First American Flag

First Annual Reminder Demonstration

Most people think Stonewall was where the LGBTQ+ rights movement began, but Philadelphia got there first. This episode tells the story of the first Annual Reminder Demonstration, a series of Independence Day protests held at Independence Hall years before Stonewall, and how a simple act of holding hands helped ignite the modern Pride movement. Host Marisa Magnatta is joined by Rue Landau, Philadelphia City Councilmember At-Large, civil rights attorney, and the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Philadelphia City Council.

First U.S. Army

This episode tells the story of how thirteen fractured colonies — each with their own militias, customs, and loyalties — were forged into a single fighting force: the Continental Army. Host Marisa Magnatta is joined by Matthew Skic, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, whose award-winning curatorial work on the Revolutionary War brings the look, feel, and human drama of America's first army vividly to life.

First American Flag

Marisa sits down with Betsy Ross herself to dig into the story of the first American flag, the remarkable woman behind it, and why her story still resonates nearly 250 years later.

First Steamboat for Passengers and Freight

This episode tells the story of the strange, smoke-belching invention that changed transportation forever: the first successful steamboat for passengers and freight, launched on the Delaware River by an almost-forgotten inventor named John Fitch. Host Marisa Magnatta is joined by Mike Madeja, whose work bringing maritime history to life offers a unique window into the ambition, risk-taking, and river culture that shaped early America.

First World’s Fair on American Soil

This episode explores the remarkable story of how Philadelphia hosted the 1876 Centennial Exhibition: the first World's Fair ever held in the United States – and in doing so, introduced the world to the telephone, the typewriter, ketchup, and a new vision of American identity. Host Marisa Magnatta is joined by John Sigmund, Director of Partnerships & Sponsorships at the Fairmount Park Conservancy and a resident caretaker of the very park where it all happened.