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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
April 26, 2024

Old Seattle Buildings and How They Got Their Nicknames

Old Seattle Buildings and How They Got Their Nicknames   (06:20)
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)
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)
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)
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)
April 17, 2024

New book reveals the 'street trees' of Seattle

New book reveals the 'street trees' of Seattle   (08:40)
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)
April 10, 2024

The tale of the missing Cold War Tower & Siren

The tale of the missing Cold War Tower & Siren   (07:55)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
March 13, 2024

Pacific Science Center making changes to historic pool

Pacific Science Center making changes to historic pool   (08:19)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
February 9, 2024

Saving the Ryan House in Sumner

Saving the Ryan House in Sumner    (05:06)
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)
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)
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)
January 31, 2024

UW crew boat "The Conny" comes back to life

UW crew boat "The Conny" comes back to life    (07:50)
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)
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)
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)
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)
January 10, 2024

Mystery stretches from Cedar River ghost town to “Boys in the Boat”

Along the Cedar River southeast of Renton, the remains of a coal mining operation – and the ghost town that was once a bustling home to the miners who worked the slope mine ...   (07:06)
January 5, 2024

Epic new folk song commemorates Northwest shipwreck and a sheep

An epic new folk song debuts this week to commemorate the spooky and sad legend of the SS CLALLAM, a passenger vessel that sank exactly 120 years ago in one of the deadliest disasters ever in local waters.   (06:01)
January 3, 2024

Double Feature: Historic cinema and drive-in for sale in Colville

Movie theatres are experiencing something of a resurgence in the aftermath of the pandemic, as audiences have rediscovered an appreciation for sitting in the dark to enjoy watching films in the company of strangers.   (07:50)
December 20, 2023

One Kirkland man’s passion for bicycles, history and community

A garage in Kirkland has been transformed into a magical workshop where a man repairs and restores bicycles for commuters and collectors – and for more than a hundred kids w...   (08:12)
December 15, 2023

Contented cows and udder holiday delights at historic Carnation Farms

Historic Carnation Farms has been a fixture in the Snoqualmie Valley for more than a century. The unique Northwest destination is open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 16, for a ho...   (05:53)
December 8, 2023

The world's largest hockey stick must find a new home

On Vancouver Island in British Columbia, a community that has been home for nearly 40 years to "the world's largest hockey stick" is getting ready to say goodbye to its iconic roadside treasure.   (05:19)
December 1, 2023

Christmas boat parade lights up Columbia River

The Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, which began back in the 1960s, will ply the waters of the mighty Columbia River between Kennewick and Richland this weekend.   (05:06)
November 29, 2023

What is the history of Seattle's Candy Cane Lane?

What is the history of Seattle's Candy Cane Lane?   (08:36)
November 24, 2023

Delivering sad news about Burien hero Gene Casey

In November of 1955, a young soldier named Gene Casey survived a fiery airliner crash in Burien and then, in spite of his severe injuries, rescued another soldier from the bu...   (05:47)
November 22, 2023

How Seattle remembered the JFK assassination 60 years ago

How Seattle remembered the JFK assassination 60 years ago   (09:22)
November 17, 2023

Lost wreck from long-ago tragedy identified deep in Elliott Bay

Local underwater explorers revealed Thursday that they have identified the wreck of a vessel that went down in a deadly tragedy on Elliott Bay 117 years ago this weekend.   (05:20)
November 15, 2023

Biden’s APEC meeting in San Francisco has roots in Seattle history

As President Biden prepares to meet with President Xi of China at the APEC Summit, it also happens to be the 30th anniversary of the first held in Seattle   (08:22)
November 10, 2023

Washington statehood and the US flag - We’re Number 42!

You’ve probably always wondered, when Washington became a state 134 years ago this week – on November 11, 1889 – what effect did that “new star” have on the look and layout of the American flag?   (05:30)
November 3, 2023

In search of Washington’s windiest city

The highest wind speeds ever recorded in the Evergreen State were clocked near a small town in Pacific County more than 60 years ago, and it happened twice during two separate storms.   (05:20)
November 1, 2023

Paul Dorpat, legendary northwest photographer and writer

Feliks Banel interviews Paul Dorpat    (07:18)
October 26, 2023

Seattle in line to get new National Archives facility

Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, Ph.D., is in town and will give a free public talk Thursday at the Seattle Public Library   (05:20)
October 25, 2023

Forgotten film reveals critical wartime role for Washington industry

A seven-minute black and white film, shot nearly a century ago in the Eastern Washington community of Chewelah, has been tucked away in an archive in South Carolina for nearly 50 ...   (07:51)
October 20, 2023

Ancient tree discovered near Vancouver Island

North of Washington off the west coast of Vancouver Island, a Canadian nature photographer and forest advocate named T.J. Watt recently located and documented one of the biggest and oldest trees in the Pacific Northwest.   (05:43)
October 18, 2023

