Best Galveston History Podcasts (2024)

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19th June 1865: Juneteenth is established when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, are informed of their freedom

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On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3 which informed the enslaved African Americans of their ...By Scott Allsop

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18th June 1812: The War of 1812 began when President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain

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Madison signed the declaration of war against Great Britain, marking the first time that the United States declared war on another ...By Scott Allsop

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17th June 1775: Battle of Bunker Hill fought during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War

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While the Battle of Bunker Hill resulted in a British victory and the successful capture of the hill, it came the cost of 1,000 casualties that included many ...By Scott Allsop

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16th June 1884: The Switchback Railway, America’s first purpose-built roller coaster, opened at Coney Island in New York City

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Having opened on 16 June 1884, passengers paid 5 cents to ride the Switchback Railways and achieved speeds of up to 6 miles per ...By Scott Allsop

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15th June 1859: The Pig War begins between the USA and Britain

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The Pig War border confrontation began when Lyman Cutlar shot a British-owned pig on San Juan ...By Scott Allsop

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Reedy Chapel's Storied Past and Cultural Impact 4:09

32m ago4:09

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Reedy Chapel, located at 20th Street and Broadway in Galveston, is a historic church that played a role in the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas on June 19, 1865, a date now celebrated as Juneteenth. Established in 1848 and known as the "Mother Church of Texas," it became the first African Methodist Episcopal Church in the stat…

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14th June 1900: Anglo-German naval arms race triggered by the Second German Naval Law to double the size of the fleet

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The enactment of the Second Naval Law represented an ambitious plan to double the size of the German fleet, but with the British Royal Navy having long been the world’s dominant maritime force Germany’s naval expansion was perceived as a direct challenge to British ...By Scott Allsop

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13th June 1966: Miranda Warning introduced after US Supreme Court says suspects must be told their rights

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Any suspect arrested in the USA must be informed of four key rights. ‘You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for ...By Scott Allsop

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12th June 1817: Karl Drais makes the first recorded journey on the forerunner of the bicycle, known as the Laufmaschine or ‘dandy horse’

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Drais’ Laufmaschine, which translates as ‘running machine’ featured two wheels mounted on a wooden frame and a steering mechanism controlled by ...By Scott Allsop

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11th June 1962: Three inmates escape from the maximum-security Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and are never seen again

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Once outside the prison walls, the three men inflated a homemade raft with a modified accordion and launched it into San Francisco ...By Scott Allsop

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Episode 33 - Funeral Homes 1:09:16

21h ago1:09:16

1:09:16

Send us a Text Message. Having investigated a funeral home ourselves, we couldn’t wait to bring you an episode about a couple of them. First, we’ll head to the Riddle House in Palm Beach Florida. The house is home to Buck, a kindly cemetery worker and Joseph, a tragic spirit who haunts the attic and has chased off workers restoring the home. Next, …

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10th June 1935: Alcoholics Anonymous was founded by Bill Wilson and Robert Smith

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Alcoholics Anonymous, which operates through local groups that follow a 12-step rehabilitation program to help people overcome alcoholism, is now estimated have around two million members ...By Scott Allsop

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9th June 747: Abbasid Revolution begins, which overthrows the Umayyad Caliphate

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The Abbasid Revolution gained momentum thanks to the leadership of Abu Muslim al-Khurasani, a Persian revolutionary who rallied support for the Abbasid cause in the eastern provinces of the ...By Scott Allsop

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8th June 1959: The world’s only delivery of ‘Missile Mail’ took place when the United States Post Office Department sent 3,000 letters using a cruise missile

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The missile was fired from the deck of the submarine USS Barbero towards the Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Mayport, Florida, and completed its 700-mile flight in just 22 ...By Scott Allsop

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Galveston Island's Transformation: From Commerce Hub to Tourist Haven 9:34

6h ago9:34

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Let's take a look into how Galveston Island transformed from a commercial powerhouse in the mid-1800s into the "Playground of the Southwest." From a yachting adventure in 1842, the impact of the railroad in the 1850s, and the rise of health tourism in the 1880s with luxurious resorts like the Pagoda Bathhouse, the island's resilience after the 1900…

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7th June 1982: Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, was opened to the public

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Elvis Presley purchased Graceland for $102,500 in 1957 when he was 22 years ...By Scott Allsop

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6th June 1933: Worlds first drive-in theatre opens in Camden County, New Jersey

