Washington Our Home

Washington State's "Triangle of Fire" was part of a broader coastal defense system designed to protect the Salish Sea from military incursion during the late 1800s and early 1900s. And while its name summons visions of an impenetrable barrier, its use in actual military action was minimal - if not nonexistent - becoming essentially obsolete the moment it was completed. Still, Washington's impressive network of forts-turned-state parks add a facet of fascination and fantasy to the lore embedded in our state's storied coastline. I'm Erich Ebel, your fearless field guide to Washington state history, heritage and culture, and on this episode of the podcast, we'll dissect the strategic military defense system established at the turn of the 20th century to protect Puget Sound from naval invasion, and we'll mull over an idea I have that could help reignite public affinity for Washington's Triangle of Fire. Join me at www.Patreon.com/WashingtonOurHome to watch the full episode!

In central Washington, between Grand Coulee Dam and Moses Lake is a place called Dry Falls, one of the most visually beautiful and geologically unique places in the world. It gets its name, not from being one of the hotter, drier climates in Washington - though as any visitor in mid-July would argue it certainly is - No…it's called Dry Falls because where once flowed ten times the combined amount of water of all the rivers in the world…today, there is nothing. In fact, during its peak in the last Ice Age, the massive waterfall was five times the width and three times the height of the famous Niagara Falls. I'm Erich Ebel, your fearless field guide to Washington State history, heritage and culture, and today we'll take a trip to Dry Falls. It's one of my favorite places to visit in all of Washington, and we're going to explore its fascinating history - including a narrative tour through the storied Blue Rhino cave. All that, plus some fast facts and trivia coming up on this episode of Washington Our Home.

Mount Rainier is easily one of the most iconic symbols representing Washington state to the world…even though only two fifths of the state is actually considered mountainous. But as its snow-capped peak rises boldly above the western and central parts of Washington—its serene silhouette belies a history shaped by violent geological forces, mystical Native traditions, stalwart pioneering spirit, and valiant environmental efforts—all culminating in the creation and legacy of Mount Rainier National Park. I'm Erich Ebel, your fearless field guide to Washington state history, heritage and culture, and this is the story of Mount Rainier, right here in Washington, our home.

Over the course of just a few months in 1902, Harry Tracy escaped one of the toughest prisons in the Pacific Northwest, gunned down guards and deputies, outsmarted posses, and vanished into forests and wheat fields as hundreds hunted him. To some, he was a monster. To others, he was a tragic figure — a man born too late, chasing a dying dream of freedom that could only end in blood. But legends often gloss over the grime behind the glory. Today we strip away the romanticized veneer and look plainly at a man whose path of violence left shattered lives, terrorized families, and a reputation built not on heroism but on cold-blooded calculation. A man driven by self-preservation at any cost. And in the end, his life was exactly what he’d promised it would be: short, violent, and uncompromising. I'm Erich Ebel, your fearless field guide to Washington state history, heritage and culture, and this is the pursuit of Harry Tracy in Washington Our Home.

Battling violent storms, forest fire smoke, head winds and fatigue, a pair of Spokane, Washington, aviators flew nonstop across America and back in 1929 to establish a new world record. Their Buhl CA-6 sesquiplane, named Spokane Sun-God, was the first airplane to make a non-stop transcontinental round-trip flight. Sponsored by the National Air Derby Association along with Texaco, who supplied the gas, Buhl Aircraft Company, who provided the plane, and many Spokane citizens and businessmen, pilot Nick Mamer and mechanic Art Walker took to the skies at 6 p.m. and headed west into the sunset from Felts Field on August 15th as a crowd of thousands looked on.

I am proud to announce the publication of my new book, Exploring Maritime Washington—a History and Guide. Each of the places covered in its pages has a connection to Washington’s maritime history, whether a popular tourist destination or a hidden gem known only to longtime locals. Exploring Maritime Washington provides visitors with a fun and easy way to enjoy each community while learning about Washington’s nautical history. By visiting and experiencing Washington’s special maritime features—museums, ships, lighthouses, waterfronts and all—the heritage traveler can obtain an authentic understanding of maritime Washington’s diverse history and culture.

Before there were roads around the Puget Sound region, there were rivers. Before the stagecoaches, there were Salish canoes. And before the planes, the trains, and the automobiles...there was the water, and the ships that traveled upon it. By the 1860s, there were hundreds of steamers crisscrossing the Puget Sound, every day, all day. There were, in fact, so many ships upon the water at any given time, that an article in the Tacoma Daily Ledger on February 21, 1889, implied that when viewed from a lofty point, the fleet looked like a swarm of mosquitos skimming over the green waters of the Sound. And the nickname stuck.

There are hundreds of different museums scattered far and wide across Washington state. Many of them are focused on the history of their particular city, county, or region. Others feature arguably some of the most interesting, thought-provoking, and unique art and sculpture in the world. And a few have captured more of a niche area, showcasing things like robots, quilts, and puppets. But the thing that binds these varied institutions together is that most of them are members of the Washington Museum Association, a nonprofit organization first conceptualized in 1979. Holding its inaugural meeting the following year in Ellensburg, Washington, the Washington Museum Association was established to represent and serve museums of all types and sizes throughout the state.