History

The 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War will be a somber occasion
The war began before dawn on April 12, 1861, with the start of a Confederate bombardment of Union-held Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The conflict ended four years later with the surrender of Confederate forces in Virginia on April 9, 1865.
The state agency that preserves Minnesota's history will have a new leader as of May 1st. Steve Elliott will be replacing the previous director, Nina Archibald, who retired in January. Elliott is currently the president of the New York State Historical Association and the Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
Two Harbors: Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse is easing into its century status. It began operating in 1910 and was celebrated throughout 2010 to mark its 100th anniversary.
Midday presents more speeches featured in the new book by Stephen Smith and Kate Ellis, "Say it Loud: Great Speeches on Civil Rights and African American Identity." Speeches in this hour include ones from Shirley Chisholm, James Cone, Colin Powell, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
John and Abigail Adams in letters
John Adams has had his share of publicity in the past few years. Historian Joseph Ellis's new book takes a look at the enduring relationship between Adams and his wife, Abigail, as revealed through their letters to one another. Originally broadcast on January 3, 2011.
The queen of the Nile: a new perspective
She was called Queen of Kings, and in her lifetime Cleopatra was romantically linked with both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Biographer Stacy Schiff considered her a shrewd political strategist and powerful ruler. Originally broadcast on January 5, 2011.
Novelist Paul Auster writes about home
Paul Auster's new novel about abandoned homes and broken families speaks to Americans' experience with the recession. He revisits themes of existential crisis and the search for identity.