Join us as Kylie and Clarissa welcome our special guest, Reverend Hashmel Turner for a meaningful conversation about the 23rd Regiment United States Colored Troops.

Together, they explore the powerful story of the first Black soldiers to engage in combat against the Confederate Army during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The discussion also highlights how their courage and legacy are honored today, and why their story continues to matter.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

In this episode of What Remains, Kylie and Clarissa take a closer look at a familiar household object with an unexpected story: a 19th-century stoneware crock from the FAM collection. Once used for everyday food storage, this piece becomes far more meaningful thanks to the name stamped on its side, “E. L. Heinichen, Fredericksburg, VA.”

That single detail leads to the life of Edward L. Heinichen, a German immigrant and Fredericksburg shopkeeper who witnessed the Civil War firsthand. Through personal writings and historic photographs, we explore how Heinichen’s experiences during the Battle of Fredericksburg are preserved through this humble object.

This episode highlights how even the most ordinary artifacts can connect us to extraordinary moments in Fredericksburg’s past.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

In this episode, Kylie and Clarissa are back from our holiday hiatus to chat about the Princess Anne Hotel, once located at 904 Princess Anne Street and one of Fredericksburg’s most recognizable buildings. The story begins with a unique countertop advertisement board once used in the hotel’s lobby, leading us into the hotel’s past as a center of travel, events, and community life.

From its 1914 opening as a modern luxury hotel to visits from figures like Gloria Swanson and Winston Churchill, the Princess Anne played an important role in Fredericksburg’s story. We also look at the people who worked there, the changes that led to its closure in the 1970s, and how the building lives on today as the Princess Anne Building.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

In this episode, we pull Kylie and Clarissa out of the collections to get to know them as hosts, learn how they found their way to FAM, and hear about their favorite things around the museum.

They also share a sneak peek at what’s coming up in 2026, including the 250th anniversary exhibit and a new food-focused exhibit. The podcast will take a short break for the holidays and return on January 6, 2026.

Please note: you may hear some background noise during this episode due to construction on the building next door at the time of recording. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

In this episode of What Remains, Kylie and Clarissa take listeners inside the museum’s textile collection, exploring not just one object but several remarkable garments.

From memorable dresses to surprising fabric finds, they share some of their favorite pieces and the unique stories stitched into each one. It’s a behind the scenes look at how clothing can illuminate personal histories, local culture, and the changing fashions of Fredericksburg’s past.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

November is Indigenous Peoples Month, and in this episode, Kylie and Clarissa explore the story of Link Wray, a musician of Shawnee descent whose gritty guitar sound helped shape rock and roll.

In 1957, right here in Fredericksburg, an improvised performance at a local record hop gave birth to Wray’s hit “Rumble,” a song so raw and rebellious it was banned from radio.

From humble beginnings to rock legend, discover how Link Wray’s story, and his sound, still echo through music history today.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

After a brief hiatus during Dark History week and two sold-out What Remains: Dark History live shows (thank you to everyone who joined us!) we’re back with an episode that’s sure to crinkle a few memories.

This week, Kylie and Clarissa dive into the story of cellophane, the transparent, rustling material that helped carry Fredericksburg through the Great Depression. Produced at the Sylvania Plant, later known as Avisco and FMC, this “fancy paper” wasn’t just packaging, it was the heartbeat of local industry for nearly five decades.

Discover how the plant transformed Maine’s trees into glossy sheets of cellophane, employed thousands, and left behind a lasting legacy (and a lingering smell). From factory floods and “rotten egg” aromas to economic salvation and industrial decline, this episode unwraps how one product quite literally wrapped itself around Fredericksburg’s history.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

In this episode of What Remains, we head into the archives to uncover the story behind one of Fredericksburg’s most vibrant cultural traditions—the Black Arts Festival. As the city prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the festival this September 26–28, we look back at its roots and the community that built it.

Join us as we connect past to present and honor the creativity, resilience, and vision that continue to shape the Black Arts Festival, 50 years strong.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.