In Part 2 of our Cardinal 250 trivia series, host Dutchie Jessee and founding editor Dwayne Yancey uncover more surprising stories from Virginia’s path to independence. Discover the county that first voted for independence, the free Black hero of the Battle of Great Bridge, the enslaved sailors who helped launch Virginia’s navy, and the legendary soldier known as the “Hercules of Independence.”

You'll also hear the remarkable ride of Jack Jouett, why Thomas Jefferson wanted Norfolk destroyed, and the unusual dinner that followed the British surrender at Yorktown.

Test your knowledge and explore the people, places, and events that helped shape America—but are often left out of the history books.

In this special and very fun episode of “The Cardinal: News of Virginia,” host Dutchie Jessee puts Dwayne’s knowledge to the test with questions pulled straight from Cardinal News 250 trivia nights happening at breweries across Southwest and Southside Virginia. From overlooked Virginia heroes to surprising Revolutionary War stories you probably never learned in school, this episode dives into the people and moments that helped shape America’s founding.

Will Dwayne dominate the quiz… or get stumped? Play along and see how much you know about Virginia’s role in the Revolution while getting a taste of the lively trivia events bringing history to life across the region.

Grab a drink, test your knowledge and prepare for a few surprises along the way.

From early settlers traveling the Great Wagon Road to Christiansburg’s role in westward expansion, they trace the people, industries, and turning points that shaped the region. They also discuss how the Montgomery Museum of Art and History is bringing that history to life through exhibits, events, and new investments in accessibility.

Their conversation dives into the complicated stories of Virginians during the American Revolution, from Loyalists who remained faithful to the British Crown to enslaved people seeking their own freedom. Vida shares the stories behind figures like Samuel Gist, a tobacco merchant who freed more than 300 enslaved people in his will, and London, an enslaved youth who escaped with British forces and later served as a trumpeter in the British Army.

The episode also examines how the museum used artificial intelligence to create portraits of historical figures who were never photographed or painted, helping visitors connect with the people who shaped early Richmond between the 1770s and 1830s.

With deep reporting on Revolutionary War history, colonial Virginia, archaeological investigations and historical records, this episode unpacks what really happened, what didn’t and why this story has endured for more than a century. From smallpox myths to French troops in Virginia to the power of historical markers to shape public memory, Cardinal News 250 delivers a fascinating look at how legends are born and how historians work to separate truth from tradition.

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