On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1964, Leon Hess set out to give children something fun and affordable at his gas stations—and ended up creating a toy truck that lit up, rolled out, and quickly sold out. Sixty years later, Hess Trucks have become a holiday tradition, with collectors, families, and fans marking each annual release like a mini Christmas of its own. Hess Toy Truck director Justin Mayer and longtime superfan Mike Roberto share how a simple seasonal idea grew into a uniquely East Coast obsession.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, on Christmas Eve 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans to orbit the Moon. Joined by astronomer and broadcaster Steve Kates, known as Dr. Sky, they recall the moment the astronauts read from the Book of Genesis, uniting millions of listeners on Earth during a tense and historic holiday season in the midst of the Cold War.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Our American Stories listener and regular contributor Stephen Rusiniak shares the story of the time he worked in a nursing home as a teenager and what happened when Santa made an unexpected visit.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, on Christmas Eve in 1818, in a snow-covered Austrian village, a broken organ forced a last-minute change. What came next was history. Two men—one a priest, the other a schoolteacher—scribbled out a carol for guitar and voice and performed it that night by candlelight. “Silent Night” would go on to become the most beloved Christmas hymn in the world. Here’s the History Guy with the story of the song.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the chaotic weeks following Hurricane Katrina, John Rogers never planned to become Santa; he simply found himself in a position to help and chose to act. What followed was an unexpected Christmas for children who had lost their homes, their routines, and nearly everything familiar.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, for generations, “White Christmas” has served as the soundtrack to the holiday season. Its lyrics and melody helped define what Christmas sounds like in America, shaping holiday music for decades. Yet the man who wrote it, Irving Berlin, did not celebrate Christmas. He arrived in the United States as a Jewish immigrant from Russia and built his career as one of the most influential songwriters in American history. Our host, Lee Habeeb, shares the story.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Christmas today feels timeless. December 25 arrives with trees, carols, family dinners, and familiar rituals passed down for generations. But in early America, Christmas caused trouble. Celebrations spilled into the streets. Drinking, violence, and disorder followed. Some towns had had enough; they banned Christmas outright.

So how did a holiday once viewed as a public nuisance become a national tradition? The answer runs through shifting ideas about religion, culture, and social order, and through the work of an unlikely figure: Washington Irving. Author and biographer Brian J. Jones, known for his acclaimed works on Washington Irving, George Lucas, and Jim Henson, shares the story of how Christmas was reshaped into the holiday Americans recognize today.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, before Christmas Under the Stars became a Hallmark Channel staple, it was a quiet story written by a Chicago-area janitor. By day, Rikk Dunlap fixed leaky faucets and gym bleachers. By night, he wrote fiction, never expecting one of his midnight works to become the hit it is now. Rikk joins us to explain how one Christmas tree lot, one unforgettable character, and one quiet manuscript changed the course of everything for him.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.