Unboxing History
Explore the past with Unboxing History as we take you on a journey into the captivating Galveston County Historical Museum collection. Uncover the hidden stories behind artifacts, delve into the intricacies of local history, and discover the treasures that connect us to bygone eras. Join us for a unique and insightful exploration of our heritage, one unboxing at a time. Hosted by local author and Galveston expert Christine Hopkins and Museum Director Jodi Wright-Gidley, "Unboxing History" will delve into the treasures of the Galveston County Museum, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the artifact collection and exhibits. The museum is located inside the courthouse at 722 Moody/21st Street in Galveston, Texas. It is free and open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10 to 4—private tours and a Padlock Mystery game available by appointment. #historypodcast #texashistory
Episodes
In this episode of Unboxing History, hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley, director of the Galveston County Museum, explore the historical significance of the Galveston Movement, an immigration plan that redirected Jewish immigrants from overcrowded Ellis Island to Galveston, Texas, between 1907 and 1914. The episode features personal anecdotes from sisters Shelly Kessler and Francine Beckman, whose grandp...
Unboxing History: The Typewriter that Survived the 1900 Galveston Storm
In this episode of 'Unboxing History,' hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright Gidley explore the intricate history of an 1891 Oliver typewriter used by RB Spangler, a compositor for the Galveston Daily News. The discussion delves into Spangler's pivotal role during the 1900 Galveston Storm and the importance of the local newspaper...
Join hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley as they unbox the rich history of Galveston County’s schools in this special Back to School edition of Unboxing History! Discover unique artifacts ranging from an 1885 teaching certificate to a 1920s report card, and hear the stories behind them. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious about Galveston’s past, this episode offers a glimpse into some unique art...
Galveston's Pictorial Legacy of Juneteenth
In this episode of Unboxing History, hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley explore a World War I poster commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation. They are joined by historian Sam Collins III, who discusses the historical significance of the poster, which links the Civil War to World War I, and highlights key figures like Abraham Lincoln, Paul Dunnbar, and Fr...
In this episode of Unboxing History, Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright Gidley, executive director of the Galveston County Museum, delve into fascinating artifacts from Galveston County's rich history. They uncover a Colombian mammoth bone and discuss the area's prehistoric fossils, explore the origins of the town of Algoa, and highlight the significance of early settlers bringing trees and crops to the reg...
In this episode of Unboxing History, hosts Christine and Jodi explore a colorful artifact from the Galveston County Museum's collection – a crown from the 1961 Treasure Ball Royal Court. They delve into the rich history of Mardi Gras celebrations in Galveston, detailing key events and traditions that have shaped the festivities over the years. The discussion covers the origins of Mardi Gras in Galveston, the pr...
Could the oldest Christmas tree in the United States be in Galveston? In this special holiday episode of Unboxing History, Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley, hosts of the Unboxing History Podcast, presented by the Galveston County Museum, discuss a 114-year-old artificial Christmas tree, potentially the oldest in Texas or the country. The tree, donated by Mr. Lynn Ringh, features ornaments with rich histories...
Did you know Camp Wallace once served as a training facility for soldiers, housed POWs, and even served as a morgue? In this episode of Unboxing History, hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley from the Galveston County Museum, delve into the history of Camp Wallace, a World War II military camp located in what is now Jack Brooks Park in Galveston County. They examine artifacts related to the camp, including ...
In this episode of Unboxing History, hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley explore intriguing artifacts from the Tremont Hotel's past, including an 1879 menu and postcards. Special guest Kathleen Maca, a historian who authored a book on the Tremont Hotel, shares fascinating insights into the hotel's rich history, its notable guests, and its connection to Galveston's historical events like the...
In this episode of Unboxing History, co-hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley unbox a special artifact from the Galveston County Museum: a portrait of the pioneering meteorologist Dr. John Freeman. They discuss Dr. Freeman's contributions to meteorology, including his work with the U.S. Weather Bureau and the founding of the Weather Research Center. Special guest Dr. Hal Needham, also known as Hurrican...
Unboxing History: The Inquest Record of the 1900 Storm-
In this episode of Unboxing History, co-host Christine Hopkins and Jody Wright-Gidley, director of the Galveston County Museum, delve into the story behind an inquest record book from the Bolivar Peninsula post-1900 Storm. They discuss the history and significance of the ledger, which contains detailed descriptions of victims to aid identification after the deva...
In this episode of Unboxing History, Christine Hopkins and museum staffer Shelby Rodwell unbox a woman's bathing suit from 1890-1910 from the Galveston County Museum collection. This swimsuit is featured in a new exhibit at the Museum created by Rodwell. The podcast highlights beach-related artifacts in the exhibit and the history of segregated beaches in Galveston. Additionally, they talk about historic bathho...
In this episode of Unboxing History, hosts Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright-Gidley share a rare fire bucket from the early 1900s held in the Galveston County Museum's collection. They are joined by James Anderson, author of 'Galveston Burning: A History of the Fire Department and Major Conflagrations,' to discuss significant fires that reshaped Galveston, including the devastating 1885 fire. Anderson...
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 city in the early to mid-20th cent...
Unearthing Galveston's Past: The 1900 Storm Through Thomas Edison's Lens
This episode of 'Unboxing History' features Christine Hopkins and Jodi Wright Gidley, who introduce two unique films. One film was captured after the 1900 Storm by Thomas Edison’s crew, and another reel is from the early 1950s. Guest J.R. Shaw, host of Galveston Unscripted, shares insights into Thomas Edison's pioneering...
This episode of Unboxing History provides a detailed discussion about the history of a tamale cart once belonging to Mr. Serrato, known as Dan the Tamale Man, in Galveston. It includes interviews with a local Texas Star Bakery owner and tamale expert, Cris Chapa, and Chef Mary Bass of La Cocina Market, discussing the process of making tamales and the influence of different cultures on Galveston's food. The epis...
Unboxing History Episode 2: From Storefronts to Memories: The Vanishing World of Corner Stores is a conversation between Christine Hopkins, Jodi Wright-Gidley, and Alfio Tropea. They discuss the history and significance of a unique artifact, a bicycle that was used for grocery store deliveries in the 1950s. The bicycle has been through various events, including being displayed at the Smithsonian and surviving Hurric...
Explore the past with Unboxing History as we take you on a journey into the captivating collection of the Galveston County Museum. Uncover the hidden stories behind artifacts, delve into the intricacies of local history, and discover the treasures that connect us to bygone eras. Join us for a unique and insightful exploration of our heritage, one unboxing at a time.
The Galveston County Museum is located on Galveston...
Unboxing History, Episode 1 is a conversation between Christine Hopkins, a Galveston author and local expert, and Jodi Wright-Gidley, director of the Galveston County Museum. As part of this series, they’ll unbox the treasures in the collection of the museum. In this episode, they discuss the history and significance of Mardi Gras and Treasure Ball in Galveston, focusing on the use of ermine fur in the costumes curr...
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