In this Cool Things podcast, curators at the Kansas Museum of History follow the story of a revolver owned by Albert Hazlett, one of John Brown's men during the raid at Harpers Ferry.

Paul D. Escott of Wake Forest University looks at Confederate expectations going into the Civil War that the war would be swift and decisive, and contrasts them with Jefferson Davis's expectations. He also outlines the challenges the South and Davis faced during the war, and attempts to assess Davis's performance as a leader.

Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston saw an opportunity to at least slow down Gen. William T. Sherman's 60,000-man Union army as it marched through North Carolina in March 1865. The Confederates set a trap for Sherman near the tiny hamlet of Bentonville; but the resulting battle, March 19-21, 1865, turned out to be a decisive Union victory. This audio tour covers the turning points of the battle, the largest fought in North Carolina.

Two dramatically different English settlements, New England in the North and Virginia in the South, develop in the 17th century, beginning a collision of values, cultures, and economies that prevails throughout U.S. history. This presentation explores the founding of these settlements and their development.

To view this video, click the small "VoD" graphic in the left hand column. In the new window, if you cannot see the play button, try clicking near the left corner just under the video.

Dr. Lauranett Lee of the Virginia Historical Society explores ways to use oral history and historic preservation efforts to teach history. She is currently completing a commissioned project for the city of Hopewell in which she documents African American history. She discusses the mechanics of constructing a community history project and its applicability for teachers and students. The second half of the session focused on using the cultural landscape to teach history, including a walking tour of the historic Jefferson School.

To listen to this lecture, select "Podcast" under the September 4th session.

Dr. Julie Solometo of James Madison University attempts to reconstruct the lives of Native Americans as they stood on the eve of and during contact with European colonists in North America. She examines particularly the impact of disease and drought on Native Americans and colonists both, and at the collapse of the Powhatan Chiefdom.

To listen to this lecture, select "Part 2" under the April 19th listing.

Dr. Julie Solometo of James Madison University attempts to reconstruct the lives of Native Americans as they stood on the eve of and during contact with European colonists in North America.

To listen to this lecture, select "Podcast Part 1" under the April 19th listing.

Dr. Scot French of the University of Virginia looks at Nat Turner's Rebellion, the slave uprising of 1831—considering how the historical narrative and understanding of the Rebellion were formed and continue to be shaped.

To listen to this lecture, select "Part 2" under the February 1st listing.

Dr. Scot French of the University of Virginia looks at Nat Turner's Rebellion, the slave uprising of 1831—considering how the historical narrative and understanding of the Rebellion were formed and continue to be shaped.

To listen to this lecture, select "Podcast Part 1" under the February 1st listing.

Dr. Tom Costa, of the University of Virginia-Wise, discusses The Geography of Slavery, an online database compiling advertisements for the capture of runaway slaves from 1736 to 1803.

To listen to this lecture, select "Part 2" under the October 12th listing.