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The Resident Historian Podcast Cover Image

The Resident Historian Podcast

The Resident Historian is a twice-weekly podcast from KIRO Newsradio's Feliks Banel. Each episode includes either Feliks's Wednesday history feature from Seattle's Morning News, or the weekly Friday morning installment of the history and geography series All Over The Map.
January 30, 2025

Reporting live from Dick's Drive-In on their 71st anniversary

KIRO Newsradio Resident Historian Feliks Banel reports LIVE from the original Dick's Drive-In in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood for this year's 19-cent hamburger day, which is also the restaurant's 71st birthday.     (09:35)
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December 18, 2024

History of the last decade

History of the last decade    (08:40)
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December 13, 2024

The final hours of Sears in Washington

All over the map   (05:31)
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December 6, 2024

2024 Holiday Radio Play: 'North Pole Evening News'

Santa does so much more than just bring toys to kiddies around the world, he also hosts an evening news program on North Pole Newsradio called "North Pole Evening News." On the fi...   (01:01:15)
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December 4, 2024

History story updates + Holiday Magic preview

Feliks Banel joined Seattle's Morning News to provide updates on some recent historical stories throughout the Puget Sound region, including the teardown of a significant Everett ...   (08:46)
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November 29, 2024

MOHAI's WTO Exhibit

MOHAI's WTO Exhibit   (05:13)
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November 27, 2024

Fort Vancouver Bicentennial

Fort Vancouver Bicentennial   (09:20)
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November 22, 2024

All Over The Map: Early 20th century artifact plucked from Lake Washington

On this week’s edition of All Over The Map for Seattle’s Morning News, we visited a pocket park on Mercer Island along the shores of Lake Washington. It was here where...   (04:41)
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November 20, 2024

Streamline ferry Kalakala rolls on in song

It was 26 years ago this month when the iconic ferryboat Kalakala returned to the Seattle waterfront – after a long exile serving as a cannery in Alaska – to a gloriou...   (07:27)
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November 15, 2024

All Over the Map: What is the future of Camp Long after the fire?

All Over the Map: What is the future of Camp Long after the fire?   (05:26)
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November 13, 2024

Should we commemorate Seattle Founder’s Day?

The rain was falling and the wind was blowing on November 13, 2024, very much like it had done on this day 173 years ago. As many people learned as school children in Western Wash...   (08:57)
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November 12, 2024

Feliks Banel on the Camp Long fire and the history of the lodge

A fire Monday night damaged the historic lodge at Camp Long in West Seattle. Resident historian Feliks Banel provided a report from the scene for "Seattle's Morning News."   (05:33)
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November 8, 2024

All Over The Map: Forgotten Seattle origins of the JanSport school backpack

The recent passing of a man from Seattle is shining new light on a forgotten chapter of modern Pacific Northwest mythology about a ubiquitous school accessory – which was de...   (06:00)
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November 1, 2024

All Over the Map: How do you pronounce Umpqua?

All Over the Map: How do you pronounce Umpqua?   (05:34)
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October 30, 2024

Local Washington spooky stuff: 13 Steps at Maltby Cemetery, Prop Man of Orcas Island

Halloween has arrived and we've been collecting your Washington spooky stories about public places around Puget Sound where myths and legends have emerged over the decades about c...   (09:14)
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October 29, 2024

KIRO Newsradio presents "Dracula"

In 2022, your favorite KIRO Newsradio voices presented a special live broadcast of the 1938 Orson Welles' version of "Dracula" - with a few minor updates here and there, of course.   (01:01:18)
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October 25, 2024

Feliks Banel: Ghostly tales from the Northwest

Feliks Banel: Ghostly tales from the Northwest    (06:34)
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October 23, 2024

Artifact of airship’s historic visit hidden away at JBLM

It was 100 years ago – way back in 1924, in the thick of the early roaring days of aviation history – when a giant U.S. Navy airship visited the Puget Sound and took t...   (09:03)
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October 18, 2024

All Over The Map: Jackson Street Jazz Trail and sweet melodies among the sour notes

With the annual Earshot Jazz Festival now underway, the ribbon is about to be cut on a new path in downtown Seattle highlighting the history and culture of the golden age of jazz ...   (04:50)
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October 17, 2024

