amanda Ohlke of the International Spy Museum to explore how espionage shaped the American Revolution, from Congress’s Committee of Secret Correspondence and foreign intelligence to George Washington’s expanding networks, paid informants, and use of deception. The episode traces early efforts like Knowlton’s Rangers and the failed mission of Nathan Hale, then highlights the Culper Ring’s civilian spycraft—aliases, codebooks, dead drops, and disinformation—and its role in reporting British plans and helping expose Benedict Arnold through the capture of John André. It also examines period techniques such as dictionary codes, sympathetic stains (invisible ink), masked letters, and mail interception, and includes the story of James Fayette, an enslaved Virginian spy whose intelligence aided Yorktown and whose freedom is documented through petitions, Lafayette’s endorsement, and a pension record.Featured GuestAmanda Ohlke, the International Spy Museum (SPY), Director of Adult ProgramsAmanda Ohlke is Director of Adult Education at the International Spy Museum. As a key member of the Spy Museum creative team since 2004, she has worked on a wide variety of exhibitions and programs on topics ranging from unexpected spies to sabotage to current national security issues, and she is the content liaison for the Museum’s international travel opportunities. Ohlke was on the team that developed the groundbreaking immersive experience Operation Spy, and she was the creative lead on the Museum’s “Spy in the City” GPS-based game. Her article inspired by an exhibition she curated, “Mata Hari: Ripe for Recruitment” is included in Secrets on Display from the University Press of Kansas. Her writing has been featured in Museum magazine, H-Diplo and other history and museum-oriented publications. She is currently writing a children’s book on spying. Ohlke has appeared on shows such as “Mysteries at the Museum,” The Secret History of the Civil War” and on podcasts including Galaxy Brains, Artastra, and SpyCast. She was formerly the Executive Director of the Museum Trustee Association and has worked for the National Building Museum, Nat Geo, and the Maryland Center for Arts and Culture.International Spy Museum (SPY)The International Spy Museum (SPY) is an independent nonprofit institution dedicated to illuminating the tradecraft, history, and contemporary relevance of espionage. Since its founding in 2002 in Washington, DC, the Museum has served as the only public institution in the United States solely focused on intelligence and espionage. In 2019, SPY relocated to an expanded, purpose-built facility at L’Enfant Plaza, enabling deeper public engagement through immersive exhibitions and continued innovative educational programming. SPY houses the largest collection of international espionage artifacts on public display as well as 10,000 additional objects in our “vault.”Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to Revolution Revisited00:36 Spies of the Revolution01:57 Congress Goes Secret03:30 Washington Builds Intelligence04:50 Knowlton’s Rangers and Hale06:30 Birth of the Culper Ring09:30 Culper Codes and Aliases12:04 Culper Wins and Arnold13:33 Tradecraft and Gadgets15:34 Codes and Cipher Books18:31 Invisible Ink and Masks22:19 Dead Drops and Disinformation26:35 Intelligence for Yorktown27:03 James Fayette Spy Story29:13 How We Know the Spies33:04 Deep Cover After the War34:58 Why People Spy36:16 Wrap Up and Next EpisodeRevolution Revisited™ is produced by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin. © 2026 Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
Transcribe →War in the West: George Rogers Clark & the Illinois Campaign
4w ago00:43:57Tap to summarizeAll these guys he's recruited from the frontier, are going to be fiercely independent in general because this is their shot. For them, it's not about the war with Britain as much as it is about securing their futures.In this episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie Creech and historian Eric Sterner shift the Revolution’s focus beyond the Northeast to the contested western frontier—western Virginia and Pennsylvania into the Ohio Valley and Illinois—where competing land claims, shifting Indigenous diplomacy, and British posts fueled violence. They trace George Rogers Clark’s rise from Virginia surveyor and Dunmore’s War veteran to Kentucky leader, his political ties to figures like Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, and his recruitment of