Revolution 250: Stories From The First Shore

*Extended Feature* "Christmas in Colonial Virginia"

Christmas in Colonial Virginia takes listeners back to the Tidewater of the 1700s, when the holiday looked and felt very different from today. From candlelit homes and twelve days of Christmastide to taverns, plantation gatherings, and wartime upheaval, the program explores how Christmas was observed across colonial Virginia—and how the coming Revolution reshaped the season in Hampton Roads, including the burning of Norfolk. Produced by WHRO Public Media in Norfolk, Virginia, as part of Revolution 250: Stories from The First Shore, this episode traces the traditions and tensions of a Virginia Christmas along America’s road to independence.

Billy Flora – The Man Who Held the Bridge

Billy Flora, a free Black sentry at the Battle of Great Bridge, fired the first shot and held his position under heavy fire. His last-minute move to slow the British advance shaped how the battle unfolded. This episode looks at his actions and why they mattered.

The Battle of Great Bridge: Britain’s First Defeat in Virginia

In December 1775, Patriots and British forces clashed at Great Bridge, a vital crossing south of Norfolk. The Patriot victory came quickly but carried major consequences, opening the way to Norfolk and shifting the momentum in Virginia. This episode explores how the battle unfolded and why it mattered.

Feeding The Troops

Behind the battle lines was another fight—one for basic sustenance. Soldiers endured long stretches in camp, scarce supplies, and the uncertainty of their next meal. Discover how food shaped morale, endurance, and the Revolution itself.

Native Americans who sided with England

During the American Revolution, many Native nations sided with Britain, hoping to slow colonial expansion into their lands. But tribes were divided, and the choices they made came with lasting consequences. This episode explores the difficult decisions facing Native communities during the war.

Robert Mursh – Native American Hero

Robert Mursh, a Pamunkey student at the Brafferton Indian School, later became one of the Indigenous soldiers who fought in the American Revolution. From major battles to a year as a prisoner of war, his story reflects a complex and often overlooked chapter of Virginia’s past.

The Skirmish of Kemp’s Landing: The First Battle on Land

In 1775, the Revolution reached Virginia. At Kemps Landing, an early British victory fueled false confidence—only to collapse weeks later at Great Bridge. Explore how a brief skirmish helped shift power in Hampton Roads and accelerate Virginia’s march toward independence.

*Extended Feature* "The Sound of Colonial Virginia"

Join Barry Graham as he explores how Colonial Virginia was alive with sound—bawdy songs in taverns, genteel music in ballrooms, and rhythms carried into the fields by enslaved Africans. Music reflected English, Scottish, and African traditions, transcending class and connecting communities. Discover how sound became part of Virginia’s cultural identity and history!

"Ain't No Party Like a Yorktown Tea Party"

Before Boston’s famous protest, Yorktown staged its own act of defiance. In 1774, townsmen dumped British tea into the York River—rejecting Parliament’s authority and proving rebellion had already reached Virginia’s shores. Discover the story of the Yorktown Tea Party.

*Extended Feature* The Last Major Battle of The Revolution with Connor Worley

The Siege at Yorktown is remembered as the last major battle of the American Revolution—but few know how the strategy, engineering, and coordination truly secured America’s independence. Historian Jim Gallagher of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown joins WHRO’s Connor Worley for an in-depth look at the tactics behind the victory that changed history.