'Unsolved Histories:' Looking at the first half of the podcast series

"Unsolved Histories," from KSL Podcasts and a team led by Seattle historian Feliks Banel, is a podcast featuring three intersecting stories -- the mystery of how and why Flight 29...   (08:36)
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October 11, 2024

All Over The Map: LiDAR tech reveals ghostly causeway, phantom lake on Eastside

The technology known as LiDAR – Light Detection and Ranging, a laser-driven means of making precise measurements over large areas – has been helping scientists underst...   (03:47)
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October 9, 2024

As Mount Adams quakes, a search for its heart and soul

As reported by KIRO Newsradio on last Friday’s edition of "All Over The Map," seismic activity at Mount Adams – known as Washington’s forgotten mountain for the ...   (08:45)
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October 4, 2024

All Over the Map: How did Mount Adams get its name?

All Over the Map: How did Mount Adams get its name?   (04:54)
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October 2, 2024

Boeing's history

Mike Lombardi, in-house Boeing historian    (06:45)
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September 27, 2024

All Over The Map: Local History Round-Up

On this week edition of All Over The Map, a “lightning round” of updates on a number of recent stories about local history covered by KIRO Newsradio and MyNorthwest.   (04:59)
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September 25, 2024

Accumulating miles and stories by walking Seattle’s history

KIRO Newsradio caught up with a Seattle resident known for taking very long walks right here at home, seeing the city and the region from a unique perspective – and then sha...   (09:23)
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September 24, 2024

Remembering former Washington Gov. Dan Evans

Daniel J. Evans, who served three terms as governor of Washington, has died at the age of 98. He was the last Republican to serve as the state's governor.    (10:11)
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September 20, 2024

Celebration of around-the-world flight should be annual event

This week, the celebration of the centennial of the 1924 around-the-world flight is about to conclude with a series events around Seattle. Feliks Banel thinks there should be more of these events sooner rather than later.   (04:46)
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September 18, 2024

The former Mama's Mexican Kitchen in Belltown to be demolished

The former Mama's Mexican Kitchen in Belltown to be demolished   (08:32)
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September 18, 2024

The former Mama's Mexican Restaurant in Belltown to be demolished

The former Mama's Mexican Restaurant in Belltown to be demolished   (08:32)
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September 13, 2024

Corn Maze

Corn Maze    (05:47)
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September 11, 2024

Railroad history conferences in Everett

Railroad history conferences in Everett    (08:40)
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September 4, 2024

Sumner plaques being given away stirs controversy

Sumner plaques being given away stirs controversy    (09:50)
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August 30, 2024

All Over the Map: How does NOAA Weather Robot prononce names correctly?

All Over the Map: How does NOAA Weather Robot prononce names correctly?   (05:17)
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August 29, 2024

Cowlitz Convention responsible for splitting Washington from Oregon

It was 166 years ago this week that settlers in “Northern Oregon” decided to do something about their plight, and to work to create Columbia Territory on this sid...   (06:07)
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August 28, 2024

Update: Hope for saving Holy Rosary Church in Tacoma?

Jon Carp of Save Tacoma's Landmark Church (STLC) joined Dave Ross and Feliks Banel live on Seattle's Morning News to share details about his group's proposal to the Seattle Archdi...   (09:42)
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August 21, 2024

The Beatles legendary visit to Seattle

The Beatles legendary visit to Seattle   (09:49)
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August 16, 2024

The Rainier cowgirl is a big asset for this small Washington town

An iconic sign for a shop that once sold T-shirts and jeans – in the shape of a giant "cowgirl" – has been resurrected in the Thurston County town of Rainier.   (05:52)
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August 9, 2024

All over the Map: Hawaii Mars Water Bomber

All over the Map: Hawaii Mars Water Bomber    (05:21)
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August 7, 2024

Officials eliminate funding for WSU Press

Officials at Washington State University decided in July to eliminate annual funding for the school’s academic publisher WSU Press.   (09:28)
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July 31, 2024

Boehm's Candies

Boehm's Candies   (08:35)
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July 29, 2024