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Richard M. Hollingshead Jr.'s ‘Automobile Movie Theatre’ opened on a 400-acre plot of land on Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken Township, and could accommodate 400 cars parked on ramps facing a 40 foot by 50 foot ...By Scott Allsop

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5th June 1947: U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall delivers a speech at Harvard University outlining his financial plan for post-war Europe

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The Marshall Plan provided aid to 16 Western European nations, distributing more than $13 billion of aid over a four year ...By Scott Allsop

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4th June 1855: United States Camel Corps initiated when USS Supply departed New York City for the Mediterranean to obtain camels

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The camels proved themselves to be both fast and strong, easily outperforming the horses and mules that the Army had used up until that ...By Scott Allsop

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3rd June 1943: Zoot Suit Riots erupt in Los Angeles, California, during the Second World War

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The riots began on the night of 3 June, 1943, when a group of sailors on shore leave clashed with Mexican American youths in downtown Los ...By Scott Allsop

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2nd June 1774: The British Parliament passes the Quartering Act, the fourth of the punitive laws passed in the wake of the Boston Tea Party

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Just a few months later the First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia, uniting the colonies in the face of increasingly oppressive British ...By Scott Allsop

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1st June 1916: Louis Brandeis becomes the first Jewish justice on the U.S. Supreme Court

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As a Supreme Court Justice, Brandeis wrote opinions in favor of individual liberty and freedom of speech, while protecting citizens’ right to ...By Scott Allsop

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1911 Galvez Hotel: The Queen of the Gulf 6:00

7d ago6:00

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Uncover the legendary history of the Hotel Galvez, the "Queen of the Gulf," which has stood as a beacon of hope and resilience since its grand opening in 1911. From hosting iconic figures like Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eisenhower to serving as the wartime headquarters for the Coast Guard during World War II, the Galvez has seen it all. G…

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31st May 1921: The Tulsa Race Massacre breaks out in Oklahoma

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The final report of the Oklahoma Commission to Study the Tulsa Race Riot, published in 2001, estimated that around 300 people may have died in the ...By Scott Allsop

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30th May 1911: Indianapolis 500 automobile race takes place for the first time

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Ray Harroun secured victory with a time of 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 8 seconds, averaging a speed of 74.59 miles per ...By Scott Allsop

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29th May 1942: The song “White Christmas” recorded by Bing Crosby

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“White Christmas” has since gone on to become the world’s biggest-selling single of all ...By Scott Allsop

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28th May 1830: The Indian Removal Act signed into law by President Andrew Jackson

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While some tribes signed agreements with the American government, tens of thousands of Native Americans were forcibly resettled by the ...By Scott Allsop

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Episode 32 - Haunted Jails 1:02:23

12d ago1:02:23

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Send us a Text Message. It’s finally happened; we’re going to jail. No, we’re not in trouble—at least not yet—but we are going to visit two very haunted jails. The first is the Pottawatomie County Jail more famously known as The Squirrel Cage. Here, we’ll find shadows lurking on the fourth floor, hear the voices of children in the juvie wing, and m…

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27th May 1942: Reinhard Heydrich fatally injured in an assassination attempt in Prague, Czechoslovakia

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Heydrich's death triggered brutal reprisals from the Nazis against the Czechoslovakian people, including the complete destruction of the village of Lidice and the massacre of its ...By Scott Allsop

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26th May 1647: Alse Young becomes the first person to be executed for witchcraft in America at Windsor, Connecticut

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Alse Young was executed for witchcraft in Hartford on 26th May ...By Scott Allsop

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25th May 1521: Edict of Worms issued by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V against Martin Luther

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The Edict of Worms condemned Luther’s writings as heretical and prohibited their publication, distribution, and possession within the Holy Roman Empire. The edict effectively excommunicated Luther from the Catholic Church and sought to suppress the spread of his ideas and ...By Scott Allsop

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The Hidden Underwater Marvels of The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 4:53

14d ago4:53

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Explore the hidden wonders of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, located 100 miles south of the Texas coastline in the Gulf of Mexico. This sanctuary spans 160 square miles of vibrant coral ecosystems atop unique salt dome formations. Learn about the sanctuary's geology, its formation, and the diverse marine life it supports, from s…

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24th May 1798: United Irishmen Rebellion, also known as the Irish Rebellion of 1798, begins in Ireland

