Protecting Our Parks with Paul Coussan

Today we're joined by Andrew Brown from The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership, an organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing native bird populations. Andrew, Maryland Farmland Raptor Program project manager, discusses how historic resources intersect with his line of work and why preserving both natural and cultural landscapes is essential for the future of Maryland's birds.

In this episode of Revolution@250 we cover the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791–1794. While the uprising took place mainly in western Pennsylvania, many farmers in western Maryland faced the same challenges under the new federal whiskey tax. We'll discuss how Maryland responded, why the region's economy depended on whiskey production, and what this event meant for the young United States. Joining us are Christopher Logsdon, President of the Allegany Museum, and Dave Williams from the Allegany County Historical Society, who share their knowledge of this fascinating chapter of Western Maryland and national history.

Today we're joined by Paul Coussan, Vice President of Government Relations at the National Park Foundation, where he oversees efforts to lead, direct, and manage the Foundation’s government affairs portfolio. In this role, Paul engages with the Executive Branch and Congress as a trusted voice advocating for federal dollars to protect and enhance national parks.

Today we're joined by biographer Brian J. Jones about his latest book, 'The Capital,' a unique biography of the U.S. Capitol building. Together we'll explore the building's history, architectural details, political significance, and the personal stories intertwined with its evolution.

In this episode Zara Anishanslin discusses her new book 'The Painter's Fire,' exploring the often overlooked role of artists and material culture in the American Revolution. She highlights the importance of preservation and the interconnectedness of art, history, and politics.

Harriet Tubman's story is often told through her extraordinary courage, but her deep connection to Maryland's landscapes is just as essential to understanding her legacy. In this episode, Angie Crenshaw, Director of the Maryland Park Service, explores how Tubman's early life on Maryland's Eastern Shore shaped the skills, resilience, and determination that enabled her to escape slavery and repeatedly return to lead others to freedom.Together, we discuss why place matters in preserving history, how Tubman's faith and unwavering sense of purpose guided her life's work, and how her legacy has evolved over generations. The conversation also highlights Maryland's ongoing efforts to preserve and interpret African American history through parks, historic sites, and new public resources, ensuring that Tubman's story—and the broader story of freedom, resilience, and self-determination—continues to inspire future generations.

How do historic buildings become thriving breweries, restaurants, and gathering places? On this episode, we sit down with architect David Lopez, Principal at Twopoint Studio, to explore the intersection of historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and Maryland's brewing heritage. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience designing and rehabilitating historic buildings, David shares how old industrial spaces can be thoughtfully transformed while preserving the stories embedded in their walls. From iconic brewery projects like Guilford Hall, Diamondback, and Checkerspot to the broader role preservation plays in community revitalization, this conversation uncorks the fascinating relationship between architecture, history, and the places where we raise a glass. As part of Preservation Maryland's Spirited History series, it's a look at where preservation and alcohol truly converge.

Today we're joined by Holley Snaith, fellow podcaster (Say it with History), historian and writer to discuss the digital preservation of history and a historical restoration project at Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. Eleanor's Pictures - National Park ServiceMy Website - www.holleysnaith.com Author Profile - American Masters Say It With History - Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Join us as we sit down with Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks to explore the connection between Maryland’s agricultural heritage and its thriving craft beverage industry. From the state’s early history of grain production and distilling to today’s farm breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cideries, we discuss how agriculture continues to shape Maryland’s economy, rural communities, and cultural identity. As the nation prepare to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, we also look at how these traditions connect the past to the future and what lies ahead for agriculture and craft beverage production. This episode is part of our "Spirted History" project supported by the Maryland Department of Commerce’s Maryland Alcohol Manufacturing Promotion Fund. Spirited History reflects our ongoing commitment to preserving not only historic places, but also the living traditions that define them. 

May's Revolution@250 episode is here, focusing on the free press – and how ideas around free expression and freedom of speech impacted generations of Marylanders. We’ll explore how this core value of the revolutionary generation was embraced by Black Marylanders and the legacy of the Baltimore Afro-American, the longest-running African-American family-owned newspaper in the United States, established in 1892.Joining us today is Savannah Wood, an artist with deep roots in Baltimore and Los Angeles. As the Executive Director of Afro Charities, Wood is leading the charge to increase access to the 130+-year-old AFRO American Newspapers’ extensive archives. In this role, she has shepherded the organization through a period of historic growth, initiated new programming, and attracted support from national funders including the Mellon Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and The Ruth Foundation.In this conversation, we’ll explore how the landscape of a free press in Maryland evolved, the challenges faced by the founders of the Baltimore Afro-American, and how the revolutionary concept of free speech was utilized by Black Americans to advocate, develop community, and document their experience in newspapers in Baltimore and beyond.