volunteers amid hints of land rewards. With roughly 150 men, Clark launched the 1778 Illinois campaign, seizing Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes largely through surprise and intimidation, then later recapturing Vincennes by bluffing Henry Hamilton into surrender. The episode also highlights brutal episodes, Jefferson’s directives toward Native nations, mixed Indigenous responses, Clark’s limited success securing Kentucky, his later bankruptcy and decline, and the shifting myths and reassessments of his legacy, including his statue’s removal in 2021. Featured GuestEric Sterner, Author & HistorianEric Sterner earned a BA from American University and two MAs from George Washington University. He worked in the defense and aerospace field, serving on the staff of two Congressional committees and in the Department of Defense and as a NASA Associate Deputy Administrator. He is the author of Till the Extinction of This Rebellion, Anatomy of a Massacre: The Destruction of Gnaddenhutten, 1782 and The Battle of Upper Sandusky, 1782. He contributes regularly to the Journal of the American Revolution and Emerging Revolutionary War Era.Show Notes00:00 Welcome 00:39 Why the Western Front01:56 Defining the Revolutionary West02:40 Treaties and Frontier Tensions05:32 Neutrality and Dunmore’s War07:13 Meet George Rogers Clark09:52 Kentucky Politics and Gunpowder13:02 Taking the Offensive Plan15:20 Pitch to Patrick Henry17:13 Recruiting and Corn Island18:17 Why Men Volunteered23:30 Bloodless Takeover of Illinois26:56 Hamilton Strikes Back28:29 Winter March to Vincennes29:59 War’s Wider Impact31:02 Violence and Native Relations35:15 Did Clark Secure the West37:23 Clark’s Postwar Downfall40:01 Mythmaking and Reassessment42:39 Closing and Next EpisodeRevolution Revisited™ is produced by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin. © 2026 Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
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A Global Gamble: Revolutionary Allies
Jul 1500:45:11Tap to summarizeThe colonists allying themselves with France and Spain was not a natural thing for them… This is one of the best examples of the enemy, of my enemy is my friend… They would've been incapable of fighting without this support.In this episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie Creech and guest Sam Florer of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture examine why American independence was unlikely without European assistance and how France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic became Revolutionary Allies. The episode highlights the self-interested motives that led rival empires to support the Patriot cause and widen the conflict into a global war. After Britain’s dominance following the Seven Years’ War, France and Spain sought to weaken Britain, despite colonists’ long history of conflict with those powers. In this episode, we will follow the efforts an unlikely cast of characters–diplomats, politicians, merchants, spies, money-launderers, and gunrunners–who found ways to covertly (and ultimately officially) support the cause of American Independence. As France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic were drawn into the war against England, covert assistance turned into official alliances, providing critical aid in the form of finances, supplies, and manpower. Featured GuestSam Florer, Director of Public Programs, Virginia Museum of History & CultureSam Florer brings over a decade of museum experience with a focus on education and public engagement. He holds both a BA and MA in History from the College of William & Mary. In his role at the VMHC, Sam leads teacher professional development workshops, supports student programs, and collaborates with cultural institutions statewide to implement the Virginia affiliate of National History Day, a nationwide historical research competition. He also manages a wide range of public programs for adult audiences and works as a historical researcher and writer, specializing in 18th- and 19th-century American history.Show Notes: 00:00 Welcome to Revolution Revisited01:08 Why Europe Got Involved03:15 Not Natural Allies05:16 Diplomats in Paris07:24 Franklin vs Lee09:17 Beaumarchais Secret Aid13:46 Spies and Covert Shipping15:38 France Makes It Official17:39 Spain Joins the War25:11 Galvez and Pensacola28:09 Havana Silver for Yorktown31:41 Dutch Money and Neutrality36:58 A Truly Global War39:02 Peace Deals and Aftermath41:16 Unsung Backers Left Behind43:32 Closing Thoughts and Next TimeRevolution Revisited™ is produced by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin. © 2026 Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
