Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Exploring the Lost Corners of American History
American Shadows is a historical storytelling project created by Pelham Pugh. Through on-location videos, interviews, and narratives, I uncover forgotten stories from across the American South and beyond. From ghost towns, battlefields, roadside museums, and whispers of history that never made the textbooks, follow along as I trace the hidden threads of America’s past, one shadow at a time.
Explore the Series
The Forgotten Story Behind One of America’s Greatest Myths
In the heart of Kentucky stands a stone temple guarding a wooden lie.
For over a century, visitors have climbed fifty-six steps to see Abraham Lincoln’s “birth cabin” — but the truth, like the man, is far more complex.
In this episode of American Shadows, I uncover how myth, memory, and misplaced faith in relics shaped the story of Lincoln’s beginnings.
The Untold Side of Horseshoe Bend
At the bend of the Tallapoosa River, silence hides a story. In 1814, Creek families sought refuge here—mothers, children, elders—trapped behind barricades meant for war. What followed was not just a battle, but the breaking of a people.
In this episode of American Shadows, Pelham Pugh walks the quiet grounds of Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, uncovering the forgotten human cost of the Creek War and the first shadow of the Trail of Tears.
The Letter No One Heard: Inside FDR’s Last Day
On April 12, 1945, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spent his final day at the Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia. History records the headlines, but behind those headlines are personal stories, the voices of people who were there.
In this episode of American Shadows, we step inside the Little White House as it stands today and share, for the very first time, an eyewitness letter written on the day of Roosevelt’s death. Preserved for decades and entrusted to me by the Harrison Family of Dothan, Alabama, this letter offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the final hours of FDR’s life.
Through photographs, archival footage, and narration, this story brings the shadows of April 1945 into the present. It is both history and memory. A reminder for all that even the smallest voices carry echoes across generations.
Whispers Among the Ruins: Bulow Plantation’s Forgotten Past
The Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park in Flagler County, Florida, preserves the remains of one of the state’s largest sugar plantations and a pivotal site in the Second Seminole War. Established in 1821 by Charles Wilhelm Bulow and later run by his son John, the plantation relied on enslaved labor to grow sugarcane, cotton, rice, and indigo. In 1836, Seminole and Black Seminole warriors burned the plantation during the war for freedom and survival, leaving behind the coquina stone ruins still visible today. Visitors to Bulow Creek can walk the old road, explore the sugar mill remains, and reflect on this powerful chapter of Florida history.
Sherman Tanks and Leadership Lessons at the Patton Museum
Discover the George S. Patton Museum of Leadership at Fort Knox, Kentucky and enter a powerful tribute to one of America’s most legendary generals. From Patton’s iconic ivory-handled pistols to the Sherman tanks that rumbled across Europe, this museum offers more than artifacts. It’s a journey into the grit, sacrifice, and leadership that shaped World War II and continues to inspire today. Watch the full video to explore the legacy of “Old Blood and Guts” and discover why his lessons still matter.
Between Two Houses: The Boy Who Became President
In this installment of American Shadows, I traveled to Plains, Georgia, the quiet hometown of President Jimmy Carter. From the red clay roads of his boyhood farm to the humble general store where he learned the value of hard work, every step reveals the roots of a man who would one day lead the free world. I also visited the home of Jack and Rachel Clark, the Black tenant farmers whose friendship and example shaped Carter’s early understanding of race, justice, and empathy.
Step inside the past with me — and discover how a small Southern town helped shape a legacy felt around the world.
The Forgotten Fort That Led to the Trail of Tears
Tucked away in the woods of eastern Alabama lies Fort Mitchell, a once-critical U.S. military outpost that played a pivotal role in the Creek War and the forced removal of Native Americans known as the Trail of Tears. In this episode of American Shadows, Pelham Pugh visits the reconstructed site and museum to uncover the deeper, often forgotten history behind the fort’s walls.
From its early days as a frontier outpost to its haunting connection with one of America’s darkest chapters, Fort Mitchell stands as a silent witness to the country’s conflicted past.
🎥 Watch as we explore:
- The origins of Fort Mitchell during the early 1800s
- Its role in U.S. and Creek Nation conflict
- How it became a launch point for forced relocation
- What remains today at the historic site
Some stories are buried. Others are just waiting to be seen.
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.