In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we review one of our favorite movies about Sputnik, rocketry, coal mining, and West Virginia - the 1999 film "October Sky."

This year marks 25 years since the film came out and we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about this film. It tells the story of Homer Hickam, a teenager from a mining town in West Virginia who becomes interested in science and rockets after watching the Soviet satellite Sputnik fly over his hometown of Coalwood, West Virginia.

The film stars a young Jake Gyllenhaal in his first leading role, as well as Chris Cooper and Laura Dern.

In this episode we discuss:

The history behind the film October Sky

Our continued obsession with West Virginia and space

Why we both love this film from our childhood

How this film properly tells the story of mining communities and people who live there

And our Postscripts this week:

Justin - Kyle Larson attempts the double

Jake - Why the Indy 500 is one of the greatest sporting events in the world

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, it's the end of the school year and we are handing out superlatives to our favorite museums. Justin and I share our opinions about museums we've visited across the United States and around the world.

In this episode we discuss:

Museum superlatives!

Categories such as:

Most Innovative Exhibits

Coolest Hidden Gem

Class Clown

Bucket List Museum

And our Postscripts this week:

Justin - Trying to Steal Graceland

Jake - Visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico

In our newest episode in the "Making a Public Historian" series, we chat with Becky Oakes, a historian with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

In this role, Becky seeks to inspire innovation by telling the stories of past and present
inventors, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers, as well as maintaining a robust repository of institutional history.

Becky previously served as the USPTO’s social media specialist. Prior to the USPTO, Becky worked for the National Park Service in the field of historic interpretation. She holds a B.A. in History from Gettysburg College and an M.A. in Public History and 19th Century U.S. History from West Virginia University, and specializes in the long Civil War era.

In this episode we discuss:

The West Virginia University public history mafia

Mentorship and teams in the National Park Service

Bringing historical thinking to a government agency

Diverse stories and what resonates with the public and the media

Becky's favorite invention and inventor from the USPTO

Follow USPTO on social media and explore their History page

And our Postscripts this week:

Justin - Hiking the Appalachian Trail at Gathland State Park

Becky - Aurora Borealis and shared community moments

Jake - Walking the C&O Canal Towpath and exploring Brunswick, MD