Charley Royer

Charley Royer, Seattle's longest-serving mayor, has died at age 84. Royer was Seattle’s 48th and longest serving mayor.   (07:25)
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July 26, 2024

Remembering News Tribune columnist Matt Driscoll

I was a fan of Driscoll’s work because he loved Tacoma and Pierce County history, and he often wrote about people, places, buildings, history and historic preservation. We n...   (05:00)
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July 24, 2024

Vanishing Seattle

Vanishing Seattle's new book    (05:04)
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July 19, 2024

Seafair Powwow

Seafair Powwow   (04:13)
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July 17, 2024

Blue Flame Neon Sign

Blue Flame Neon Sign   (08:17)
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July 12, 2024

All Over The Map: Searching for ‘ghost signs of the air’

In the early days of aviation a century ago, an oil company painted town names in giant letters on top of their buildings to help pilots find their way.   (04:44)
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July 11, 2024

Iconic Taco Time restaurant shutting down

Iconic Taco Time restaurant shutting down   (04:44)
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July 10, 2024

Pearl Harbor hero hails from Port Angeles

Pearl Harbor hero hails from Port Angeles   (08:02)
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July 3, 2024

Sea-Tac Airport celebrates 75 years

While its origins as an airfield date back to the early months of World War II, the Port of Seattle is marking 75 years of Sea-Tac Airport.   (08:03)
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June 28, 2024

Remodel project uncovers hidden past of beloved XXX drive-in

The work being completed in Issaquah to convert the old XXX Root Beer to a Burgermaster has revealed a key feature of the original drive-in which had been hidden for years.   (05:19)
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June 21, 2024

The battle of the Middle School Fight Songs

The battle of the Middle School Fight Songs   (04:33)
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June 19, 2024

Celebrating Juneteenth 2024 and reflecting on local Black history

We caught up with Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, president of the Black Heritage Society of Washington.   (08:27)
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June 8, 2024

Visiting Suquamish to pay tribute to city namesake Chief Sealth's grave

For this week's edition of All Over The Map, KIRO Newsradio visited the grave of Chief Sealth at Suquamish Memorial Cemetery and spoke with Suquamish Tribal Chair Leonard Forsman live during "Seattle’s Morning News."   (08:23)
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June 7, 2024

Looking back at the Seattle fire of 1889

In the final spring and summer of Washington’s territorial era, fires ravaged major sections of downtowns on both sides of the Cascades, from Seattle, to Ellensburg, to Spok...   (05:07)
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June 5, 2024

On D-Day, West Coast radio listeners ‘sat up all night by the radio’

June 6 will mark the anniversary of the Allied landings at Normandy to begin the liberation of France and eventual defeat of Nazi Germany, and bring an end to World War II in Euro...   (08:55)
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May 31, 2024

Endangered brick street and railroad bridge were witness to Everett Massacre

A tiny part of downtown Everett where a stretch of brick road is crossed by an old railroad bridge is the only part of the city’s landscape unchanged from the time of one of the darkest days in its history more than 100 years ago.   (05:46)
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May 29, 2024

New Seattle National Archives to be a 'very large project'

Earlier in May, KIRO Newsradio spoke to a pair of federal officials directly involved for a preview of what's to come in what will be a long process to develop and build the new National Archives facility.   (10:57)
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May 24, 2024

All Over The Map: KIRO Newsradio's junior high/middle school fight song challenge

We're on a mission to collect recordings of as many Puget Sound area junior high/middle school fight songs as possible to document history and celebrate our alma maters as summer ...   (06:27)
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May 22, 2024

Young Fresh Fellows celebrate 40 years since 'Fabulous' vinyl debut

They're considered one of the most influential bands to emerge from Seattle in the 1980s. And while they may not be as well-known as some of their "grungier" counterparts, the You...   (08:13)
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May 20, 2024

Sumner City Council vote on saving Ryan House

At their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, the Sumner City Council will likely vote on a resolution that could determine the ultimate fate of the Ryan House — a historic structure dating as far back as the 1860s.   (05:15)
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May 17, 2024

All Over The Map: Kirkland's history comes to life for cemetery tour

The bustling Eastside city's mostly hidden origin story will come up a lot during this year's annual history tour of Kirkland Cemetery, presented by the non-profit Kirkland Heritage Society.   (04:51)
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May 15, 2024