Transcribe →The Test of War: The Northern Campaigns of 1777
Jul 800:41:39Tap to summarizeWe declared independence not too long before a series of obliterating, crushing defeats were suffered by our army. The British were trouncing us time and time again, and George Washington’s Continental Army was on the brink of destruction. But Trenton reversed that. It gave the army the morale boost it desperately needed and helped convince soldiers that maybe they really could beat the British.In this episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie Creech is joined by Eric Schnitzer to look at the Northern Campaigns of 1777, when the Revolution was still far from secure. They talk about the low point Washington’s army had reached after the defeats of 1776, the temporary lift that came from Trenton and Princeton, and the British plan to divide the colonies by moving against Philadelphia and Albany. The conversation also follows Daniel Morgan’s Corps of Riflemen to Saratoga, where a hard-fought American victory helped force Burgoyne’s surrender and changed what seemed possible for the war.After the Declaration of Independence, the Revolution still had to survive on the battlefield. In this episode, we follow the Northern Campaigns of 1777, when British forces hoped to divide the colonies and bring the rebellion to an end. We’ll look at Washington’s battered army after the defeats of 1776, the renewed hope that came from Trenton and Princeton, and the danger created when Fort Ticonderoga was abandoned without a fight. We’ll also follow Daniel Morgan’s Corps of Riflemen to Saratoga, where their skill, speed, and persistence helped weaken Burgoyne’s army and set the stage for one of the most important American victories of the war.Featured GuestEric Schniter, Park Ranger & Military HistorianEric Schnitzer has worked at Saratoga National Historical Park since 1997, becoming Park Ranger / Military Historian in 2000. He is the author of Don Troiani's Campaign to Saratoga - 1777, as well as many articles ranging in subjects from correcting the longstanding error of British light 3-pounder identification (Grasshoppers and Butterflies Reconsidered) to German recruits serving in the British Army during the American War for Independence. An artist, Eric's drawings have appeared in books authored by Don Hagist, including Noble Volunteers: the British Soldiers who fought the American Revolution, and Dr. Karen Cook Bell's Running from Bondage: Enslaved Women and their Remarkable Fight for Freedom in Revolutionary America. He and his wife, Jenna, and their four wacky cats live in an 18th-century house in the White Creek Historic District near Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, N.Y.Show Notes: 00:00 Welcome to Revolution Revisited and The Northern Campaigns of 177701:31 Recapping 1776 After the Declaration of Independence02:58 Crushing Defeats and Washington’s Army on the Brink03:52 Why New York Became a Major British Target05:10 Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, and Collapsing Morale07:12 Trenton, Princeton, and a Needed Morale Boost08:39 Rebuilding the Continental Army for 177710:32 British Strategy: Philadelphia, Albany, and Dividing the Colonies12:25 Howe Changes Course and Sails for the Chesapeake13:51 Burgoyne Advances from Canada Toward Albany15:06 The Abandonment of Fort Ticonderoga16:00 Shortages, Suffering, and Life After the Retreat17:07 Schuyler Falls Back Toward Saratoga18:57 Horatio Gates Takes Command19:43 Daniel Morgan and the Corps of Riflemen22:00 Why Morgan’s Riflemen Were an Elite Fighting Force23:12 Morgan’s Men Join Gates and Benedict Arnold at Bemis Heights24:04 Freeman’s Farm and the First Battle of Saratoga27:00 The Second Battle of Saratoga Begins28:51 The Attack on Breymann’s Fortified Camp30:36 Arnold Is Wounded and the British Position Falls31:22 Burgoyne Retreats and Surrenders at Saratoga32:46 Why Morgan’s Riflemen Mattered So Much33:43 Washington’s Losses at Brandywine and Germantown34:27 Why Germantown Still Impressed the French35:59 Contrasting Morale in the Northern Army and Washington’s Camp38:58 Valley Forge and the Winter of Want39:55 The French Alliance and the War’s Next Phase40:24 Why Independence Still Had to Be Defended42:23 Closing thoughtsRevolution Revisited™ is produced by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin. © 2026 Virginia Museum of History & Culture
