Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Josephine Tsai, a journalism graduate student in Brooklyn, New York.

CASCADE OF HISTORY has been covering the threatened closure of the Lewis Army Museum at Joint Base Lewis McChord near Tacoma for the past few months. As we have reported, Lewis Army Museum is one of many U.S. Army museums targeted for closure around the United States and at bases overseas.

While researching the threatened closure of the Army's Harbor Defense Museum at Brooklyn's Fort Hamilton, Ms. Tsai discovered what she believes is a pattern that reveals why some Army museums were added to the planned closure list and others were not.

According to Josephine Tsai's research, it all seems to come down to one thing: local history.

CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Josephine Tsai on Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Earlier CASCADE OF HISTORY episode featuring Lee Reynolds of the U.S. Army's Center of Military History:
https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-episodes-secretary-army

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.


BONUS EPISODE: Journalism Student Discovers Hidden Pattern in Army's Museum Closure List

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Mariana Imaz, program manager of the Speakers Bureau for Humanities Washington. The Speakers Bureau provides a range of topics and speakers covering arts, culture, history - and so much more - and non-profit groups and public agencies around the Evergreen State can submit applications to request speakers to appear in their communities.

Humanities Washington just released the list of speakers and topics available for 2026-2027. Deadline for applications to request a speaker for First Quarter 2026 is November 15, 2025.

Humanities Washington website for more information for groups requesting speakers:
https://www.humanities.org/programs/speakers-bureau/host-a-speaker/

Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau 2026-2027 Roster
https://www.humanities.org/programs/speakers-bureau/upcoming-speakers/

Humanities Washington Calendar of Upcoming Events:
https://www.humanities.org/events/

Feliks Banel's 2026-2027 Presentation Description - All Over The Map:
https://www.humanities.org/speaker/feliks-banel-3/

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss an episode.

BONUS EPISODE: Apply Now for FREE Speaker Programs for Communities around the Evergreen State

Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Bruce Ramsey, veteran business journalist and author of "Seattle In The Great Depression." The book was published in 2025 by WSU Press in Pullman, Washington.

In our conversation, Mr. Ramsey explains how he came to write the book and describes his research methodology, and introduces some of the real-life characters who come to life in the pages of "Seattle In The Great Depression." Ramsey dug deep into newspaper archives as well as academic publications to craft a narrative aimed at a general audience.

For more information on "Seattle In The Great Depression" by Bruce Ramsey from WSU Press:
https://wsupress.wsu.edu/product/seattle-in-the-great-depression/

For more information on Mr. Ramsey's earlier title "The Panic of 1893: The Untold Story of Washington State's First Depression" from Caxton Press:
https://caxtonnnn.myshopify.com/products/the-panic-of-1893-the-untold-story-of-washington-states-first-depression

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.


BONUS EPISODE: "Seattle In The Great Depression" Author and Veteran Business Journalist Bruce Ramsey

Feliks Banel's guests on this LIVE BROADCAST of CASCADE OF HISTORY include Clay Eals of Seattle Now & Then on this week's Seattle Times column about a "history mystery" involving vintage public art and how you can help; David Reynolds, board president of Bing Crosby Advocates on their upcoming commemoration of the centennial of Bing's departure from Spokane at the start of his career in 1925; and Knute Berger on the upcoming premiere of the new season of Mossback's Northwest on Cascade PBS - with a special event open to the public this Thursday, October 3, 2025.

Links to information about all of these stories are available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory

This LIVE broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was originally presented at 8pm Pacific Time on Sunday, September 28, 2025 via SPACE 101.1 FM and gallantly streaming live via www.space101fm.org from historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.


Ep. 121: Public Art History Mystery in Seattle, Bing Crosby Career Centennial in Spokane, Mossback's NW Season Preview

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel digs into the "field tape archives" for part one of his 2015 conversation with the late John Spellman, the Evergreen State's most recent Republican governor. John Spellman passed away in 2018 at age 91.

