The America250PA ”Start Here, America Did” Podcast

One bell. Then another. Soon, an unexpected discovery at Valley Forge became a Pennsylvania-wide adventure.

In this episode of Start Here, America Did, meet Natalie Caruso, whose search for America250PA’s Bells Across PA has taken her to 112 bells and counting. Along the way: covered bridges, ice cream stops, new friendships, and a bell she tracked down in the back of a pickup truck.

Discover how following the bells sparked a deeper appreciation for Pennsylvania, and find inspiration for an adventure of your own. Your next favorite place might be just a bell away.

From hand-dug caves beneath Pottsville to surviving fire, Prohibition and nearly two centuries of change, D.G. Yuengling & Son has become far more than America’s oldest brewery. In the next episode of the America250PA podcast, sixth-generation family member Debbie Yuengling shares the resilience, family values and Pennsylvania grit behind the iconic brand, along with what it means to carry its legacy forward alongside her three sisters. Discover how Yuengling has remained proudly independent, preserved its close-knit culture and grown from a small Pennsylvania brewery into a name enjoyed across 30 states.

Pennsylvania’s historical markers may only contain a few lines, but behind each one is a much bigger story. In this episode of Start Here, America Did., MarkerQuest creator Laura Klotz shares how she has spent years uncovering the people, places, events, and unexpected connections hidden behind the Commonwealth’s blue-and-gold markers.

From Revolutionary War mysteries and Moravian settlements to family connections stretching back generations, Laura reveals how history can be found in the places we pass every day. Along the way, she reminds us that Pennsylvania’s story was shaped not only by famous names, but by ordinary people whose lives left a lasting mark on the Commonwealth.

Discover what can happen when you slow down, follow the markers, and look a little closer at the history all around you.

What can a nearly 300-page day book reveal about life after the American Revolution?

In our next episode, we explore a lesser-known side of Charles Thomson, longtime Secretary of the Continental Congress, through the daybook he kept during his retirement at Harriton House in Montgomery County.

Host Sydney Harris-White is joined by Laura Carpenter Myers, Executive Director of the Harriton Association, to discuss the ongoing effort to transcribe Thomson’s daybook and the fascinating stories emerging from its pages, offering a rare glimpse into everyday life in early Pennsylvania.

It is a reminder that history is not only found in defining moments, but in the small details left behind.

Step inside one of Pennsylvania’s most remarkable historic estates.

In this episode, listeners travel to Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum, a breathtaking property along the Delaware River where more than two centuries of American history are preserved in the home, gardens, collections, and stories of the Biddle family.

Executive Director John Vick shares how Andalusia evolved from an 18th-century summer retreat into the grand Greek Revival estate visitors experience today, while revealing the extraordinary Biddle family connections to the American Revolution, the Second Bank of the United States, historic preservation, architecture, and horticulture.

From Nicholas Biddle’s clash with President Andrew Jackson to Revolutionary War stories, rare family treasures, a nearly 200-year-old walled garden, and sweeping views of the Delaware River, discover a place where history doesn’t simply sit behind glass. It surrounds you.

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of the hardships of Valley Forge and the American Revolution, including difficult living conditions, hunger, illness, death, and the realities of war. Listener discretion is advised.

In our next episode, we explore Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pennsylvania, the former home of Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and a two-term Governor of Pennsylvania. Joined by Jared Simister, Director of Interpretation for Grey Towers, this episode highlights the Pinchot family’s role in shaping the American conservation movement.

Listeners will hear how Priestley’s curiosity shaped discoveries that still touch everyday life, from carbonated beverages to modern chemistry, and why his Pennsylvania home remains a powerful place for learning, experimentation, and community connection. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Priestley’s story reminds us that innovation, freedom of thought, and lifelong curiosity have always been part of the nation’s foundation.

In this special Memorial Day bonus episode of Start Here, America Did, we pause to honor the service members who gave their lives in defense of our country and reflect on the responsibility we share to remember them. Joined by The Honorable Devlin Robinson, Pennsylvania State Senator for the 37th District and United States Marine Corps veteran, this conversation explores the meaning of Memorial Day through the lens of service, sacrifice, and gratitude.