48 Best Local History Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

A weekly history podcast sharing stories about the people, places and events that shaped the city of Atlanta.

East Bay history podcast that gathers, shares & celebrate stories from Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond and other towns throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. more

If you think you know Texas history, think again. This is the podcast that goes beyond the textbooks — rigorously researched, compellingly written, and delivered with a relaxed storytelling style that makes even the most serious history feel like sitting around a campfire. Your host is Justice Ken Wise: a scholar with a gift for narrative and a knack for finding the stories that surprise you. Texas history, Texas legends, Texas characters — all told the way they deserve to be told. Subscribe for new episodes and prepare to see the Lone Star State in a whole new light. more

The podcast about the everyday heroes, renegades and visionaries who shaped Kansas City and the region. If these stories aren't told, they're in danger of fading into the past. Made by Suzanne Hogan, Mackenzie Martin and KCUR Studios. more

Stories from history of the Greatest City in the World - Chicago. The places, events, and the people behind it all. more

Nicole Meldahl and a rotating cast of hosts from the Western Neighborhoods Project (outsidelands.org / OpenSFHistory.org) share San Francisco west side neighborhood history with humor, footnoted facts, and occasional guests. more

Welcome to 'Stories of Appalachia,' the podcast where hosts Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins have been unraveling the captivating history and folklore of the Appalachian region since 2015. Join them as they guide you through mist-covered mountains and winding rivers, exploring the stories that define the heart and soul of Appalachia. www.storiesofappalachia.com more

Dr. Nic Butler, historian at the Charleston County Public Library, explores the less familiar corners of local history with stories that invite audiences to reflect on the enduring presence of the past in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. more

A daily (5-day-a-week) podcast feed of true Oregon stories -- of heroes and rascals, of shipwrecks and lost gold. Stories of shanghaied sailors and Skid Road bordellos and pirates and robbers and unsolved mysteries. An exploding whale, a couple shockingly scary cults, a 19th-century serial killer, several very naughty ladies, a handful of solid-brass con artists and some of the dumbest bad guys in the history of the universe. From the archives of the Offbeat Oregon History syndicated newspaper column. Source citations are included with the text version on the Web site at https://offbeatoregon.com. more

Discover forgotten stories from small-town America that never made it into history books. Hometown History is the podcast uncovering hidden American history—overlooked events, local mysteries, and untold tragedies from communities across the nation. Every week, meticulous research brings pre-2000 small-town stories to life in 20-minute episodes. From forgotten disasters to local legends, hidden chapters to pivotal moments, each episode explores a different town's overlooked history. Perfect for history enthusiasts seeking forgotten American stories, small-town history, and local history that shaped our nation. Respectful storytelling meets educational depth—history podcast content for curious minds who want to learn about America's hidden past without hour-long episodes. more

A Philly History Podcast

The History of California Podcast is hosted by Jordan Mattox and explores the history of the state through narrative histories and in-depth conversations with experts.https://linktr.ee/historyofcapodcast more

The Kentucky History Podcast is a narration and discussion of the History of Kentucky. Our great state has a lot of historical value to offer.https://linktr.ee/Kyhistorypod more

History, true crime & bizarre happenings in the bluegrass state. Kentucky is a treasure trove of unique people, events, and places dating as far back as the mastodon! You don't have to be from Kentucky to appreciate these stories. Subscribe today and share with a friend. Please email topic suggestions to ****@gmail.com. Visit the website to browse our merch at kyhistoryhaunts.com. And please leave a review or rating wherever you're enjoying the show. Thanks for listening. more

Reflecting on South Florida's vibrant past.

Invisible Ground explores the history of Southeast Ohio communities by telling the stories of its people, places, and events. more