Citizens battle Sumner to save city-owned Ryan House

As KIRO Newsradio reported last month, news of a plan by the City of Sumner to tear down the historic Ryan House in downtown Sumner has raised the ire of some residents there.   (07:54)
October 13, 2023

Seattle-based TV shows other than "Frasier"

There are three categories of "Pre-Frasier" TV programs: 'Seattle as Off-Screen Character'; 'Seattle as the setting for a TV series' and 'Seattle as the setting for a TV movie'.   (06:05)
October 6, 2023

Almond Roca celebrates tasty centennial with new replica neon sign

Almond Roca, that buttery, crunchy, chocolate-covered, almond-dusted and world-famous candy from Tacoma, is celebrating its 100th birthday next week with the debut of a new neon sign.   (06:19)
October 4, 2023

Too late for Guild 45th, still time to save Ryan House, Memorial Stadium

Like a Mariners-free post-season and pumpkin spice premium gasoline, historic preservation is in the air this autumn all around Puget Sound. Here are updates on three efforts and ways to get involved with saving at least two of them.   (10:15)
September 29, 2023

Medal for bravery in Burien depends on finding ‘burned buttock guy'

It was November 1955 when a young soldier named Gene Casey survived a fiery airliner crash in Burien and then, in spite of his severe injuries, rescued another soldier from the bu...   (05:06)
September 27, 2023

Frustration in Sumner over city’s rush to demolish historic Ryan Hous

The City of Sumner held a public open house Tuesday night for residents to learn more about various civic projects and initiatives underway in the Pierce County community.   (08:41)
September 26, 2023

Is tonight the last chance to save Sumner’s historic Ryan House?

The City of Sumner has been working for the past few years to renovate and restore the historic Ryan House. The Victorian-style home on Main Street is listed on the National Regis...   (04:56)
June 23, 2023

All Over The Map: Bob Hope at Fort Lewis

A new exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society about Bob Hope’s devotion to entertaining the troops was all the excuse All Over The Map needed to revisit vintage audio of dusty ...   (05:42)
May 17, 2023

Washington’s forgotten ‘Woodstock of the McCarthy Era’

The story of the Peace Arch concert is not very well known outside labor history and music history circles these days, and it wasn’t covered much by the American media at the time.     (06:18)
April 12, 2023

Voula’s recipe includes tasty food, loyal customers, and even Drake

An old-school diner along the north side of the Ship Canal is still going strong with a distinctive recipe of tasty breakfasts and lunches, family ownership, loyal local customers...   (08:29)
March 3, 2023

All Over The Map: Where there's a will, there's a Whidbey

As first reported by the Whidbey News Times, the 1833 will of one Joseph Whidbey – a member of Captain Vancouver’s crew when the British explored what’s now Washington water...   (04:41)
January 18, 2023

How were Pacific, Pend Oreille and Pierce counties named?

See our website for privacy information.   (05:12)
October 7, 2022

All Over The Map: British Columbians divided over loyalties to Mariners or Blue Jays

The Blue Jays – the Mariners’ opponent in the Wild Card playoff series this weekend – may call Toronto home, but they also have a lot of fans out west in Vancouver and in ot...   (04:23)
October 5, 2022

The Resident Historian Baseball History Special

To celebrate the Seattle Mariners making the post-season for the first time since 2001, KIRO Newsradio resident historian Feliks Banel presents nine innings of stories from the ar...   (58:34)
August 26, 2022

All Over The Map: How were Lincoln, Mason and Okanogan counties named?

Episode number eight of “County Countdown” – a multi-year, thirteen-part All Over The Map series about the place-name origins of Washington counties and county seats – is ...   (04:28)
April 22, 2022

Theme songs and earworms – along with a few clunkers – from the music written and recorded for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair.

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: Theme songs, earworms, and a few clunkers from the music recorded for the Seattle World’s Fair. Then, on “...   (21:41)
April 19, 2022

Kirkland’s Tech City Bowl, alias Totem Bowl, is shutting down in October after 64 years in business

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: Tech City Bowl in Kirkland is closing down after 64 years, plus: remembering Elvis at the World’s Fair. Then, on...   (21:46)
April 8, 2022

The man who built a ‘World Cruiser’ replica to honor Seattle’s role in the first around-the-world flight

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: a ‘World Cruiser’ replica biplane honors Seattle’s role in the first around-the-world flight. Then, ...   (20:22)
April 4, 2022

Exploring familiar Northwest history stories as told by Indigenous voices

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: a new podcast tells Northwest history stories with Indigenous voices. Then, on “All Over The Map,” searchi...   (20:09)
March 25, 2022

How to nominate your favorite “historic restaurant” to receive a $40,000 grant from the National Trust

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: the National Trust for Historic Preservation is giving grants to historic restaurants. Then, on “All Over The Ma...   (21:53)
March 21, 2022

When the residents of Victoria, BC and Vancouver Island once braced for an attack by the Russian Navy

