Podcast: The "U" is Silent - We Aren't (Visit Staunton)

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S2E1THE HARD WORK OF HARD HISTORY: INSIDE A PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

From a dairy farm to the helm of a presidential library — Robin Von Seldeneck's journey is one worth hearing. In this episode, Samantha sits down with the President & CEO of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, Virginia, to explore how museums are becoming something more than collections of artifacts. They're becoming places where communities can wrestle with hard truths. Robin shares her vision for honest dialogue around Wilson's complicated legacy on race, power, and democracy, and what it means for a small city to carry the weight of a president's story.

About This Podcast

The U may be silent, but Staunton has a lot to say. Join Visit Staunton as we sit down with inspiring individuals at the top of their craft. We’re chatting about what drives their passion, the actions behind the impact, and a little about the place where they’re making it all happen.

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Wilson's Sheep

/ Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum/
Wilson's Sheep

For several years, beginning in the spring of 1918, a flock of sheep grazed on the White House Lawn. After America entered World War I, the sheep helped to save manpower by keeping the grass trimmed. We don’t exactly who came up with the idea, but Dr. Cary Grayson contacted his horseracing friend Wiliam Woodward about getting some sheep for the president. Woodward sent along a small flock from his farm in Maryland by wagon.

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Woodrow Wilson: The President Who Loved Baseball

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Woodrow Wilson: The President Who Loved Baseball

The earliest historical evidence produced by Woodrow Wilson were doodles written in a school geography textbook in 1870. Alongside drawings of a greyhound and hot air balloons, there is a sketch of a baseball diamond and two line ups of the Light Foot Base Ball Club of Augusta, Georgia. As second baseman and club secretary, Wilson clearly had a great interest in the game from a young age.

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Meeting Royalty

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Meeting Royalty

After the end of World War I, President Wilson traveled to Europe to participate in the negotiations of the Paris Peace Conference, ultimately producing the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. However, he first traveled to London, England and met with the British Royal family on Boxing Day, December 26, 1918.

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Chesterton, Reading Aloud, and the Enjoyment of Literature: A Glimpse of Woodrow Wilson at Leisure

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Chesterton, Reading Aloud, and the Enjoyment of Literature: A Glimpse of Woodrow Wilson at Leisure

Woodrow Wilson stands unique among American presidents because of his background in education. Among the collections of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library are books from Rev. Wilson’s library. Besides works of Biblical commentary and theology, there are works of great literature, such as Homer’s Iliad and the poetry of Alfred Lord Tennyson. Woodrow grew up in an environment where literature was shared and enjoyed.

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Flag Day: A Presidential Legacy in Our Backyard

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Flag Day: A Presidential Legacy in Our Backyard

Walking through the campus of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library each day, I'm often reminded of the profound impact our 28th president had on American traditions that we often take for granted. Flag Day, celebrated on June 14, serves as a poignant example of Wilson's enduring influence on how we commemorate our nation's symbols.

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