The winner of a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and a New York State Broadcasters Association Award, A New York Minute In History tells the unique tales of New Yorkers throughout American history. With the state's hundreds of historical markers as a guide, join Devin Lander and Lauren Roberts as they explore the people, places, and experiences that made New York. How is the Erie Canal used today? Where did baseball get its start? And who inspired the story of the headless horseman? All previous episodes of A New York Minute in History can be found here: A New York Minute in History. Meet the HostsDevin Lander is New York's 16th state historian. Previously, he was the executive director of the Museum Association of New York (MANY) and worked for the chair of the state Assembly's Tourism, Arts, Parks and Sports Development and Governmental Operations Committees. He holds a BA in History from SUNY Plattsburgh and a MA in Public History from the University at Albany, where he is currently finishing his PhD. Devin is also co-editor of the New York History journal, published by Cornell University Press. He was elected a New York Academy of History fellow in 2020.Lauren Roberts has been the Saratoga County historian since 2009. She holds a BA in Anthropology and American Studies from Skidmore College, and earned her MA in Public History from the University at Albany. Roberts co-produced the successful 2017 documentary Harnessing Nature: Building the Great Sacandaga, chronicling the construction of New York's largest reservoir. She also serves as the coordinator for municipal historians in the Capital Region, through the Association of Public Historians of New York State.The podcast is produced by Aaron Shellow-Lavine and Tina Renick of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Original episodes were co-hosted by Don Wildman of Mysteries at the Museum on Travel Channel.A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from The William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Original episodes were also sponsored by a Humanities New York Action Grant, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.Find us on social media! Twitter: @NYHistoryMinute Instagram: @nyhistoryminute more

Who gets remembered when a city changes? Urban Roots is an award-winning podcast that preserves place through story to uncover the social histories embedded in neighborhoods, buildings, and cultural landscapes, exploring how development, planning, and preservation shape Black communities and their claims to space. Hosted by Deqah and published by Urban Roots Collaborative (AKA Urbanist Media), a 501 (c) (3). more

Hundreds of brief biographies of permanent residents of Laurel Hill East in Philadelphia and Laurel Hill West in Bala Cywnyd, Pennsylvania. Often educational, always entertaining. more

The North Omaha History Podcast with noted author and historian Adam Fletcher Sasse. Each week, Adam takes you on a guided tour through Omaha's dynamic past. more

Stories of Lexington, Kentucky's history and people.

Retelling forgotten stories from San Francisco's golden past, 1776 - 1906, based on newspapers, books, and personal accounts, of the time. San Francisco enthusiasts, California gold rush fans, and garden variety history geeks can discover this boom and bust city, built on the discovery of gold. *I do my best to accurately reflect the facts, and sources, in my episodes.* more

Interviews with historians, scholars, authors and anyone with a story to tell and a passion for this unique region of New York. more

Go on a journey with Travis and Chris as they deep dive into the little known stories about the Gem City, Quincy, Illinois. more

Voices of Oklahoma.com is dedicated to the preservation of the oral history of Oklahoma. Voices and stories of famous Oklahomans and ordinary citizens are captured forever in their own words. Oil and gas, ranching, politics, education and more are all visited in these far-ranging interviews. Students researching any of these areas can listen to first-person accounts of the way life was and draw from knowledge that may guide and shape their future. In addition to students, any visitor will feel close to history as they listen to these personal reflections. more

A short podcast about history, names and places, primarily in Northeast Georgia. Centers on Habersham, Banks, Franklin, Stephens and Hall counties. From colonial times, the Civil War, and today. more

Here we rediscover the vanished and forgotten places in one of America's oldest states, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It could be a ghost town, it could be a former neighborhood reclaimed for industrial use. Sometimes we hike into the wilderness, sometimes the lost world is beneath a busy street. Maybe you live on top of a forgotten settlement? Walk along with us on the lost road. More at LOSTMASSACHUSETTS.COM more

Prof. Damian Bacich shares the history you didn't learn in school. Each episode is a deep dive into the fascinating early history of California and the West. Listen to stories and interviews with scholars, experts, and people who are passionate about a time when California was the frontier of empire and imagination.  more

The Marshall County High School History Club proudly presents... The Book of Marshall. This is a student researched, written, produced, and hosted project dedicated to learning and preserving the history of Marshall County, Tennessee. more

A short podcast exploring the people, places, and events that shaped Muskegon, Michigan and beyond.

