Episodes

  • Every good museum has snuffboxes
    Jun 5 2023

    In this episode Alyssa shares the story of the rise and fall of snuffboxes as an art form and status symbol.

    You’ll learn about the origin of snuffboxes, the popular materials and designs used, and some notable snuffboxes that call The Metropolitan Museum of Art home.

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    10 mins
  • How lotteries got started in the United States and the Founding Fathers that had a hand in it
    May 8 2023

    In this episode Alyssa shares the story of lotteries in the early United States.

    You’ll get to learn about Founding Fathers who were involved in lotteries, the scandals that plagued lotteries as they grew in popularity, and how they even contributed to setting a legal precedent.

    Mentions:

    Original lottery blog post

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    9 mins
  • A short history of libraries and the elite club you’d want to be in
    Mar 13 2023

    In this episode Alyssa shares the story of libraries from the dawn of time to early America.

    You’ll learn about how libraries evolved over the years, how clubs formed around sharing knowledge, and how people throughout time have been resilient in their pursuit of books.

    Mentions:

    Bower Boys podcast episode on Andrew Carnegie and libraries

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    19 mins
  • How Captain "Fish Hook" Mulford went to see the king and got his nickname
    Feb 20 2023

    In this episode Alyssa shares the story of Old Captain “Fish Hook” Mulford.

    You’ll learn about the history of the whaling industry in early America, the lengths Captain Mulford was willing to go to fight for the rights of whalers against the British Crown, and his ingenious way of preventing pick pocketing.

    Mentions:

    Episode 10, John Adams

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    16 mins
  • How a thief and war hero became the first director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
    Feb 6 2023

    In this episode Alyssa shares the story of Luigi Palma di Cesnola, the first director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

    You’ll learn about his adventures as a war hero, his excavation and collecting that put him on the map, and a special story about what days the museum is open and what Luigi thought about it all.

    Mentions:

    *Rogues' Gallery The Secret History of the Moguls and the Money that Made the Metropolitan Museum* by Michael Gross

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art by Howard Hibbard

    Making The Met by Andrea Bayer and Laura D Corey

    Podcast episode about The Met

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    20 mins
  • Why I am in love with John Adams (and you should be too)
    Jan 23 2023

    In this episode Alyssa shares the story of John Adams securing a loan from the Dutch during the American Revolution.

    You’ll learn about who John Adams was, the characteristics that made him the best revolutionary, and why he should be more highly valued for his contributions.

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    21 mins
  • The man who molded New York: the short story of Robert Moses
    Jan 9 2023

    In this episode Alyssa shares the story of Robert Moses.

    You’ll learn about who Robert Moses was, his impact on New York, his portrayal in media, and a story that illustrates just how much he was willing to do to accomplish his goals.

    Mentions:

    Robert Moses podcast episodes from The Bowery Boys

    Coming Face to Face with Robert A. Caro blog post

    The Ballad of Robert Moses by John Forster

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    15 mins