Episode 1 tells the story of the 1806 eclipse, the last solar eclipse to pass over the state of Ohio in almost 200 years. The eclipse held special significance to the Shawnee peoples because of the role that it played in galvanizing a religious and political movement led by Tenskwatawa and his brother, Tecumseh. This episode looks at the spiritual and cultural power of eclipses to influence the peoples who witness it. Its influence over the centuries is explored by students Sam Davis, Peter Limbert, and Joe DeSario with input from Dr. AmĂlcar ChallĂş and Dr. Cheryl X. Dong. Landon Cina from the BGSU College of Musical Arts provided the music and Midstory edited the final episodes. This podcast is made possible, in part, by Ohio Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of Ohio Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Join Dr. AmĂlcar ChallĂş and Dr. Cheryl X. Dong as they discuss the concept of the podcast and its production. Initially conceived as a way to engage audiences about the historical significance of eclipses, this project quickly evolved to focus on the various Indigenous Nations of North America and explore eclipses from these diverse points of view. They demystify concepts like “ethnoastronomy” and “archaeoastronomy” while highlighting the ways that Indigenous Knowledge helped people navigate celestial events. This episode was created by Dr. AmĂlcar ChallĂş and Dr. Cheryl X. Dong. Landon Cina from the BGSU College of Musical Arts provided the music and Midstory edited the final episodes. This podcast is made possible, in part, by Ohio Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of Ohio Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Learn how organizations from Cleveland and Northwest Ohio to see how they are preparing for the eclipse, the logistical challenges and the exciting activities planned for the 2024 eclipse.
This bonus episode focuses on the Hopewell earthworks—true astronomical marvels of ancient Ohioan civilizations located only a few miles away from the totality path of the 2024 North American eclipse. Stay with us to learn more about these monuments, the civilizations behind them and their relationship to other civilizations in the Americas.
Imagine a time when new – and sometimes unsettling – scientific discoveries are changing the way people think about the universe. How did an artist like Shakespeare think about the sun, moon, and planets? And how do these popular conceptions of the solar system echo in today’s world?
In this bonus episode of Eclipsing History, we explore “Eclipses in the Language of Shakespeare.” This is based on Dr. Stephanie Gearhart’s lecture for the Eclipse Speaker Series at BGSU in 2024. For more information, check bgsu.edu/eclipsinghistory
Early in our project we interviewed Randall Rosenfeld, archivist from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. You will notice that midway we had to switch to a phone line. The depth of Randall’s answers well overcome any loss in audio quality. Randall weaves the eclipse observation to the cultural and political history of Canada as a colony and then as an independent nation. Randall also discussed how settlers perceived indigenous views of astronomy.
Andrew Hershberger, professor of Art History in Bowling Green State University, talks about the history of the camera obscura—the main instrument used to observe eclipses and the precursor of the photographic camera. Listen to this fascinating account in the history of art, science and technology. The interview was done by Sam Davis, M.A. student in the public history program at Bowling Green State University.
