Cascade of History

Feliks Banel

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.

  1. BONUS EPISODE: Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum to Permanently Close in September

    1d ago

    BONUS EPISODE: Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum to Permanently Close in September

    Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Patrick J. Sullivan, board secretary of the Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum at Fort Warden near Port Townsend, Washington. In this conversation, Mr. Sullivan shares the news about the Coast Artillery Museum's imminent closure; after 50 years, the organization's board has voted to sunset its museum facility at Fort Worden, which will permanently close after Labor Day Weekend 2026. Mr. Sullivan explains that volunteers are harder and harder to come by and that revenue from cruise ship passengers has dropped off, and thus the board has chosen to cease operations of the museum, which was founded in 1976. In the years before World War I, Fort Worden was part of the historic "triangle of fire" - along with nearby Fort Casey and Fort Flagler - of coast artillery protecting Puget Sound from incursions of enemy vessels. CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Patrick J. Sullivan on Monday, June 8, 2026. Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064873562589 Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum's web page: https://coastartillery.org/ Fort Worden Historical State Park web page: https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/fort-worden-historical-state-park Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station 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. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

    32 min
  2. BONUS EPISODE: First Fruits - The Lewellings and the Birth of the Pacific Coast Fruit Industry

    1d ago

    BONUS EPISODE: First Fruits - The Lewellings and the Birth of the Pacific Coast Fruit Industry

    On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks Linda Ziedrich, author of “First Fruits: The Lewellings and the Birth of the Pacific Coast Fruit Industry.” The book is published by Oregon State University Press in Corvallis, Oregon. Ziedrich spent several years researching the peripatetic Lewelling family and their mid-19th century migration from North Carolina, to Indiana, to Iowa and to Oregon and California. All along the way, the Lewelling brothers cultivated fruit trees, developed hybrid varieties and created a major and enduring (if nowadays somewhat hidden) legacy. More information about "First Fruits: The Lewellings and the Birth of the Pacific Coast Fruit Industry" from OSU Press: https://osupress.oregonstate.edu/book/first-fruits Author Linda Ziedrich will give a talk about her book on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 7pm Pacific Time at the Museum of the Oregon Territory in Oregon City, Oregon as part of the museum’s “Look Back” series. Author Event at in Oregon City on Thursday, June 11, 2026: https://clackamashistory.org/cchs-events-calendar/2023/11/2/look-back-lecture-history-first-fruits-june-11 Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station 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. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

    47 min
  3. Ep. 149: ENCORE BROADCAST "Roll On, Kalakala" with Jon Pontrello and Jack Broom

    1d ago

    Ep. 149: ENCORE BROADCAST "Roll On, Kalakala" with Jon Pontrello and Jack Broom

    Feliks Banel's guests on this very special ENCORE BROADCAST of CASCADE OF HISTORY are singer/songwriter Jon Pontrello and retired Seattle Times journalist (and maritime lyricist) Jack Broom. Jon performs several of his original songs of the sea on this episode, including a tribute to Peter Bevis, the late Seattle artist who brought home the old streamline ferry KALAKALA from Ketchikan in 1998. Jon also performs "Roll On, Kalakala" - a song based on "Roll On, Columbia" for which Jack Broom wrote special lyrics in 1998. Both Jon and Jack share the story of that song and how it was lost and then found, and how Jack wrote new lyrics to reflect the ultimately sad fate of the old ferry. We also hear get a live report from roving correspondent Ken Zick setting the record straight regarding Merchant's Café, before Jon plays a few more songs, and we listen to an old recording of "Ballad of the Cathlamet," another song for which Jack Broom wrote the lyrics. Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory Links to additional info related to this episode include: Jon Pontrello’s website: https://jonpontrello.com/ Jack Broom’s page at The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/author/jack-broom/ Merchant’s Café website: https://merchantscafeandsaloon.com/ This LIVE broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was originally presented at 8pm Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, January 12, 2025 via SPACE 101.1 FM and streaming live 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. The encore broadcast was presented on Sunday, June 7, 2026. 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. "LIKE" the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

    1 hr
  4. Ep. 148: LIVE BROADCAST from Heritage Day in Historic Black Diamond, WA

