ADK Talks
ADK Talks brings you the stories behind the people, places, and things to do in the Adirondack Park of New York State. With 6 million acres, the Adirondacks are the ultimate playground.
We take you beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of one of America's most breathtaking regions. Just like we do on our website, adktaste.com, our podcast uncovers the hidden gems of the Adirondacks, offering hand-picked recommendations for the best places to stay, eat, shop and do in the Adirondack Park.
But this isn't just about places. It's about the people who make the Adirondacks so special and unique. In each episode, we talk to people from all walks of life—restauranteurs, farmers, innkeepers, historians, artists, local leaders, writers, hikers, and more. Hear real stories about what they do, their passions, and how they found their way here.
And they'll share their insider tips on the best things to see and do in the Adirondacks – insights you won't find anywhere else.
So subscribe now to ADK Talks to get real stories from real people, sharing the real Adirondacks.
You can also visit us online at adktaste.com.
ADK Talks
John Brown in the Adirondacks: Memory, Myth, and Moral Reckoning at North Elba
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In this episode of ADK Talks, we return to the John Brown Farm State Historic Site near Lake Placid with Adirondack historian and author Sandra Weber.
Sandra’s new book, John Brown Farm: From Abolitionist Vision to Memorial Site, traces how a rocky North Elba farm became an internationally recognized place of remembrance, reflection, and activism.
We explore John Brown’s vision of an integrated Adirondack farming community, the people who preserved the property after his death, and the generations who have gathered there to confront questions about slavery, racial equality, violence, justice, and democracy.
Sandra also reveals the stories behind the farm’s graves, monuments, farmhouse, and enormous boulder, a natural landmark that became a gathering place and speaking platform for visitors commemorating Brown’s legacy.
What you’ll hear in this episode
- Why John Brown moved his family to the Adirondacks and worked alongside Black settlers in the community known as Timbuctoo.
- How the farm evolved from a family home into a New York State Historic Site and a destination for visitors from around the world.
- The remarkable story of the three graves containing the remains of John Brown, his son Watson, and ten fellow raiders.
- How the John Brown Farm became a gathering place for civil rights leaders, activists, and annual pilgrimages.
- Why Sandra describes the farm as a “site of conscience” where visitors can reflect on history and the unfinished work of equality.
Resources:
- Sandra Weber
- John Brown Farm: From Abolitionist Vision to Memorial Site
- John Brown Farm State Historic Site
- Discovering the North Star Underground Railroad Museum
- Freedom’s Path: Inside the North Star Underground Railroad Museum
- Breaking Trail: Women Who Shaped the Adirondacks
- Experience American History in the Adirondacks
Produced by NOVA