John Spellman was a King County Commissioner in the 1960s, and then served three terms as King County’s first County Executive. He was elected governor in 1980, and served one term during those tough economic times. This far-ranging conversation was recorded in downtown Seattle on June 8, 2015. In part one, we talk about being elected governor in 1980, running against Dixy Lee Ray in 1976, and against Booth Gardner in 1984. We talk about the Forward Thrust project, including the construction and ultimate demise of the Kingdome – and about Spellman’s support for President Richard Nixon. Part two will be presented in an upcoming BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY.

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.

BONUS EPISODE: Archival Interview with the late John Spellman, the Evergreen State's Most Recent Republican Governor

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with First Nations visual artist and public policy expert Lou-ann Neel by telephone from, as she says, "the lands of the Lekwungen, also known as Victoria, BC" for history and context of Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The 2025 observance is taking place on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Ms. Neel talks about treaties, unceded lands and the destructive "residential schools" at the root of the observances taking place in across Canada on September 30 - which is also known as "Orange Shirt Day." According to the Canadian government, the day honors "the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities . . . [p]ublic commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process."

There is no similar observance in the United States, where similar residential schools were also in operation for decades.

Canada's official page for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html

Special thanks to John Mackie for his assistance with this episode.

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss an episode.


BONUS EPISODE: Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with Lou-ann Neel

In commemoration of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we present a BONUS EPISODE with excerpts from a conversation recorded by Feliks Banel in summer 2021 with Shelly Boyd and the late Michael Finley of the Colville Tribe in North Central Washington.

This was not long after the discovery near Kamloops, British Columbia of what appears to be hundreds of unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school. In our conversation, we touched on many chapters of Northwest and British Columbia history, including residential schools in Canada and the United States – where countless Indigenous children were abused, and from which some never returned.

The late Michael Finley was a tribal historian and former tribal chair, and served tribal liaison for the Washington State Historical Society. His cousin Shelly Boyd is a language scholar and co-founder of the Inchelium Language House, and authored the cover story for the autumn 2021 edition of COLUMBIA Magazine.

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss an episode.


BONUS EPISODE: Archival Conversation with Shelly Boyd and the late Michael Finley of the Colville Tribe on Residential Schools

Feliks Banel's guests on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY are the organizers of the upcoming PLACES Conference in Gig Harbor, Washington, which begins on October 8, 2025. Carrianne Ekberg is Executive Director of the Gig Harbor Waterfront Alliance and 
Lydia Felty is Main Street Specialist for the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.

According to the conference website, "PLACES is Washington’s annual statewide conference focused on the continued care of place through historic preservation, placemaking, and economic vitality, brought to you by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and the Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation. The PLACES Conference allows preservationists, planners, downtown development professionals, and anyone who cares about place to dive deep into creative ideas, build their network, and inspire new solutions."

For more information about the 2025 PLACES Conference, October 8-10, 2025:
https://preservewa.org/news-events/places-conference/

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss an episode.

BONUS EPISODE: Preview of PLACES Conference in Gig Harbor, WA starting October 8, 2025

UPDATE AS OF 6PM WEDS, OCT 1, 2025 - THE SEATTLE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD VOTED TO TABLE SEATTLE PARKS' REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO GAS WORKS PARK. BOARD MEMBERS WANTED MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT PARKS' PROPOSED WORK, A LONG-RANGE PLAN FOR THE PARK, AND DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT DESIGNER RICH HAAG INTENDED FOR THE STRUCTURES IN THE PARK IN THE LONG-TERM: DECAY OR MAINTENANCE. PARKS SAYS THEY WILL BE BACK BEFORE THE BOARD IN TWO WEEKS.

UPDATE VIA CASCADE OF HISTORY FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FzqBbzzRs/

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, we present audio from the September 17, 2025 meeting of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board.

In a move that has gone largely unreported, the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation (SPR) is seeking permission to make significant changes to the historic structures from the old gas plant that give Seattle’s Gas Works Park its name and much of its character. Since 2008, several people have been injured and three have died while trespassing and climbing on the historic structures.

Later today – Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board seems poised to approve SPR’s request for a “CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL.” This would allow for removal of elements of the old "cracking towers" - giant, rusty pieces of equipment from the original gas plant.

Gas Works Park is internationally known and is a beloved local destination on Lake Union in the city’s Wallingford and Fremont neighborhoods. It was designed more than 50 years ago by the late Richard Haag. Haag was a landscape architect whose vision of preserving the industrial elements and incorporating them into the design of the park was revolutionary at the time, and it has influenced other park designs around the globe.

