Episode 5: Valley Archaeology & The Marvelous Crozet Tunnel

March 4
35 mins

Episode Description

Description: Can you dig it? Explore the Valley’s hidden history with Mike Kehoe, from Native American artifacts to Civil War archaeology. Plus, the story of Claudius Crozet’s 19th century, “crazy” engineering feat: boring a mile-long rail tunnel through solid Blue Ridge rock.Explore the Valley’s hidden history with Mike Kehoe, from Native American artifacts to Civil War archaeology. Plus, the story of Claudius Crozet’s 19th century, “crazy” engineering feat: boring a mile-long rail tunnel through solid Blue Ridge rock.

  • The Interview: Mike Kehoe grew up on a Shenandoah Valley farm discovering Native American and Civil War artifacts in plowed fields. Having participated in his first official archaeological dig at age 14, he has dedicated his life to Valley history, working with the Archaeological Society of Virginia, the VA Dept. of Historic Resources, and the U.S. Park Service.
  • The Narrative: The idea of boring a rail tunnel nearly a mile through hard Blue Ridge Mountain rock seemed impossible in the mid-1800s. It took the engineering genius of Claudius Crozet to prove the skeptics wrong. Today, the Blue Ridge Tunnel is a premier destination for hikers and history buffs alike.
  • The History Moment: Dispatches from the archives of old Valley newspapers.
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