Rainy Day History

Washington was one of the first two states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. How did Seattle become a city of stoners? Find out in this bonus episode of Rainy Day History about the history of marijuana legalization in Washington state.

Episode transcript and citations

Learn more:

• Explore related items in the MOHAI collection
• Read John Caldbick's History Link essay https://www.historylink.org/File/10268
• About the podcast Rainy Day History

This episode was researched, written, narrated, and edited by Rian during the 2025 session of History Lab, a summer intensive for high school students interested in local history and storytelling.

This mini-episode is part of a playlist designed to provide a soundtrack to your MOHAI experience. If you're at the museum, we encourage you to pop in some headphones and listen to the introductions and curated songs while you walk through MOHAI's core exhibit, True Northwest: The Seattle Journey. To access the playlist, click on the link below or visit rainydayhistory.org. Part 3 of 3 provides a musical pairing for the World City gallery.

Listen in the Spotify playlist

Access the transcript

Show notes and playlist web player

About the podcast

This mini-episode is part of a playlist designed to provide a soundtrack to your MOHAI experience. If you're at the museum, we encourage you to pop in some headphones and listen to the introductions and curated songs while you walk through MOHAI's core exhibit, True Northwest: The Seattle Journey. To access the playlist, click on the link below or visit rainydayhistory.org. Part 2 of 3 provides a musical pairing for the WWII and Suburban Seattle galleries.

Listen to the playlist in Spotify

Access the transcript

Show notes and playlist web-player

About the podcast

This mini-episode is part of a playlist designed to provide a soundtrack to your MOHAI experience. If you're at the museum, we encourage you to pop in some headphones and listen to the introductions and curated songs while you walk through MOHAI's core exhibit, True Northwest: The Seattle Journey. To access the playlist, click on the link below or visit rainydayhistory.org. Part 1 of 3 provides a musical pairing for the Native Ground gallery.

Listen in the Spotify playlist

Access the transcript

Show notes and playlist web player

About the podcast

What makes Seattle a great place to write and to write about? Learn about three writers past and present whose work has shaped and been shaped by the city. This piece was created by Karly during the 2022 session of History Lab, a summer intensive for high school students interested in local history and storytelling.

Access transcript

Link to show notes

About the podcast

About History Lab

In this bonus episode we have an extended interview from Season 2, Episode 4: Serenity, Surprise, and Delight. Special guest Dr. Paul Kidder, Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University, discusses with our very own Karl on the life and work of Minoru Yamasaki, in particular his style influences and highlighting specific works by him.

Original episode, show notes, and transcript available on our website.

In this bonus episode we have an extended interview from Season 2, Episode 3: The Forgotten World’s Fair. Special guest Anne Jenner, Pacific Northwest Curator at the UW Libraries Special Collections Division, discusses with our very own Annabelle some of her favorite pieces in the collection from the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, some of its more peculiar exhibits, and what it was like for people going to the fair.

Transcripts, show notes, and more on our website. 

It's the final episode of the season! There's no denying it: Seattle is a tech city. After Microsoft moved to the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle area became a hub for computer and internet tech start-ups in the 1990s. Some saw incredible success, while others just weren't able to survive. We'll be looking at the 90s-era and contemporary tech booms, and the effects that large companies like Amazon and Microsoft have had on Seattle.

Plus, hear from special guest Naud Frijlink, Principal Design Manager at Microsoft, about what it's been like working in the sector across multiple decades and cities.

Show notes and transcript available on our website.

Since the 1970s, Capitol Hill has been a home for the LGBTQ+ community in Seattle. Over the decades, LGBTQ+ businesses and services have both contributed to gentrification and been at risk from it. Learn about what it took to grow and build a supportive district for Seattle's LGBTQ+ residents, as we explore the relationship between place and community.

Hear from special guest Ken Shulman, Executive Director of Lambert House, about where queer youth fit into this history and the importance of the neighborhood to the organization.

Show notes and transcript available on our website.

We hope you're ready to rock, because this episode we're diving headfirst into the 1990s Seattle music scene. From grunge, to riot grrrl, to hip hop, learn about how these young artists put Seattle music (and its style) on the map at the same time the Teen Dance Ordinance made all-ages shows nearly impossible to produce.

Our special guest this episode is Tova Gaster, director of outreach for the TeenTix New Guard, Teen Editor with the TeenTix Press Corps, and avid all ages show-goer.

Transcript and show notes available on our website.