In this episode, we pull Kylie and Clarissa out of the collections to get to know them as hosts, learn how they found their way to FAM, and hear about their favorite things around the museum.

They also share a sneak peek at what’s coming up in 2026, including the 250th anniversary exhibit and a new food-focused exhibit. The podcast will take a short break for the holidays and return on January 6, 2026.

Please note: you may hear some background noise during this episode due to construction on the building next door at the time of recording. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

In this episode of What Remains, Kylie and Clarissa take listeners inside the museum’s textile collection, exploring not just one object but several remarkable garments.

From memorable dresses to surprising fabric finds, they share some of their favorite pieces and the unique stories stitched into each one. It’s a behind the scenes look at how clothing can illuminate personal histories, local culture, and the changing fashions of Fredericksburg’s past.Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

November is Indigenous Peoples Month, and in this episode, Kylie and Clarissa explore the story of Link Wray, a musician of Shawnee descent whose gritty guitar sound helped shape rock and roll.

In 1957, right here in Fredericksburg, an improvised performance at a local record hop gave birth to Wray’s hit “Rumble,” a song so raw and rebellious it was banned from radio.

From humble beginnings to rock legend, discover how Link Wray’s story, and his sound, still echo through music history today.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

After a brief hiatus during Dark History week and two sold-out What Remains: Dark History live shows (thank you to everyone who joined us!) we’re back with an episode that’s sure to crinkle a few memories.

This week, Kylie and Clarissa dive into the story of cellophane, the transparent, rustling material that helped carry Fredericksburg through the Great Depression. Produced at the Sylvania Plant, later known as Avisco and FMC, this “fancy paper” wasn’t just packaging, it was the heartbeat of local industry for nearly five decades.

Discover how the plant transformed Maine’s trees into glossy sheets of cellophane, employed thousands, and left behind a lasting legacy (and a lingering smell). From factory floods and “rotten egg” aromas to economic salvation and industrial decline, this episode unwraps how one product quite literally wrapped itself around Fredericksburg’s history.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

In this episode of What Remains, we head into the archives to uncover the story behind one of Fredericksburg’s most vibrant cultural traditions—the Black Arts Festival. As the city prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the festival this September 26–28, we look back at its roots and the community that built it.

Join us as we connect past to present and honor the creativity, resilience, and vision that continue to shape the Black Arts Festival, 50 years strong.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

It wouldn’t be What Remains without a flood story, and this one’s a big one!

In this episode, Kylie and Clarissa take you back to the Flood of 1942, one of the most devastating events in Fredericksburg’s history. Drawing from donated photographs, firsthand accounts, and museum resources, we retrace the week of unrelenting rain, the chaos of burning gasoline on the river, and the incredible efforts of first responders and community members who worked tirelessly to save lives and rebuild.

Was “42 in ’42” truly Fredericksburg’s worst disaster since the Civil War? Join us as we explore the story, the photographs, and the resilience of a city that came together in the face of crisis and find out... What Remains.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

In this episode of What Remains, we dive into the story of The Christian Banner, a short-lived Fredericksburg newspaper edited by James W. Hunnicutt. Once a respected community voice, Hunnicutt’s pro-Union stance during the Civil War put him at odds with his neighbors, leading to conflict, controversy, and the eventual silencing of his press.

We’ll trace the paper's turbulent story, the powerful accounts it captured of enslaved people pursuing freedom, and the fragile legacy of newspapers as historical records.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.

On this episode of What Remains we are having our first guests, Worshipful Master Michael Dove and Senior Warden Seth Roderick from Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge No. 4.

Instead of focusing on one object, we dive into several important pieces of Fredericksburg and Masonic history. Learn about what Freemasonry is, how a very special Bible made it to the World's Fair, what's in a cornerstone, and we even make it to the cemetery.

Join us as we find out...What Remains.

Music Credit: "Phantom Waltz Dance" by Stocktune, used with permission.