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: when Victoria, BC and Vancouver Island braced for an attack by the Russian Navy. Then, on “All Over The Map,&rdq...   (21:32)
March 11, 2022

Local volunteers are saving history and making history, from the Stone Cottage in West Seattle, to Washington state’s new ‘Patches Pal’ license plate

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: volunteers are saving history and making history in West Seattle and all over Washington. Then, on “All Over The...   (20:36)
March 5, 2022

A spooky TV program from 1957 – “A Day Called X” - imagines what the people of Portland, Oregon would do when facing nuclear attack

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: “A Day Called ‘X’” put Portland in the nuclear cross-hairs in 1957. Then, on “All Over T...   (20:18)
February 25, 2022

A senator from Washington made a prediction on national radio in March 1938 about bad things ahead in Europe – and it has unfortunate parallels to 2022

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: Is pre-World War II history repeating in Europe? Then, on “All Over The Map,” in search of the “ruin...   (18:54)
February 21, 2022

Resident Historian EXTRA: Looking back on European and radio history on brink of World War II in 1938

As Europe teeters on the brink of possible military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, we take a listen back to the groundbreaking CBS Radio “roundup” broadcast live...   (05:05)
February 20, 2022

Was a World War II battle mural intentionally hidden behind a wall in the old USO club in Oak Harbor?

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: in search of a World War II mural hidden in an old USO club more than 60 years ago. Then, on “All Over The Map,&...   (18:17)
February 11, 2022

Dan Evans, three-term Washington governor and former US Senator, looks back on nearly a century of history in his new autobiography

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: legendary Evergreen State politician Daniel J. Evans shares highlights from his new biography. Then, on “All Ove...   (19:48)
February 6, 2022

The Big Snow of 1916 almost destroyed one of Seattle’s earliest landmarks

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: the Big Snow of 1916 almost destroyed St. James Cathedral in Seattle. Then, on “All Over The Map,” you can...   (19:56)
January 29, 2022

A long out-of-print book of Yakama Nation legends and stories is back, and we meet the 100-year old author

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: a long out-of-print book of Yakama Nation legends and stories is back, and we meet the 100-year old author. Then, on &...   (18:05)
January 21, 2022

Can Jim McDermott and Governor Inslee revive a hundred-year old plan for a tunnel under the Cascades?

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: Can Jim McDermott and Governor Inslee revive a hundred-year old plan for a tunnel under the Cascades? Then, on “...   (22:20)
January 14, 2022

Does a century-ago UW football player from Centralia belong in the Husky Hall of Fame?

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: does All-American tackle Huber “Polly” Grimm belong in the Husky Hall of Fame? Then, on “All Over Th...   (19:22)
January 8, 2022

Trio of former Seattle mayors offer advice for newly inaugurated Mayor Bruce Harrell

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: three former mayors of Seattle offer advice their for new Mayor Bruce Harrell. Then, on “All Over The Map,&rdquo...   (21:21)
December 24, 2021

Stocking Full of Northwest Holiday History

On this special episode of The Resident Historian podcast, KIRO Radio's Feliks Banel presents a "Stocking Full of Northwest Holiday History."See our website for privacy information.   (48:36)
December 14, 2021

KIRO presents 'A Christmas Carol'

Listen to the re-telling of Dickens' classic “A Christmas Carol,” presented by KIRO Radio, Seattle Radio Theatre and Town Hall Seattle.See our website for privacy information.   (01:00:17)
December 13, 2021

Restrictive racist covenants lurking in real estate documents all over the Evergreen State

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: restrictive racist covenants are lurking in real estate documents all over the Evergreen State. Then, on "All Over The...   (24:24)
December 3, 2021

Facebook proves itself useful to history museums and historical societies

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: how local museums and historical societies are finding ways to “LIKE” Facebook. Then, on “All Over T...   (21:18)
November 25, 2021

SPECIAL EPISODE: “COOPER 5-0: KIRO Radio’s D.B. Cooper 50th Anniversary Special,” produced and hosted by Feliks Banel

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel, a look back at the legendary D.B. Cooper skyjacking of November 24, 1971. With special guests including FBI Special Ag...   (35:16)
November 20, 2021

Rediscovering a forgotten World War II landmark tucked way in the woods in Shoreline

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: the World War II landmark tucked away in the woods in Shoreline. Then, on “All Over The Map,” can you solv...   (19:55)
November 12, 2021

A ‘behind-the-screens’ tour of Seattle’s Neptune Theatre in honor of its centennial

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: touring Seattle's Neptune Theatre in honor of its centennial. Then, on “All Over The Map,” a new Northwest...   (18:30)
November 5, 2021

Local museum brings rare vintage locomotive home to King County

On this episode of The Resident Historian with Feliks Banel: Northwest Railway Museums brings a locomotive home. Then, on “All Over The Map,” one of Washington’s...   (18:39)