The Atlas Obscura Podcast Little Lambs, Big Back Story (Classic)
Jan 17, 2026
Anna Reinhart and Darren Durham are animal husbanders at Colonial Williamsburg, dedicated to preserving historical livestock. They dive into the adorable chaos of lambing season and the intriguing journey of the Leicester Longwool sheep, from smuggling and extinction to revival in America. They explore 18th-century shearing techniques and discuss the significance of matching livestock to authentic historical practices. Join them for insights on wool production and the vibrant atmosphere of Colonial Williamsburg as baby lambs take their first steps.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Wilbur The Visitor Magnet
- Wilbur is a year-old lamb born during Colonial Williamsburg's lambing season and generates daily visitor questions about his whereabouts.
- Anna Reinhart and Darren Durham describe lambing season as a major, very cute attraction that shapes visitor timing.
The First Designer Breed
- The Leicester Longwool was an early 'designer' breed created by Robert Bakewell with a formal breed standard and targeted traits.
- Bakewell bred for both meat and wool, producing a large, meaty, and very woolly sheep prized in the 18th century.
Sheep As Protected Technology
- Britain treated long-wool breeds as protected economic technology and banned their export to preserve textile dominance.
- Those restrictions fueled colonial demand and illicit trade in prized sheep like the Leicester Longwool.