    3d ago

    Ep. 148: LIVE BROADCAST from Heritage Day in Historic Black Diamond, WA

    Feliks Banel's guests on this special LIVE REMOTE BROADCAST of CASCADE OF HISTORY from Heritage Day in Black Diamond, Washington include Bill Kombol of the WHEN COAL WAS KING history column for the Voice of the Valley, President George Washington, Zach Pratt of Black Diamond Historical Museum, Katie Garcher of Black Diamond Mine Regional Preserve, and Sherrie Evans of the Black Diamond Historical Museum. This special broadcast was presented live from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Pacific Time on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory Links to additional info include: Black Diamond Historical Museum: https://www.blackdiamondmuseum.org/ Bill Kombol's WHEN COAL WAS KING History Column: https://voiceofthevalley.com/author/billkombol/ George Washington: https://georgewashingtonspeaks.com/ Zachary Pratt's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@pnwadventurequest/featured Black Diamond Mine Regional Preserve in Nortonville, California: https://www.ebparks.org/parks/black-diamond Special thanks to Sherrie Evans of Black Diamond Historical Museum for inviting us to do this live broadcast. Thanks also to Ken Zick, CASCADE OF HISTORY's field producer and roving correspondent, and to Benjamin Warren of SPACE 101.1 FM for running the board back at the station. CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station 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. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

    2 hr
  5. BONUS EPISODE: Grassroots Group Saves Crown Hill Cemetery - What Comes Next?

    Jun 1

    BONUS EPISODE: Grassroots Group Saves Crown Hill Cemetery - What Comes Next?

    Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Dr. Kate Burrows of the grassroots preservation organization in North Seattle called "Save Crown Hill Cemetery." Dr. Burrows founded the group with neighbors in December 2025. In this conversation, Dr. Burrows shares the good news - that her group's research and other work has apparently eliminated the threatened subdividing and development of a portion of historic Crown Hill Cemetery, which originally dates to 1903. She also outlines the work ahead, as the grassroots community group will to try and help secure the cemetery's future. CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Dr. Kate Burrows on Monday, June 1, 2026. Earlier BONUS EPISODE about Crown Hill Cemetery: https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-episode-save-crownhill Save Crown Hill Cemetery's website: https://savecrownhill.carrd.co/ Save Crown Hill Cemetery's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585444495150 Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station 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. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

    36 min
  6. BONUS EPISODE: 1894 Disappearance of the "IVANHOE" - and of Frederic James Grant - with Fred Grant V

    May 28

    BONUS EPISODE: 1894 Disappearance of the "IVANHOE" - and of Frederic James Grant - with Fred Grant V

    Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Frederic James Grant V, descendant of Fred Grant, the Seattle author, editor, historian, politician and man-about-town who disappeared in 1894 when the IVANHOE left Seattle for California and was lost at sea. In this conversation, Frederic James Grant V shares the story of his ambitious ancestor Frederic James Grant I, and surprisingly solves at least one small part of the mystery of the disappearance of the IVANHOE. CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Frederic James Grant V on Thursday, May 28, 2026. Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station 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. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

    37 min
  7. BONUS CLAMMY AND FISHY EPISODE: In Memory of Paul Dorpat, 1938 - 2026

    May 27

    BONUS CLAMMY AND FISHY EPISODE: In Memory of Paul Dorpat, 1938 - 2026

    Re-posting this CLAMMY AND FISHY BONUS EPISODE in memory of beloved Seattle historian Paul Dorpat, October 28, 1938 to May 27, 2026. Anyone who works in history, public history or anything related to local history in the Pacific Northwest stands on the shoulders of the kind-hearted, brilliant and very funny Paul Dorpat. He was truly one of the good guys. REST IN PEACE. ORIGINAL EPISODE DESCRIPTION: On this CLAMMY AND FISHY BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY from November 2025, Feliks Banel (clam)digs into the audio archives to tell the twisted tale of the Ivar’s Billboard Hoax, aka "Underwatergate." Though, once you've listened, it may have you wondering if there was ever hoax at all, or if it was actually some kind of elaborate coverup. In 2009, Seattle-based Ivar’s seafood restaurants released a series of videos documenting the search for and discovery of UNDERWATER BILLBOARDS in Puget Sound. As the story goes, they were placed in the 1950s by restaurateur and showman Ivar Haglund to reach burgeoning submarine traffic. The 2009 undersea search was all very exciting, and many were completely hooked. But then, Jim Dever, with KING 5's Evening Magazine at the time - and still a great friend of CASCADE OF HISTORY - had the exclusive exposé, produced in cooperation with Ivar’s, and featuring Ivar’s CEO Bob Donegan. As Dever's report made it seem, the whole thing was a brilliant stunt that fooled a lot of people - but it angered a few, too, who thought Ivar's had gone too far. Fast forward to November 2015, and naïve history radio correspondent Feliks Banel set out to tell the backstory with help from Paul Dorpat. Dorpat is a beloved historian - and friend and biographer of Ivar - who had served as official historian of the vintage underwater billboard hunt. When the hoax had been revealed in 2009, Dorpat – longtime author of the weekly “Now & Then” history column - was criticized by many, and even temporarily suspended by The Seattle Times for his role in the stunt. As you listen to Paul Dorpat's 2015 version of events, try to keep clam. 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.

    26 min
4.8
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

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.

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