Special Collections

Take a radio tour to several unique spots to visit in the great state of Idaho like the Discovery Center, Old Idaho Penitentiary Site, and a couple tasty collections in the Gem State.

Take a radio tour of the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, GA.

Take a radio tour of The Museum of Fear and Wonder in Alberta, Canada.

Take a radio tour of the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, TX.

Take a radio tour of The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts.

This week on Special Collections, take a radio tour of the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan!

Take a radio tour of the Tenement Museum in New York, New York.

Take a radio tour of some collections around the state of Minnesota. We visit the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, Historic Fort Snelling in St. Paul, and of course the famous Mall of America in Bloomington.

Have you ever gone to a museum of modern or contemporary art and thought “I have no idea what is going on?” On this episode of Special Collections, we learn about aesthetics—the branch of philosophy dealing with art theory. We interview Travis Anderson, a professor of philosophy at Brigham Young University, to learn about his take on what art is. Additionally, we also interviewed Joe Ostraff, a professor of Art at Brigham Young University—to learn about his take on public art installations. The Special Collections team talks all things art, philosophy, and Hall of Breakfast in our roundtable discussion.

Take a radio tour of the Gone With the Wind Museum in Marietta, Georgia.

Most -- if not all -- people have reservations about the ocean. Do you? This week, take a radio tour of the History of Diving Museum in the Florida Keys. We learn about fears of the ocean, early pioneers of diving, decompression sickness, and deep sea diving! In addition to this interview, we talk about free diving, ocean pollution, the FBI dive team, and the first African American U.S. Navy Diver: Carl Brashear.  Learn more about the History of Diving Museum here: https://www.divingmuseum.org/

This week on Special Collections, take a radio tour of a few \*small\* collections! Listen to interviews from the Thorne Miniature Rooms in the Art Institute of Chicago, to the High Point Museum in a small town, to an office's small collection of moist towelettes in East Lansing, Michigan. Also on Special Collections, hear about jaw-dropping records for the world's smallest things, and a Special Confections segment on a small candy company! Learn more about the museums we interviewed in today's episode here: https://www.artic.edu/departments/PC-15/thorne-miniature-rooms https://www.highpointnc.gov/694/Museum  http://www.moisttowelettemuseum.com/

Al Capone famously once said: "You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun." Interested to hear more? Join us as we take a radio tour of the Museum of the American Gangster in New York City. This museum is located in a former speakeasy that was actually open in 1922. Today on Special Collections, we learn about all things organized crime, Al Capone, and the rise of gangsters during prohibition. Also on Special Collections, learn all about the Prohibition Era and one of the largest bank heists in history. We also talk about the real and fictional portrayals of gangsters in American media and history.  Learn more about the Museum of the American Gangster here: http://www.museumoftheamericangangster.org/

Come take a tour of the Jane Austen's House Museum in Chawton, England. Did you know that Jane Austen has never gone out of print? She's considered one of the greatest among the greats. This episode, learn about the inspiration behind famous works Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma, and find out why Austen is still so successful after years of being published. In addition to this, learn about female authors that were forced to stay anonymous throughout history, hear a few awkward proposal stories, and the famous roasts that Jane Austen included throughout her books. We also pay homage to Valentine's Day this week, you can learn from Mr. Darcy on how to get your crush to like you back! Learn more about the Jane Austen House Museum here: https://www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk/

Special Collections is honoring Black History Month and the recent MLK Day Holiday, so join us as we take a radio tour of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee! Learn about the Lorraine Motel, U.S. history of civil rights protests, and the ongoing fight for racial equality.  In addition to this interview, we also explore the origins of Black History Month and discuss influential African American thinkers and artists. Learn more about the National Civil Rights Museum here: https://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/

Today in Special Collections, join us on a radio tour of the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. Hear about their exhibits such as a 45-yard indoor football field, unique historic memorabilia, the walls of helmets, and more. We talk about culture, early football, the inductees and how the College Football Hall of Fame is celebrating Black History Month! Also in today's episode enjoy an interview with Greg Wrubell, Director of Broadcast Media and Host of "Behind the Mic", who has been dubbed the "Voice of the Cougars" by BYU Magazine. We also learn about campus culture and team pride, famous calls, and predictions of who will win the 2019 Superbowl. Thanks for joining us! You can learn more about the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame here: https://www.cfbhall.com/

Special Collections usually focuses on museums and place full of stuff, but today we'd like to prove that a lack of stuff can be just as interesting. That's right, we're talking about ghost towns. Is a place abandoned because of its remote location, because of a natural disaster, or maybe even a man-made one? Host Jeff Simpson sits down with our producers--Cole Wissinger, Sage Smiley, and Gracia Lee--to explore these unique and empty places. We explore a fascinating corner of Yellowstone National Park, Kolmanskop, Barrow AK, Centralia PA, Pompeii, Shi Cheng, Chernobyl, Pripyat and so much more. Welcome to our first episode of Special Desolations.

Did you know that the Roman army used to pay their soldiers in salt? You'll learn lots of weird facts just like this about your condiments and spices in this Special Collections episode, featuring interviews with the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, TN and the National Museum of Mustard in Middleton, WI. Join Special Collections as we explore whether a hot dog is a sandwhich, the history and mythology of salt, and contenders of the perfect combination of bread and condiments. Learn more about the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museums and National Museum of Mustard at: http://thesaltandpeppershakermuseum.com/  https://mustardmuseum.com/

The American Revolutionary War won independence for thirteen British colonies and founded the nation now known as the United States. However, this was not the only war fought that created the nation as we now know it. In the mid-1830s, Texas fought for its own independence from Mexico. Remember the Alamo was the rally cry of the Texan army in their final battle. While it has been nearly 200 years since that battle, Americans are still remembering that tragic and heroic day in American history in many ways. One can be by visiting The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. Our guest today is the Director of Education Sherri Driscoll. Also in today's episode we visit with BYU professor of Mexican History Evan Ward to better understand how the battle impacted the other side. We also cover a \[brief] history of Texas and the many countries that have laid claim to that land (including Texas itself), and listen to a Special Compilation of different songs inspired by the Battle of the Alamo. You can learn more about The Alamo at: www.thealamo.org

Many children wish they could visit Santa at his workshop at the North Pole, but that is impossible. Or is it? Turns out, there is an actual town called North Pole, and it’s about as close to the actual North Pole as you’d ever want to get. Located in central Alaska, North Pole remembers Christmas well past December with the slogan, “Where the Spirit of Christmas Lives Year Round.” And ever wonder where a letter addressed to Santa actually ends up? Surprisingly, a lot of letters find their way to Indiana of all places - Santa Claus, Indiana to be specific. Yes, there really is a town named Santa Claus, and there are few places that get into the Christmas spirit quite as well. Today we get into the Christmas spirit through interviews with both towns - from Santa Claus we have Melissa Arnold, the Executive Director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau, and from North Pole we have Mayor Mike Welch. Also in today’s episode, learn about some ways that big cities celebrate the holidays and build up your Christmas trivia with some Christmas-themed world records. Also, find out how Santa learns whether you’ve been naughty or nice though Santa’s Hotline, and hear some adorable answers to our man-on-the-street segment, where we ask kids what they would get their parents for Christmas. From all of us at Special Collections, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!