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The United Irishmen, a revolutionary republican organization inspired by Wolfe Tone, saw Irish Protestants join with the Catholic majority to achieve Irish independence and establish a ...By Scott Allsop

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23rd May 1934: Bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde ambushed by police and killed in rural Louisiana

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Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were driving their stolen Ford V8 when they were engulfed in a hail of more than 100 ...By Scott Allsop

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22nd May 1939: The Pact of Steel signed between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy

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The Pact of Steel stipulated that Germany and Italy would support each other militarily and politically in the event of war, promising mutual assistance and ...By Scott Allsop

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21st May 1904: FIFA founded in Paris as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association

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The founding members of FIFA included football associations from Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. England joined the following ...By Scott Allsop

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20th May 1862: President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act into law

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Approximately 270 million acres of land were claimed and settled under the provisions of the act, with parcels of land continuing to be claimed in Alaska as late as the ...By Scott Allsop

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19th May 1962: Marilyn Monroe sings “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to President John F. Kennedy

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Kennedy joked that he could ‘retire after having had “Happy Birthday” sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome ...By Scott Allsop

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18th May 1896: The Supreme Court delivers its verdict in Plessy v. Ferguson that approves the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine

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Plessy v Ferguson effectively legalized racial segregation by permitting separate but supposedly equal ...By Scott Allsop

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Dr. Hal Needham Deciphers the Colorful Coastline of Galveston Island 6:21

21d ago6:21

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Explore the dynamic hues of Galveston Island's shores with Dr. Hal Needham, a local meteorologist and climate data scientist deeply connected to the island's natural science. In our conversation, learn about the natural forces behind Galveston's colorful coastline. Learn how geology and Gulf currents combine, creating a mesmerizing display. Gain in…

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17th May 1792: The Buttonwood Agreement signed by 24 stockbrokers, establishing the New York Stock Exchange

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These original New York stockbrokers traded from the Tontine Coffee House at 82 Wall Street before moving to their first dedicated trading space in ...By Scott Allsop

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16th May 1771: The Battle of Alamance ends the Regulator Movement in Provincial North Carolina

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The Battle of Alamance has since been seen by some as a precursor to the American ...By Scott Allsop

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When Luck Was Lady Galveston, Unveiling the City’s Gambling Past 24:34

1M ago24:34

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Unveiling the Maceos: From Immigrants to Galveston's Power Duo - Featuring Kimber Fountain, Author of "The Maceos and the Free State of Galveston, An Authorized History" This episode of 'Unboxing History' delves into the intriguing history Galveston County, Texas, through the lens of Sam and Rose Maceo, who played a pivotal role in transforming the…

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15th May 1943: Stalin dissolves the Communist International (Comintern) that aimed to promote worldwide communism

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After Germany's invasion of the USSR, Stalin begin actively seeking to improve relations with capitalist powers in order to focus on the war effort against the Axis forces so made the decision to dissolve the Comintern as a gesture of goodwill towards the Western ...By Scott Allsop

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14th May 1607: Jamestown, Virginia, established as the first permanent English settlement in North America

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They quickly began to construct a triangular fort containing a number of houses alongside a storehouse and a church, which they named James Fort after King James ...By Scott Allsop

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Episode 31 - Small Town Cryptids 54:45

26d ago54:45

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Send us a Text Message. Welcome to another cryptid-tastic episode! This time we’ll take you back to 1952 when two brothers and a friend near the small town of Flatwoods, West Virginia were surprised by a bright light that landed near a local farm. Accompanied by a local National Guardsman, the group came face to face with something straight out of …

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13th May 1865: The Battle of Palmito Ranch, considered by many to be the last battle of the Civil War

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The Battle of Palmito Ranch ended in a Confederate victory. Union private John J. Williams died in the battle, likely making him the last battlefield fatality of the Civil ...By Scott Allsop

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12th May 1926: Norge airship makes the first verified flight over the North Pole

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After more than 16 hours of flight, at 1.25 am Greenwich time on 12 May, 1925, the Norge successfully reached the North Pole, making it the first confirmed expedition to do ...By Scott Allsop

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11th May 1812: Spencer Perceval, the only British prime minister to be assassinated, shot in the lobby of the House of Commons

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John Bellingham fired a single shot from a pistol, fatally wounding prime minister Spencer Perceval in the chest. Perceval collapsed immediately, and despite efforts to save him, he died shortly ...By Scott Allsop