Stories by Daniel Hautzinger

During this week off from Mercy Street, before the finale of season two airs on Sunday, March 5 at 7:00 pm, catch up on everything we've posted about the gripping Civil War drama.

The chef who takes an interest in Skerrett on Victoria, Francatelli was a real-life cook who worked in the hottest restaurants and published several cookbooks, making him one of the first celebrity chefs. Baked sheep's head or bullock heart, anyone?

"The Great Train Story" at the Museum of Science and Industry is a beloved stalwart of the museum. Meet the man who maintains it in advance of a NOVA episode on "Why Trains Crash," airing February 22 at 9:00 pm.

Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison, the new co-hosts of America's Test Kitchen, have been with the show since day one. They give a behind-the-scenes look at how recipes are developed, and crack each other up in the process.

Maya Angelou was beyond prolific, and her life touched on many of the most significant people and events of the twentieth century. The creators of a film about the great woman discuss the difficulty of capturing her multi-faceted life on film, why they admire her, and what she was like.

The palace is embracing change, as Victoria copes with a pregnancy, Albert and Sir Peel tout locomotives, and Francatelli and Skerrett innovate in the kitchen.

Some people exploit the suffering of the war for their own advantage, while others strive only to alleviate pain and end the conflict. Where do the denizens of Alexandria fall?

Paul called this custard dessert "one of the tastiest things we've ever chosen" for The Great British Baking Show, so it's worth trying this Victorian dessert yourself.

The author of Heroines of Mercy Street discusses the determination and accomplishments of female Civil War nurses, the importance of writing about women in history, and her broad historical interests.

Actor Gary Cole began his career in the small experimental theaters of Chicago, became famous for roles like the bureaucratic monster Bill Lumbergh, and now plays the patriarch of the Green family on Mercy Street.

DuSable to Obama: Chicago's Black Metropolis explores the incredible history of African Americans in Chicago and their indelible influence on the city. Discover extensive web-exclusive content here.

Upstairs or downstairs, loyal husband or charming playboy, no-nonsense house manager or complicated mother?

Folk contraceptive methods, forbidden romances, an outbreak of plague, squabbles over court hierarchy, noble oration: this episode's got it all. 

Being a decent person in this war is dangerous. Being a woman just adds to the difficulty, but the women of Alexandria don't let that stop them from helping their side.

Try a big wadge of this hearty meat pie in a recipe from Paul Hollywood. Queen Victoria would approve.