Revolution 250: Stories From The First Shore

A Genesis: The Fifth Virginia Convention

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we conclude our series with a return to the genesis of the American experiment. At the Fifth Virginia Convention in Williamsburg, delegates called for independence, adopted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, approved the Commonwealth's first constitution, and elected Patrick Henry as Virginia's first governor. The decisions made inside the Capitol in 1776 helped define the principles and government of a new nation.

The Age of Revolution!

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we take a closer look at the generation that launched the American Revolution. Many of the figures we remember as Founding Fathers were remarkably young when they challenged British rule and helped create a new nation. Their story offers a different perspective on the age of revolution.

The Sound of the Common People

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we explore how music connected ordinary people in colonial Virginia. Familiar tunes played in taverns, marketplaces, and ports brought communities together and helped create a shared identity as the colonies moved toward revolution.

Revolution at Sea: Norfolk's Richard Dale

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we tell the story of Richard Dale, a Norfolk County sailor who rose from the merchant trade to become one of America’s first naval heroes. From captivity and escape during the Revolution to service under John Paul Jones and leadership in the early United States Navy, Dale’s career helped shape America’s future at sea.

The End of War: The Moore House

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we explore the Moore House at Yorktown, where officers from Britain, France, and the American forces negotiated the surrender terms that effectively ended the Revolutionary War. Inside a quiet farmhouse, decisions were made that reshaped the future of a nation.

Theater in the Colonies

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we explore Williamsburg’s colonial playhouse and the entertainment culture that flourished before the American Revolution. Theater, music, and performance connected Virginians to the wider British world until war transformed the city and brought the curtain down on a fading colonial era.

Great Dismal Swamp: Refuge Amongst Revolution

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we explore the Great Dismal Swamp and the hidden communities that formed there during the Revolutionary era. As colonists tried to reshape the land for profit, people escaping slavery built lives within the swamp, beyond the reach of the society they fled.

Revolution 250: The Founding Mothers (Extended Special)

As America reflects on 250 years of independence, we remember the women whose courage, sacrifice, and determination helped shape a nation. They published revolutionary ideals, organized boycotts, supported the fight for freedom, and in many cases followed their husbands into battle. From celebrated figures to the countless unnamed women whose strength carried the Revolution forward, their stories continue to inspire generations today.
Join Jordan Christie, Barry Graham, and Connor Worley as they explore the lives and legacies of the women who helped create a nation and immersed themselves in the struggle for independence in WHRV’s The Founding Mothers, part of our Revolution 250: Stories from the First Shore initiative. 

The British Raid of 1779

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we examine the British raid of 1779 and Virginia’s role as a supply center for the American Revolution. British forces struck ports, shipyards, and storage sites across Southeast Virginia, including the burning of Suffolk, in an effort to weaken the Patriot war effort.

Voices of Revolution!

On Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, we explore how newspapers shaped the American Revolution. Competing editions of the Virginia Gazette reflected deep divisions in colonial society and influenced how people understood the growing conflict. This episode looks at the power of the press in a time of rising tension.