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Available Now! Revolution Revisited Season 3: Liberty in Action
Jul 100:03:22Tap to summarizeWelcome to Revolution Revisited™, your crash course in the American Revolution. Join us as we dive into the stories of Virginia's rebels, rule breakers, and rabble rousers.While July 4, 1776, is a key date--and perhaps the most recognized in our history--it is not the end of the Revolutionary period. Season Three of Revolution Revisited™ follows the war across the colonies, tracing the role of Virginia and Virginians as the struggle for independence continues. Across six episodes, hear from historians Eric Schnitzer, Sam Florer, Eric Sterner, Amanda Ohlke, and Bert Dunkerly.As fighting unfolds across the northern colonies, the western frontier, and the South, the resolve of the Continental forces is tested time and again. This season, historians explore the campaigns that transformed the Continental Army and examine how intelligence networks and international alliances helped turn the tide of the war. As the conflict intensifies, the story moves to Yorktown, where the Revolution's decisive chapter begins and the path to American independence comes into focus.Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform and join us for a captivating journey through the American Revolution. Revolution Revisited: Liberty in Action coming July 2026.
Transcribe →BONUS: Getting in Ship Shape: Forming the Continental Navy
Apr 1500:40:51Tap to summarizeThe colonies had maritime experience—they had sailed with the British Navy, they had operated on privateering vessels—but they didn’t have a navy of their own. And that’s the challenge as the Revolution begins. On land, you can turn militias into an army, but there’s no equivalent at sea. If they’re going to stand up to the British, they have to build a naval presence from the ground up. In this bonus episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie Creech and guest Dr. Kylie Hulbert explore the origins and challenges of the Continental Navy during the American Revolution. They discuss how a collection of colonies with maritime experience but no unified naval force attempted to build a navy from scratch, the competition with privateers for sailors, and the critical role that naval power, especially from international allies, played in securing American independence.Inside the Episode:At the start of the American Revolution, the colonies faced a massive problem at sea. They had the sailors and the experience, but they lacked a unified naval force capable of challenging the British Royal Navy. In this episode, we follow the 1775 push to create the Continental Navy, a movement led in part by John Adams. We’ll look at the immediate hurdles they faced including limited funding, scarce resources, and a desperate competition for talent with privateers. We’ll also explore the people on the decks, from green recruits to the skilled African American pilots whose knowledge of local waterways proved essential.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome to Revolution Revisited and Forming the Continental Navy00:47 Guest Introduction: Historian Dr. Kylie Hulbert01:16 The Colonial Maritime World and British Naval Dominance03:43 Why the Colonies Had No Navy at the Start of the Revolution04:30 John Adams Pushes for a Continental Navy05:40 Debate in Congress: Navy as a Step Toward Independence07:15 Building a Navy from Scratch: Ships, Money, and Manpower09:20 Early Steps Toward Formation in Late 177510:30 State Navies and the Struggle for Unity12:30 Pirates vs. Privateers vs. Naval Sailors Explained15:40 Privateering vs. Navy Service: Risk, Reward, and Recruitment Challenges18:25 Who Served: Crews, Skills, and Life at Sea21:00 African American Sailors and Their Contributions25:34 Stories of Individual Sailors and Service28:30 John Paul Jones and Criticism of Privateers30:00 Early Naval Engagements and Missed Opportunities32:03 The French Navy and the Turning Point at Sea34:53 The Global Nature of the American Revolution36:30 Why Britain Ultimately Lost the War38:24 The End of the Continental Navy40:08 Closing Thoughts and Episode Wrap-UpRELATED CONTENT:Virginia Museum of History & CultureRevolution Revisited PodcastDr. Kylie Hulbert - Hampden-Sydney CollegeThe Untold War at Sea: America’s Revolutionary PrivateersThe Continental Navy in Virginia during the American Revolution
