Protecting Our Parks with Paul Coussan

We're back with a past guest Danielle Del Sol, president and CEO of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach and the former executive director of the Preservation Resource Center of New Orlean. She shares her journey to preservation leadership, contrasting preservation in New Orleans and Palm Beach, and discusses innovative projects like climate resilience and community engagement.

In this episode of Revolution@250, we delve into the remarkable story of the Maryland 400 and their pivotal role in the Battle of Brooklyn—one of the most consequential and dramatic encounters of the American Revolution. Facing overwhelming British forces, these largely untested Maryland soldiers made a courageous stand that helped give George Washington’s army time to escape and survive another day.Historian and researcher Owen Lourie draws on 13 years of research to bring the Maryland 400 out of the shadows, uncovering the individual stories, sacrifices, and experiences of the men behind this legendary moment. Their actions became a powerful symbol of courage and perseverance, and their legacy continues to shape how we understand the Revolution and the human cost of the fight for American independence.

In this episode, we explore the complex history and future of Crownsville Memorial Hospital and the Crownsville Memorial Park Master Plan. Cecily Bedwell and Brian Reetz of Design Collective discuss how landscape architecture, preservation, and community engagement can transform a site of difficult history into a place for healing, learning, and reflection.

In this episode, author Michael Pollack discusses the overlooked importance of sidewalks in urban life, law, and community development. He shares insights from his book 'Sidewalk Nation' about how sidewalks shape our communities and what can be done to improve them.

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.