In an emailed statement on October 1, 2025, a parks spokesperson wrote:

“The Mayor’s proposed 2026 budget adds $1.8 million to support safety improvements and remove certain appurtenances attached to the 'Cracking Towers' at Gas Works Park. Appurtenances have been used by trespassers and include catwalks, ladders, support framing, and select piping and valving, and pipe sections that currently extend beyond the security fencing.  Improvements will also include the installation of security lighting to ‘up-light’ the towers from purposefully placed fixtures around the perimeter of the towers.”

As part of the process seeking approval, Seattle Parks employee David Graves made a presentation to the Landmarks Preservation Board on September 17, 2025, and the board members asked questions, and discussed the project with Landmarks Board staff.

Today’s meeting (Wednesday, October 1, 2025) begins at 3:30pm Pacific Time, and public comment may be made remotely online (see link below).

The audio from September 17 has been lightly edited to compress periods of silence and remove a few A/V related logistical discussions.

For more information about commenting in advance or as part of the October 1, 2025 meeting of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board:
https://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/historic-preservation/city-landmarks

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss an episode.

BONUS EPISODE: Seattle Parks Plans Removal of Elements of Historic "Cracking Towers" at Gas Works

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, we get the latest news on a plan by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation (SPR) to make significant changes to historic Gas Works Park on Lake Union in Seattle's Wallingford/Fremont neighborhoods.

Conservation architect Patricia Fels is our guest. She took part in the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board (LPB) meeting on October 1, 2025, and listened in as the board members chose to "table" SPR's proposal to remove elements of the iconic "cracking towers" at Gas Works Park, rather than reject the request. SPR said they will revise their proposal and be back before the LPB as soon as the next meeting on October 15, 2025.

Patricia Fels is a member of Friends of Gas Works Park, and worked closely with the late Richard Haag, noted landscape architect who designed the groundbreaking public space - which includes industrial elements from the "gas works" that previously occupied the site. Fels also wrote the landmark nomination for Gas Works Park, and knows its history and context better than just about anybody.

Cascade of History asked Seattle Parks and Recreation for comment immediately following yesterday's tabling of their Gas Works proposal, but we have not yet heard back as of midday Thursday, October 2, 2025.

For additional information and context, here's a BONUS EPISODE from earlier this week featuring audio from the September 17, 2025 meeting of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board and the Gas Works Park presentation by SPR:
https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-episode-gasworks-slpb

For more information about Friends of Gas Works Park:
https://fogwp.org/

For more information about the Wednesday, October 8, 2025 2pm meeting of the Parks, Public Utilties & Technology and Committee of the Seattle City Council:
https://www.seattle.gov/council/meetings/committees-and-agendas/parks-public-utilities-and-technology

For more information about commenting on items before the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board:
https://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/historic-preservation/city-landmarks/public-comment

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss an episode.

LATEST NEWS: Seattle Landmarks Board "tables" request from Seattle Parks to alter towers at Gas Works Park

CASCADE OF HISTORY is the only LIVE radio show presenting news and stories about people doing cool things with and for history in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. We talk about people, artifacts, books, maps, photos, places, landmarks, public lands, state and national parks, trails, highways, and the historic events that can bring us all together.

The show is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time on SPACE 101.1 FM (and streaming via http://www.space101fm.org ) from studios located on the shores of Lake Washington in historic Magnuson Park in Seattle, former site of Sand Point Naval Air Station (though sometimes CASCADE OF HISTORY originates from remote locations around the region). The podcast feed consists of the weekly broadcast, plus frequent bonus episodes with timely and topical interviews, vintage local audio or other Pacific Northwest history-related content - and sometimes even BREAKING NEWS.

Producer and host Feliks Banel is an Emmy-winning and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning broadcaster, and former deputy director of Seattle's Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI).

Send your questions, comments, guest suggestions, news tips and other correspondence to cascadeofhistory@gmail.com.

LATEST NEWS: Seattle Landmarks Board "tables" request from Seattle Parks to alter towers at Gas Works Park

Cascade of History

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