Scientist recalls the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

For this year's observance of the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, KIRO Newsradio caught up with a retired longtime employee of the Cascades Volcano Observatory who shared her memories of the event.   (08:18)
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May 10, 2024

Exclusive: Grassroots preservation campaign saves Parkland School

Members of the Parkland Community Association announced Friday that the group has officially assumed ownership of historic Parkland School.   (05:00)
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May 8, 2024

Visiting Captain Vancouver’s grave in a tiny village near London

A tiny village near London will soon commemorate Captain George Vancouver, as it does every year, at the churchyard where he was buried more than 225 years ago.   (08:44)
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May 3, 2024

History only deepens community love for Kirkland’s “mystery cottage”

Remember the “mystery cottage” in Kirkland’s newest public park which KIRO Newsradio first reported on back in January? A former neighbor shared some of its additional history and backstory earlier this week.   (05:23)
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May 1, 2024

Vatican decides in favor of Tacoma’s Holy Rosary Church

A decision from an administrative authority within the Vatican has reportedly decided in favor of a community group working to save Tacoma’s Holy Rosary Catholic Church from the wrecking ball.   (08:04)
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April 26, 2024

Old Seattle Buildings and How They Got Their Nicknames

Old Seattle Buildings and How They Got Their Nicknames   (06:20)
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April 25, 2024

Going deep on forgotten ‘Lakes of Washington’ books

With trout season opening on Washington’s lowland lakes this Saturday, April 27, the timing was perfect to go fishing around on the history bookshelf to share a pr...   (08:14)
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April 24, 2024

Citizens beg City of Everett to compromise on dog park and gazebo

The Everett Historical Commission voted to postpone taking action on the city's request for permission to demolish the Clark Park gazebo.   (04:37)
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April 19, 2024

Echoes of Eastside rail history with Sound Transit preparing to get underway

As Sound Transit gets ready to inaugurate commuter trains between Bellevue and Redmond beginning next weekend, the question arises about the last time regular passenger rail servi...   (04:54)
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April 18, 2024

Remembering Enumclaw's Doolittle Raider Edward Saylor (2014)

Edward Saylor volunteered to be a flight engineer on a dangerous mission more than 80 years ago. Saylor grew up in rural eastern Montana and lived in Enumclaw for many years befor...   (05:12)
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April 17, 2024

New book reveals the 'street trees' of Seattle

New book reveals the 'street trees' of Seattle   (08:40)
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April 12, 2024

Followup to the tale of the missing Cold War tower and siren

A Cold War air raid siren that stood atop a tower in a Seattle park for more than 70 years remains in the hands of a private salvage yard. And the man who owns the giant artifact says it’s going to stay there.   (05:21)
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April 10, 2024

The tale of the missing Cold War Tower & Siren

The tale of the missing Cold War Tower & Siren   (07:55)
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April 5, 2024

History means it’s Seattle vs. Seattle this weekend in Milwaukee

Those see-through uniforms of the Mariners’ road opponent in this weekend’s three-game series in Wisconsin may say “Milwaukee Brewers,” but everybody knows that the team is really the Seattle Pilots in disguise.   (05:51)
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April 3, 2024

Parkland School catalyzes neighbors to support South Sound community

Neighbors in Parkland, south of Tacoma, have been working for two years to save the historic Parkland School. They now facing a significant fundraising deadline at the end of April and are seeking financial support.   (08:11)
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March 29, 2024

Boeing slogan – if it’s not history, it’s a mystery

Boeing slogan – if it’s not history, it’s a mystery   (05:33)
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March 27, 2024

'As The Gazebo Turns': Commission hits pause on Everett park plan

On Tuesday night, the Everett Historical Commission once again weighed a request from the City of Everett for permission to demolish the historic gazebo at Clark Park.   (03:44)
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March 27, 2024

Local history buffs beat hackers and regain control of Seattle Vintage

As KIRO Newsradio first reported two weeks ago, the popular local history Facebook group Seattle Vintage – which has more than 150,000 followers – was hacked and ...   (08:46)
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March 14, 2024