Connecting the Docs is a podcast from the State Archives of North Carolina. Our archivists use archival materials to bring you fascinating, true stories from around the Old North State. Sometimes archival records solve a puzzle, and other times, they start one. more

CASCADE OF HISTORY is the only LIVE radio show presenting news and stories about people doing cool things with and for history in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. We talk about people, artifacts, books, maps, photos, places, landmarks, public lands, state and national parks, trails, highways, and the historic events that can bring us all together. The show is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time on SPACE 101.1 FM (and streaming via http://www.space101fm.org ) from studios located on the shores of Lake Washington in historic Magnuson Park in Seattle, former site of Sand Point Naval Air Station (though sometimes CASCADE OF HISTORY originates from remote locations around the region). The podcast feed consists of the weekly broadcast, plus frequent bonus episodes with timely and topical interviews, vintage local audio or other Pacific Northwest history-related content - and sometimes even BREAKING NEWS. Producer and host Feliks Banel is a corporate historian; Emmy-winning and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning broadcaster; and former deputy director of Seattle's Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Send your questions, comments, guest suggestions, news tips and other correspondence to ****@gmail.com. more

Knoxville Chronicles is a podcast series produced by the Knoxville History Project highlighting some of the most interesting of the city's old stories that still have relevance today.The Knoxville History Project is an educational nonprofit with a mission to research, preserve and promote the history and culture of Knoxville, Tennessee.Learn more at KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org more

Since 2015, the Brattleboro Historical Society has recorded local history podcasts. For about a decade, Brattleboro Area Middle School partnered with the Society to create these weekly stories of the past. more

We turn back the clock with local historians to find out what life in the Northwoods used to be like. This is part of an initiative by WXPR to tell the history and culture of northern Wisconsin. more

Hosted by founder of The Local Mythstorian project, Eli Lewis-Lycett, each episode focuses on Eli's extensive research into a piece of folklore or curious local history from across Cheshire, Derbyshire or Staffordshire, revealing the hidden story within. Visit thelocalmythstorian.com for more. more

Calderdale Libraries' bi-monthly podcast, with guests, bringing you stories and facts from the weird and wonderful past...*Follow us on Twitter/X: @HOL_podcast*Follow us on Facebook: HOLpodcast more

Taking tall tales of cowboys to gangsters of the Cherokee Strip researching them and discovering the true story more

People's stories recorded from the Oral History Collection of the Civil Rights Heritage Center at the Indiana University South Bend Archives. Telling the history of the civil rights movement and the experiences of Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, and other marginalized peoples in South Bend, Indiana. For more, visit crhc.iusb.edu. more

Tune in for a two-minute look at some of the most pivotal — and peculiar — events in Utah history! With all of the history and none of the dust, the Beehive Archive is a fun way to catch up on Utah's past. more

McHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can be heard periodically on WGLT's Sound Ideas. The series is produced in partnership with the McLean County Museum of History. more

NorCal History show that does not bog you down with dates and names and focus' on stories. Hosted by Ricky Mortensen rickymortensen.substack.com more

Local History Matters from the British Association For Local History (BALH). Each episode highlights key people and projects from the local history world. more

T exas History for Kids is a podcast where young listeners explore the stories they didn't hear about in school—from legendary battles and forgotten monuments to the strange, enchanted, and unexplained corners of the Lone Star State. New episodes air every Monday. more

History 605 explores the history of South Dakota, the northern Great Plains, and the Midwest. South Dakota's State Historian Ben Jones will visit with guests about their books, museum exhibits and artifacts, and historic sites in the state and region. Along the way, you'll learn how to think, not what to think, about history and the people of the past.The host is Dr. Ben Jones, State Historian and Director of the South Dakota State Historical Society. Ben grew up in Sioux Falls and De Smet, served in various locations around the world while in the USAF. He returned to South Dakota to become Dean of Arts and Sciences at Dakota State University, then served as South Dakota's 15th Secretary of Education. Along the way, he earned his PhD in history and enjoys sharing history's insights with all of you. more

Crossroads of Rockland History, a podcast of the Historical Society of Rockland County. Host Clare Sheridan welcomes guests every month to to explore, celebrate and learn about the rich history of Rockland County and the Lower Hudson Valley, NY.  more

Murray Montgomery has written non-fictional history articles for the online magazine 'Texas Escapes' for over 20 years and now, he brings these stories to listeners in this podcast. Murray resides in South-Central Texas. He also has the 'Talk Common Sense' podcast. Reach him at: ****@zohomail.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lone-star-diary--4650023/support . more

Alaska History, Adventure, and Pioneers. www.alaska-stories.com