Transcribe →BONUS: Give Me Liberty Panel Discussion
Mar 1101:14:01Tap to summarizeWhat I think has really changed since the Bicentennial is that issues of race and gender have become much more at the center of the academic story. And one of the paradoxes is that by and large among academics, there's a greater sense of agreement as the landscape has become broader, whereas in the public culture, things are much more polarized.In this bonus episode of Revolution Revisited, listeners will hear a keynote panel discussion from the 2025 Conrad M. Hall Symposium for Virginia History, featuring scholars Dr. Alan Taylor, Dr. Karin Wulf, and Dr. Sarah McCartney. Together they explore how our understanding of the American Revolution has evolved since the 1976 Bicentennial, and what the 250th anniversary means for how we tell the fuller story of who shaped and was shaped by the founding of this nation.Inside the Episode:As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, historians are grappling with a profound question: how do we tell the full story of a revolution that involved everyone, but whose history has long centered only a few? In this keynote panel discussion from the 2025 Conrad M. Hall Symposium for Virginia History, three leading scholars reflect on how the field has transformed since the 1976 Bicentennial and what that means for this pivotal commemorative moment. From digitized primary sources bringing new voices to light, to the challenge of translating scholarship into public exhibitions, the conversation is as much about how we do history as what history we tell. What emerges is not a single, tidy narrative of liberty, but a richer and more honest one rooted in Virginia, shaped by slavery, and still very much being written.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome to Revolution Revisited and Bonus Episode01:25 Introducing the Keynote Panel and Scholars05:37 How Our Understanding of the Revolution Has Changed Since 197609:11 Academic History Then and Now: Race, Gender, and Expanding the Story13:17 Primary Sources, Digitization, and the Give Me Liberty Essays16:05 Family, Religion, and the Overlooked Threads of Revolutionary Life20:09 Scholars and Public History: Are We Doing Enough?27:12 What We Hope the 250th Anniversary Leaves Behind33:11 The Promise and Limits of Digital Research38:39 Q&A: AI, Archives, and the Future of Historical Research42:20 Broadening the Story Without Losing the Underlying One47:34 Fascinating Characters from the Revolutionary Era52:52 What It's Like to Advise an Exhibition56:38 A Teacher's Question: Are We Losing a Shared Story?1:03:29 Looking Ahead to 2026 and the Official Narrative1:09:22 Commemoration vs. Celebration and Final ReflectionsRELATED CONTENT:Virginia Museum of History & CultureRevolution Revisited PodcastGive me LibertyVirginia's official 250th Commemorative Exhibition
Transcribe →BONUS: Christmas 1776: Crossing the Delaware
Dec 2400:18:39Tap to summarizeIn this bonus episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie and guest Michael Plumb explore the perilous decision that George Washington made in December 1776 to cross the Delaware River in order to hold off the British Army – and more importantly, secure an important morale victory for his troops. Inside the Episode: By December 1776, the American Revolution was hanging by a thread. The Continental Army was underpaid, underfed, and freezing, retreating in the face of repeated defeats while Congress fled Philadelphia and enlistments ticked toward expiration. In this episode, we follow Washington and his army through that darkest hour — from anxious letters and crumbling morale to the risky, ice-choked crossing of the Delaware and the surprise victory at Trenton. Along the way, we unpack the realities behind the legend: the Hessian soldiers, the logistics, the overlooked figures who made the crossing possible, and the morale boost that gave the revolution new life. What emerges is not a tidy myth, but a story of fragile hope, collective effort, and a revolution that very nearly failed — until it didn’t.Recommended Resources Washington Crossing the Delaware Map: Battle of Trenton Washington Crossing the Delaware Related Content The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775–1777 (Wilkinson Lecture 2019)Movie Mythbusting: Liberty's KidsThe Painter’s Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution
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