About this episode
Feliks Banel's guests on this special LIVE REMOTE BROADCAST of CASCADE OF HISTORY from historic Fort Steilacoom in Pierce County, Washington include Walter Neary, board secretary, and Claire Keller-Scholz, board president, of Historic Fort Steilacoom Association, on the history of the fort; Lt. Colonel Erik Flint, president of the Friends of Lewis Army Museum at JBLM on the recent reversal by the U.S. Army of their 2025 decision to close Lewis Army Museum; historians Mizu Sugimura and Michael Sullivan on taking history personally in Tacoma and Pierce County; and Nicholas Vann - who was confirmed last week by Governor Bob Ferguson as director of the Washington State Historical Society and Washington State History Museum - giving his first media interview since getting the job.
Musical breaks were performed on fiddle by the multi-talented Claire Keller-Scholz.
This special live broadcast originated from one of the historic 19th century buildings at Fort Steilacoom on the grounds of what's now Western State Hospital. The broadcast took place from 8-9pm Pacific Daylight Time on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Special thanks to Walter Neary for hosting the CASCADE OF HISTORY crew at Fort Steilacoom. Thanks, as always, to Mitch Etter of SPACE 101.1 FM for running the board back at the station.
Historic Fort Steilacoom Association website:
https://historicfortsteilacoom.org/
Friends of Lewis Army Museum website:
https://lewisarmymuseum.com/friends-of-the-fort-lewis-military-museum/
Michael Sullivan's Tacoma HIstory website:
https://tacomahistory.live/
Mizu Sugimura article on HistoryLink:
https://www.historylink.org/File/21136
Washington State Historical Society/Washington State History Museum website:
https://www.washingtonhistory.org/event/coffee-with-director-26/
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.
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