History

410 Stories

Secret Seattle

We all got to know our neighborhoods a LOT better during quarantine, but Susanna Ryan went above and beyond. She runs the Seattle Walk Report Instagram account, and has a new book about the hidden history of objects on the city's streets — Secret Seattle.
- Paige Browning
Listen 13 mins
It takes (escaping) a village: Sebastian Junger on the search for freedom, and community

‘Most nights we were the only people in the world who knew where we were. There are many definitions of freedom, but surely that is one of them.’
- John O'Brien
Listen 55 mins
In 'On Juneteenth' Annette Gordon-Reed chronicles hardship and joy on the path to Black freedom

‘Origin stories matter, for individuals, groups of people, and for nations. They inform our sense of self, telling us what kind of people we believe we are, what kind of nation we believe we live in.’
- John O'Brien
Listen 56 mins
May 18th | 100 years of Seattle complaints: Seattle has been dying for a long time

Seattle is dying. Now. Then. Always. We take a look at how every generation gripes about losing their nostalgic 'Old Seattle.' Plus, a recap on Governor Inslee's signing ceremony, which includes some surprise -- and controversial -- vetoes. Lastly, the latest of our ongoing weekly conversations with candidates running for Seattle mayor.
- Bill Radke
Listen 50 mins
May 11th | Why is Washington home to so many nuclear missile subs?

Eight of the nation’s 14 nuclear ballistic submarines are stationed at the U.S. Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. Ross Reynolds talks with reporter Joshua Farley about the history of ballistic missiles in Washington and a revived, 40-year-old plan to build a peace pagoda near the naval base in . Plus, we hear about missing and “recreated” texts from Mayor Jenny Durkan in response to a KUOW records request last year and we continue our weekly conversations with Seattle mayoral candidates.
- Ross Reynolds
Listen 50 mins
How a young Black family fought John L. Scott and changed Seattle

In 1959, at a dentist’s home in Seattle, a housekeeper was told to leave early. Her employers were hosting a neighborhood meeting. Before she left, she overheard their discussion: They were plotting ways to prevent a young Black doctor and his family from moving into the Modernist house across the street. They had a secret weapon: real estate titan John L. Scott.
- Isolde Raftery
Listen 9 mins
Pacific NW was once a ski jumping hotbed, as told in new book and museum exhibit

Few among us have tried our luck at competitive ski jumping, and there is no shame in that considering these skiers can reach speeds around 60 mph before they take flight. But there's something riveting about the daring sport even for casual onlookers. The Pacific Northwest was once a "hotbed" for Nordic jumping as detailed in a new book and a parallel museum exhibit.
- Tom Banse
Billy Frank Jr. in, Marcus Whitman out as part of U.S. Capitol statue swap

In a time of reckoning about historical monuments, Washington state lawmakers found a bipartisan path to change out a prominent statue. A bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday begins the process of putting a statue of the late tribal treaty rights activist Billy Frank Jr. in the U.S. Capitol.
- Tom Banse
Listen 2 mins
New monument at Washington Capitol will honor Black pioneer George Bush and family

Washington’s sprawling Capitol campus features war memorials, a granite monument to fallen police officers, a replica of a Roman-style fountain and a brass sundial.
- Austin Jenkins
Listen 2 mins
February 11th | It's the mask on the first date for me

Should you take off your mask on a first date? Vanishing Seattle celebrates and documents the landmarks of yesterday and today. And we have our weekly conversation with Mayor Durkan.
- Bill Radke
Listen 52 mins

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