Why start Route 66 at the Gateway to the West? At Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Scott and historian Jenn kick off their Route 66 centennial series at the symbolic “Gateway to the West,” where Lewis and Clark launched the Corps of Discovery after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. They explore the Arch’s undergroundContinue reading “St. Louis: The City That Launched a Nation”
Category Archives: Talk With History
Wild Bill Hickok: The True History and Death in Deadwood
What really happened in Deadwood when Wild Bill Hickok was killed, and why is his death tied to a place that wasn’t even U.S. state territory? This episode revisits the Black Hills gold-rush boomtown of Deadwood and Hickok’s final days after traveling from Fort Laramie with Charlie Utter’s wagon train, joined by Calamity Jane. It explains Deadwood’s explosive growth and Hickok’s poker game at Saloon 10 where Jack McCall—shot him on August 2, 1876. Join us…and learn about this giant of American history.
John Wilkes Booth’s Quiet Grave: Following the Assassin to Green Mount Cemetery
This episode of Talk With History follows the trail of John Wilkes Booth after Lincoln’s assassination to his final, quiet resting place in Baltimore’s historic Green Mount Cemetery. 📍 Visit John Wilkes Booth gravesite
History of the U.S. Naval Academy: Memorial Hall, the Chapel, and Cemetery
This episode of Talk With History traces the origins and legacy of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, from its 1845 founding by Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft at Fort Severn to its growth into a defining institution of American sea power. Scott (a 2004 Naval Academy graduate) and Jenn share why sheContinue reading “History of the U.S. Naval Academy: Memorial Hall, the Chapel, and Cemetery”
Ultimate 4th of July History Movie Guide
Scott and Jenn share an “Ultimate 4th of July History Movie Guide”, each ranking five patriotic and historic movies that you can watch this summer. What are YOUR top 5 history movies for 4th of July?
The First Civil War General to Defeat Grant | The Legend of Van Dorn movie interview!
This episode of Talk With History features an interview with screenwriter/lead actor Lee Wilson (as Confederate cavalry commander Earl Van Dorn) and actor David B. Meadows (as Nathan Bedford Forrest) about the feature film The Legend of Van Dorn, set in Middle Tennessee in spring 1863. They discuss how Wilson discovered Van Dorn through a Spring Hill play, Meadows’ initial reservations about portraying the polarizing Forrest, and the production’s emphasis on authenticity through filming at historic sites and battlefields. The film premieres August 21 on Amazon Prime and other platforms. Legend of Van Dorn
Been There Done That: An Interview with History That Doesn’t Suck!
Scott and Jenn interview Professor Greg Jackson—host of the podcast History That Doesn’t Suck and author of the upcoming book Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome. This book is about how America’s current polarization has clear precedents in the 1790s and the mid- to late-1800s. Jackson previews themes fromContinue reading “Been There Done That: An Interview with History That Doesn’t Suck!”
The REAL Edgar Allan Poe: His Military Service, Reputation, and Mysterious Death
Hosts Scott and Jenn, discuss Edgar Allan Poe while visiting Westminster Hall and Burying Ground in Baltimore, covering the mysterious circumstances of his 1849 death after being found delirious in the streets. They trace Poe’s early life (orphaned, taken in by the Allan family), his Army service and brief West Point stint, and his strugglingContinue reading “The REAL Edgar Allan Poe: His Military Service, Reputation, and Mysterious Death”
A Wounded Warrior on Route 66: The Incredible Story of Aaron Moon
In our latest Talk With History episode, I had the privilege of interviewing Aaron Moon, a former British Royal Marine Commando who survived a catastrophic IED explosion in Afghanistan and is now set to cycle the entirety of Route 66 in 22 days, all on one leg. Aaron’s journey is driven by a powerful purpose:Continue reading “A Wounded Warrior on Route 66: The Incredible Story of Aaron Moon”
Unveiling the Titanic: From Tragedy to Immersive Experience
Scott and Jenn visit the Traveling Titanic Exhibition, an immersive experience that recreates spaces like the grand staircase, bridge, dining rooms, and pool while displaying artifacts from the ship and items connected to the film, including a life vest worn by Kate Winslet and one of only seven surviving full-size deckchairs. 📍 Visit this exhibit near you 🎥 Video from inside