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Discover Fascinating History Stories with Feliks Banel

Pacific Northwest History

Painting of Fort Vancouver and the surrounding countryside as it appeared in the 19th century. (Was...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: Fort Vancouver ruled when Washington was ‘a few miles of pine swamp’

2025 – just a few short years from now -- will mark the bicentennial of the original dedication of Fort Vancouver by the Hudson’s Bay Company.
5 years ago
Louie Louie...
Feliks Banel

When ‘Louie, Louie’ almost became Washington’s state song

Nearly 60 years ago, the FBI tried to decipher the reputedly obscene lyrics of "Louie, Louie." Twenty years later, it was almost Washington’s state song.
5 years ago
National Archives Seattle...
Feliks Banel

After numerous ‘red flags,’ AG Ferguson sues federal agencies over Seattle National Archives facility

AG Bob Ferguson’s office is now suing three federal agencies involved in the secret decision to close and sell Seattle's National Archives facility.
5 years ago
V-J Day...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: V-J Day 75th Anniversary

On Tuesday, Aug. 14, 1945, word came that Japan had accepted Allied terms for unconditional surrender. "V-J Day" was official. World War II was over.
5 years ago
black victorians...
Feliks Banel

Vintage ‘Seattle’s Black Victorians’ is a must-read

"Seattle’s Black Victorians" is a book published in 1980 that reveals the mostly forgotten stories of Black Seattleites in the late 19th century.
5 years ago
Washington Counties, Asotin...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: Collect the stories of all 39 Washington counties!

There are 39 counties in Washington, and each county has a county seat -- or the town where official county business takes place.
5 years ago
cable car...
Feliks Banel

Unwinding the history of the old Yesler Cable Car

Trolleys and street cars have a long relationship with Seattle. It was 80 years ago this week when the Yesler Cable Car ended its final run after 52 years.
5 years ago
slogans...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: Best and worst Northwest city slogans

When they work, official slogans for cities help attract visitors and investors. At the very least, they hopefully won't inspire eye rolls from the locals.
5 years ago
underwater mysteries, black lake...
Feliks Banel

Solved and unsolved underwater mysteries around the Northwest

Over the past few years, we've shared stories of underwater archaeologists and sleuths working to solve local mysteries. Here's the latest updates.
5 years ago
canal...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: Forgotten plans for a canal between Olympia and Grays Harbor

It was the Evergreen State’s transportation infrastructure project that took more than a hundred years to die. And no, we don’t mean Sound Transit.
5 years ago
Jimi Hendrix grandparents...
Feliks Banel

Jimi Hendrix’s little-known connection between Seattle and Vancouver, BC

Part of a beloved Vancouver, B.C. community legacy has a deep connection to one of Seattle’s most famous residents in Jimi Hendrix.
5 years ago
Service Station Memories...
Feliks Banel

Service station memories of Tukwila and Sumner

We invited listeners to tell us their service station stories, and received a wonderful recollection of family-run stations in Tukwila and Sumner.
5 years ago
service stations...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: Do any ‘classic’ 1960s or 1970s service stations survive?

Summer road trips wouldn't be possible without service stations along the way, but a certain kind of station seems to be disappearing in the rear-view mirror of the past.
5 years ago
Washington cherries...
Feliks Banel

Summer cherries’ Northwest roots grow back to the 1840s

Nothing says summertime quite like the taste of cherries, and Washington's role in the development of one famous variety is a story ripe for the picking.
5 years ago
National Archives...
Feliks Banel

Fate of Seattle National Archives facility still in limbo

In spite of the pandemic, multiple processes appear to still be underway to prevent materials at the Seattle National Archives from moving out of state.
5 years ago
national forests...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: ‘Ghost names’ of National Forests in Washington state

Over 71 years ago, President Truman ordered a National Forest in Washington state to change the name it had been known by for more than 40 years.
5 years ago
Governor Evans...
Feliks Banel

Former WA Governor Dan Evans and the 1960s civil rights struggle

Recent protests aren’t the first time local elected officials have been confronted by citizens calling for change. A modest, yet meaningful change from former governor Dan Evans is still remembered by many.
5 years ago
Signal towers...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: Searching for ghosts of Seattle’s storm signal towers

From the 1890s to the early 1960s, a succession of tall buildings in downtown Seattle were used as signal towers to warn mariners of coming storms.
5 years ago
Duwamish River oil spill...
Feliks Banel

Seattle owes its existence to its most invisible waterway

While it may be invisible, the author of a new book says Seattle owes its very existence to the Duwamish River flowing under the West Seattle Bridge.
5 years ago
Cal Anderson Park...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: Like CHOP, Cal Anderson Park has a history of changing its name

The CHOP has been known by a few names. Next door, Cal Anderson Park has also been known by multiple names, but over a much longer period.
5 years ago
Phoenix Button...
Feliks Banel

Mysterious Haitian ‘Phoenix Button’ found along Puget Sound

Phil Massie has found all kinds of things over the years that he’s been actively treasure hunting. But until recently, he’d never found a Phoenix Button.
5 years ago
William Grose...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: The story of William Grose, one of Seattle’s earliest black entrepreneurs

William Grose is a 19th century wealthy Seattleite and black community leader who isn’t as well-known as he should be in his adopted hometown.
5 years ago
East Precinct art...
Feliks Banel

Artist hopeful, but understanding if protesters ‘need to destroy’ East Precinct art

The artist who created an installation for the lobby of the Seattle Police Department’s embattled East Precinct says she's OK if the work gets destroyed.
5 years ago
CHAZ...
Feliks Banel

All Over The Map: Seattle’s other ‘temporary protest place-names’ before CHAZ

While everyone from President Trump on down is weighing in on the "CHAZ," this isn’t the first time that part of Seattle has been given a temporary protest name.
5 years ago