Ryan House supporters get legal boost

A grassroots group working to save the historic Ryan House on Main Street in Sumner scored a legal victory yesterday when a Pierce County Superior Court judge ruled in their favor in a dispute with the city.   (04:27)
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March 13, 2024

Pacific Science Center making changes to historic pool

Pacific Science Center making changes to historic pool   (08:19)
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March 8, 2024

All Over the Map: When vinyl records were used to promote Wash. and Orgeon

All Over the Map: When vinyl records were used to promote Wash. and Orgeon   (06:04)
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March 6, 2024

Banel: 'Garbage Goat' and 'Governor Evidence' mark 50 years of Spokane Expo '74

This year marks a half-century since Spokane hosted its very own world’s fair – the event known as Expo '74. The 50th anniversary will be celebrated in Spokane with a series of events throughout the spring and summer.   (08:11)
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March 1, 2024

History hidden within NOAA's 'Inland Water Wind Reports'

The spots along the shores of the Puget Sound, for which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio often gives windspeed reports, have their own history and charm.   (05:54)
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February 28, 2024

Will Everett mayor accept compromise to save Clark Park gazebo?

The Everett Historical Commission met Tuesday night to discuss the city’s formal request for permission to tear it down, and then offered up a strategic compromise instead.   (08:32)
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February 23, 2024

Everett residents iced out of demolition plans: 'Don’t blame the gazebo'

Feliks Banel joins SMN to discuss Mayor Cassie Franklin of Everett's decision to demolish the historic 1921 gazebo at Clark Park. Not everyone is happy about the decision, or about the opaque manner in which it was made.   (06:13)
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February 21, 2024

The origins of the name 'Washington'

This is a refresher on how our state came to be called “Washington,” as well as a deeper dive into the actual meaning of that most famous of American surnames.   (07:55)
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February 16, 2024

Good news and bad news for two Washington Drive-In movie theaters

Good news and bad news for two Washington Drive-In movie theaters   (04:47)
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February 15, 2024

Seattle aviator's rediscovered photo albums are full of history, mystery

A Seattle family recently re-discovered a collection of photo albums that belonged to a great uncle who was a Navy flyer at Sand Point nearly 100 years ago.   (08:12)
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February 14, 2024

The origins of 'The Wheedle on the Needle'

The origins of 'The Wheedle on the Needle' from resident historian Feliks Banel   (04:55)
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February 9, 2024

Saving the Ryan House in Sumner

Saving the Ryan House in Sumner    (05:06)
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February 5, 2024

Northwest Cable News signs off after 21 years

Jim Rose, president and general manager of KING Broadcasting, a division of TEGNA, which oversees Northwest Cable News (NWCN), says that news consumption habits hav...   (05:23)
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February 5, 2024

Remembering Seattle's 'news out of the box'

At 5 p.m. on February 4, 1993, KIRO-TV, which was then owned by Bonneville (current owner of KIRO Radio), went live with a concept they called “news out of the box.”   (06:16)
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February 2, 2024

All Over The Map: Forgotten original 'Unity' name still inspires Ilwaco

A look into the history in this week’s edition of All Over The Map reveals that Ilwaco isn’t the original name of the town, and that this isn't the first time its residents have faced adversity after a big fire.   (06:05)
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January 31, 2024

UW crew boat "The Conny" comes back to life

UW crew boat "The Conny" comes back to life    (07:50)
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January 24, 2024

The origins of the only photo ever taken of Chief Seattle

Northwest historians agree about some basic facts about the photo, which was taken in 1865. How the photo came to be is sometimes a little more murky.   (08:53)
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January 19, 2024

Mystery Cottage in Kirkland

An iconic and mysterious roadside cottage in Kirkland has captured the imagination of passersby for decades.    (05:27)
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January 17, 2024

“National Park on wheels” seeks volunteers for Trails & Rails

A partnership between the National Park Service and Amtrak has placed volunteer interpretive guides on some routes for many years   (08:07)
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January 12, 2024

All Over The Map: Few clues in mysterious disappearance of 'Wheeler & Murdoch'

One likely reason that the pilot never became a regular series was because the pilot got really bad reviews from multiple TV critics, some of whom savaged its overall cheesiness o...   (05:40)
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