Stories from the Lake
- Stories from the Lake: The Ocean
  June 1, 2009
  We can't begin to understand Samuel de Champlain's historic exploration of the lake that bears his name without a realization that thousands of years before his arrival the lake was a very different place...an ocean.
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- Stories from the Lake: The Arrival
  June 1, 2009
  As the region gets ready to observe the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival here, VPR is reflecting on how the French explorer has shaped our shared history and culture.
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- Stories from the Lake: Conflict
  June 8, 2009
  Our series "Stories from the Lake" continues. As that the French and British begin to establish a presence near Lake Champlain, and form alliances with Native Americans, we examine the period of conflict that follows.
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- Stories from the Lake: First French Settlements
  June 8, 2009
  We continue our series "Stories from the Lake" with a look at some of the earliest European settlements made possible by the French explorer.
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- Stories from the Lake: The Revolution
  June 15, 2009
  Our series "Stories from the Lake" continues. Lake Champlain has been called one of America's most historic lakes. We look at the key role it played in the birth of a new nation.
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- Stories from the Lake: Towns Establish
  June 15, 2009
  Once the Revolutionary War was over, Vermont became an inviting place for people to re-start their lives, in a region ripe with trade and farming.
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- Stories from the Lake: A Water Highway
  June 22, 2009
  From military to commerce the role of the region's main transportation route, Lake Champlain, changes. And there's still more conflict with the British during the War of 1812.
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- Stories from the Lake: Commerce
  June 22, 2009
  Today, our series "Stories From the Lake" looks at how the growth of transportation at the turn of the 20th century connected the people of Vermont, New York and Canada.
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- Stories From The Lake: Celebrations
  June 29, 2009
  As railroads and bridges take hold in the Champlain Valley, the region's focus shifts to from shipping to tourism. Join VPR's Mitch Wertlieb as "Stories from the Lake" continues.
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- Stories From The Lake: Appreciation
  June 29, 2009
  After tourism and recreation became firmly established in the region, a new appreciation grew for Lake Champlain's beauty and natural resources. Today, we explore how people are honoring the lake's heritage and preserving it for future generations.
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History Under the Waves
- History Under the Waves: The Gunboat Spitfire
  July 27, 2009
  In the first part of our series "History Under The Waves" we look at the Gunboat Spitfire, a part of Benedict Arnold's fleet of ships assigned the task of repeling the British as they advanced down Lake Champlain in 1776.
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- History Under the Waves: The Phoenix
  July 28, 2009
  All this week in our series "History Under the Waves" VPR is looking at five historic wrecks that lie at the bottom of Lake Champlain. Today, we look at the Phoenix. Built in 1815, it was the second commercial steamboat launched on Lake Champlain.
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- History Under the Waves: The Sarah Ellen
  July 29, 2009
  In the third part of our series, "History Under the Waves", the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum's Art Cohn describes the tragic fate of the schooner, Sarah Ellen in 1860.
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- History Under the Waves: The Champlain II
  July 30, 2009
  Today in our series "History Under the Waves" we learn about The Champlain II, a boat that had two carrers before meeting its fate on the side of Split Rock Mountain in 1875.
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- History Under the Waves: The General Butler
  July 31, 2009
  In the final part of our series "History Under the Waves" we learn about the dramatic end of the sailing canal boat General Butler on a cold December night at the Burlington Breakwater in 1876.
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Through the Eyes of Champlain
- Through the eyes of Champlain: The French connection
  July 6, 2009
  As part of VPR's special Champlain 400 programming, commentator Mike Martin is looking through the "Eyes of Champlain" all this week. Today, he considers Champlain and The French Connection.
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- Through the Eyes of Champlain: Champlain and Religion
  July 7, 2009
  This week, as part of VPR's special Champlain 400 programming, commentator Mike Martin is looking through the "Eyes of Champlain." Today, he considers the importance of religion in Champlain's life and work.
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- Through the Eyes of Champlain: Les "Sauvages"
  July 8, 2009
  This week, as part of VPR's special Champlain 400 programming, commentator Mike Martin is looking through the "Eyes of Champlain." On Wednesday, he considers Champlain's views about the various cultures he encountered in the New World.
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- Through the Eyes of Champlain: Torture
  July 9, 2009
  This week, as part of VPR's special Champlain 400 programming, commentator Mike Martin is looking through the "Eyes of Champlain." Today, he considers Champlain's attitudes about torture and the humane treatment of prisoners.
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- Through the Eyes of Champlain: The Portrait
  July 10, 2009
  All this week, as part of VPR's special Champlain 400 programming, commentator Mike Martin has been looking at the New World through the "Eyes of Champlain." Today, he offers a brief glimpse of the man himself.
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Music from Champlain 400
- All the Traditions: Looking Forward to the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial
  June 28, 2009
  Music from France, Brazil, the Adirondacks, and Minnesota, and a preview of local performances to celebrate the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial.
- All The Traditions: Champlain 400 Music Showcase
  July 5, 2009
  Celebrate the 400-year wealth of music from the Lake Champlain region with guests including Vermont songcatcher Deb Flanders, French-Canadian fiddler Lisa Ornstein and guitarist Andre Marchand, and singer/songwriter/farmer Alan Greenleaf.
- Lake Music: The First 400 Years
  August 15, 2009
  Cheryl Willoughby hosts "Lake Music: The First 400 Years" - an exploration of this region's unique musical heritage, part of the Champlain 400 series.
- The Queen City Radio Hour Returns
  September 7, 2009
  Tom Bodett of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! hosts this hour of live music and comedy taped at Burlington's Flynn Theatre. (Originally aired on August 6)
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Thrufters & Throughstones
- VT Edition: "Young Charlotte"
  July 20, 2009
  Andy Kolovos, archivist with the Vermont Folklife Center talks with VPR's Jane Lindholm about "Young Charlotte", a folk ballad that is part of a collection of songs celebrating Vermont music in a new two-disc collection.
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- VT Edition: "Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman"
  July 21, 2009
  Andy Kolovos, archivist with the Vermont Folklife Center talks with VPR's Jane Lindholm about "Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman", a song performed by the youth ensemble, The Fiddleheads.
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- VT Edition: "La Bergére" & "Hegonay/Gwanuday"
  July 23, 2009
  Andy Kolovos, archivist with the Vermont Folklife Center talks with VPR's Jane Lindholm about "La Bergére" from Michéle Choiniére, and "Hegonay/Gwanuday" by Hand in Hand, part of a new cd that chronicles Vermont's history.
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- VT Edition: "Weapon Factory"
  July 24, 2009
  Vermont Edition has been exploring a new CD set that chronicles our region's musical history. Today we look at punk music's influence in Vermont and hear the song "Weapon Factory" by The Wards.
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All VPR Champlain 400 Coverage
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Champlain 400

The Stories, Music and Natural Wonders that Shaped our Region

VPR marks the quadricentennial of Samuel de Champlain's voyage with a summer-long exploration of the lake that bears his name. You'll hear the stories of shipwrecks, early settlers and war heroes, and learn how industry and tourism have changed the lake. We'll also trace our region's musical traditions from Native American songs to Vermont's own punk rock.

: Barrels of apples ready for shipment aboard a Lake Champlain canalboat, 19th century (AP Photo/Alden Pellett)
: Lake Champlain (Jane Lindholm)
: Boats travel across the waters of Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT, Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
: Lake Champlain at sunset (Jane Lindholm)