Overview

Here are several videos and online presentations you can use to explore, experience, and learn more about some of the stories shared in the books by Randell Jones.

A Revolutionary Stroll

Stories for you to hear.

On the Stroll or sitting at home looking at the map, you will enjoy some extra history tied to these places which tell us a little more about our revolutionary selves in North Carolina.  

Roy Thompson’s “Before Liberty” ( a podcast)

During America’s Bicentennial, 50 years ago, the Winston-Salem Journal treated its readers to a weekly series of columns written by long time journalist and columnist, Roy Thompson. Episodes appeared each Friday from July 4, 1975 to July 2, 1976, many with original illustrations by Journal artist Jim Stanley.

For our current America 250 commemoration, you can enjoy Roy’s unique perspective on North Carolina before we gained our independence. He declared, “Their New World made North Carolinians different.” You can hear why as Roy’s words are brought to life and shared again with new generations through this podcast narrated by Randell Jones. Here is the first episode of Before Liberty, titled “In the Beginning Was the Land.”
The series is accessible through Substack at https://beforeliberty.substack.com/ Enjoy “Before Liberty”!

The American Spirit, 1780 (video)

Experience the story of the Overmountain Men of 1780 crossing the Appalachian Mountains and joining with other backcountry militiamen in their unrelenting pursuit of British Major Patrick Ferguson to what became the Battle of Kings Mountain, Oct. 7, 1780. Watch this 40-minute video at YouTube, told through panning and zooming of still images of reenactors captured at different events during the last 12 years to illustrate this consequential episode of America's fight for independence. Enjoy the music of The Forget-Me-Nots of Banner Elk, whose 2010 CD "Bloomings" provides the stirring soundtrack for this dramatic telling. 

2016 Multimedia Award, North Carolina Society of Historians

Click on the image at left to begin.

Online Tour of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail

Visit sites along the 330-mile OVNHT lying in four states. See the markers, monuments, wayside exhibits, and more. Click on any site and then click on the name in the pop-up window to access information. This is a companion to "A Guide to the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail." (This free, online tour is not a product of the National Park Service. Enjoy and share, courtesy of Randell Jones, author, "A Guide to the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.")

Click the image at left to begin.

Online Tour of Daniel Boone's Trail

Follow in the footsteps of America's pioneer hero as he marked Boone Trace in 1775, visiting as well commemorative sites of note in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky as noted by the Daughters of the American Revolution during their commemorative effort 1913-1915. Click on any site and then click on the name in the pop-up window to access information. A companion to the book "In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone" and the DVD, "On the Trail of Daniel Boone."

2015 Kentucky History Award, Kentucky Historical Society

Click on the image at left to begin.

Following Boone Trace (video)

In 2015, Curtis Penix retraced the footsteps of his fifth-great grandfather Joshua Penix who Boone Trace into Kentucky to Fort Boonesborough in 1779. During two weeks, Curtis walked from Kingsport, Tennessee, through the Powell valley of southwest Virginia, through the Cumberland Gap, and then along the trail marked by Daniel Boone in the spring of 1775. He was joined for most of the trek by Givan Fox. The expedition was supported by Dr. John Fox and Friends of Boone Trace (See link below.) This video, produced by Randell Jones, was created after-the-fact with available images and using accounts as recorded by Curtis in his daily journal. This video was shown multiple times in June 2017 on KETV (Kentucky's PBS affiliate) as part of Kentucky celebrating its 225th anniversary of statehood since 1792.

Click on the image at left to watch this video on YouTube.