Norton I Of San Francisco Declared Himself Emperor Of The United States
San Francisco icon Norton I proclaimed himself emperor of the United States and people in town just went along with it.
Henry Brown Escaped From Slavery By Mailing Himself To Philadelphia
On this day in 1849, Henry Brown escaped slavery from a Virginia plantation in a very unusual way: he arranged it so he could hide in a small wooden box that was sent to Pennsylvania. Here's some of his story.
A “Mammoth Loaf” Once Turned The U.S. Senate Chamber Into A Big Bread Box
Today in 1804, the US Senate held a party featuring something called the “Mammoth Loaf.” To explain, we have to first tell you about Thomas Jefferson, an enormous block of cheese and an archeology project. Plus: a very cold town in Siberia has some very cool music, thanks to spring ice drums.
“Stagecoach” Mary Fields, Montana’s One-Of-A-Kind Mail Carrier
Mary Fields was the first Black woman to receive a Post Office contract to deliver the mail, and in the Wild West, no less. Here's a little more about a pioneer who definitely made some history.
Martin Van Buren May Have Had The Cheesiest First Day Of Any U.S. President
Some presidential inauguration days are memorable; others are quiet. But the one for Martin Van Buren was probably cheesy, thanks to a giant cheddar sent to Andrew Jackson and a public party to eat it just before Van Buren moved into the White House. (Appropriately enough, today is also National Cheese Lover's Day.)
A Three Minute Audio Tour Of The U.S. Capitol
After yesterday's stunning, discouraging events at the U.S. Capitol, we decided to make today's show a chance to get to know our Capitol building a little better.
The US Almost Had A 49th State Called Absaroka
In 1939 some ranchers in the West proposed taking parts out of Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana and creating a new state, called Absaroka. It never won approval from Congress but it did have its own license plates and beauty pageant.
Brookeville, Maryland, America’s Capital For A Day
What's In A Name Week continues with the story of Brookeville, Maryland, and how on this day in 1814, this small town gained a prominent visitor - President James Madison - and a new nickname: U.S. Capital For A Day.
The Woman Who Got Her Lawmaker Son To Cast The Deciding Vote For Women’s Suffrage
Febb Ensminger Burn lobbied her 24 year old in the Tennessee legislature to "be a good boy" and vote for women's suffrage.
Five Statues And Six Pedestals That Tell The Story Of Juneteenth
One of the many special places you can mark Juneteenth is at the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin, Texas, with an art installation that has five statues and six pedestals.