Behind Closed Doors: Why Historic House Museums Are Rewriting the Story of America's Past": America 250
The Not Old - Better Show
Paul Vogelzang
4.7 • 106 Ratings
🗓️ 11 May 2026
⏱️ 43 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
Behind Closed Doors: Why Historic House Museums Are Rewriting the Story of America's Past: America 250
The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series
We don't just inherit history—we decide how it's told.
🏠In this episode, Smithsonian Associate Ken Turino shares why historic house museums are at a turning point.
These aren't just preserved spaces. They're places where real lives—complicated, human, unfinished—still speak.
What happens when we stop admiring the furniture… and start listening to the stories?
For those of us thinking about legacy, community, and meaning—this conversation hits deeper than expected.
For more information, please check out the Smithsonian Associates website: Â https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/historic-house-museums
Listen here: notold-better.com
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, commemorating 250 years of patriotism, resilience, and aspirations on radio and podcast. |
| 0:19.4 | Celebrating our own 10-year anniversary with Smithsonian Associates, the Not Old Better Show has celebrated health, wellness, culture, and stories that remind us we're not old, we're better. |
| 0:31.1 | Now, as America marks 250 years of independence in 26, this special series marks a milestone, representing two and a half |
| 0:39.8 | centuries, and considers the long American effort to build communities, to find freedom, uphold |
| 0:45.8 | self-government, and keep striving for a more perfect union. That story continues to evolve, and we invite you to |
| 0:53.1 | experience it and deepen your understanding of it. |
| 0:56.0 | Patriotism is more than ceremony. Resilience is more than survival. |
| 1:01.0 | Aspirations are would keep a nation reaching past the moment in front of it. |
| 1:06.0 | At 250, America is still young enough to dream and seasoned enough to know that freedom-esque |
| 1:12.7 | something of every generation. Through our new Smithsonian Associates interview series, we invite |
| 1:19.1 | you to hear that story with fresh perspective, honest reflection, and renewed purpose. |
| 1:24.8 | Now, here's your host, the award-winning Paul Vogelzang. |
| 1:32.1 | Thank you. Now, let me just say, we are coming up on a remarkable moment. In just a short time, |
| 1:39.6 | the United States will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a document filled |
| 1:45.4 | with bold language about liberty, equality, and human dignity. Welcome to the Not Old |
| 1:51.1 | Better Show's Smithsonian Associates Interview Series on radio and podcast. You know, for 10 years now, |
| 1:57.0 | the Not Old Better Show has celebrated health, wellness, culture, history, and the stories |
| 2:03.2 | that remind us we're not old. We're better now. As America commemorates 250 years of independence |
| 2:10.5 | in 2026, this special series offers a dynamic explanation of America's past, present, and future. |
| 2:20.3 | Explore the people, ideas, conflicts, and aspirations that have shaped America and how the past informs the challenges and possibilities ahead. |
| 2:29.3 | At 250, America is still young enough to dream and seasoned enough to know that freedom asks something |
| 2:37.3 | of every generation. |
... |
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