Where Rebellion Took Root: Exploring the Bradford House

Fifty episodes strong, and we’re raising a glass to where resistance helped define a nation. In this milestone episode of the 'Start Here, America Did' podcast listeners travel to Washington, Pennsylvania, where the spark of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 tested the strength of America’s fledgling federal government. At the center of it all stood David Bradford, a fiery attorney whose stately home still stands as a National Historic Landmark and living classroom. Joining host Sydney Harris is Tracie Liberatore, Executive Director and CEO of the Bradford House Historical Association, whose team keeps this story alive through immersive tours, hands-on education, and the award-winning Whiskey Rebellion Festival. Together, they uncover how one frontier town became the stage for America’s first great act of defiance and why its lessons still resonate today. From mahogany staircases that witnessed revolution to 18th-century cooking demonstrations and a festival that turns history into celebration, this 50th episode honors the past, celebrates the present, and toasts to fifty stories told and countless more to come.