Hunting the Wild Man of the Wynoochee

Hunting the Wild Man of the Wynoochee

On this episode of the Washington Our Home podcast, we’ll be trekking deep into the forests of western Washington looking for a killer and a victim – who many say are one and the same. And he’s certainly one of the finest woodsmen Washington State has ever produced. We’re hunting a man named John Tornow – otherwise known as the Wild Man of the Wynoochee. In 1911, the misunderstood misanthrope

Read More

The Life and Death of Arthur “Bud” Holland

The Life and Death of Arthur “Bud” Holland

On June 24, 1994, Bud Holland crashed one of the biggest, most powerful aircraft ever built in the history of mankind, sending up a fireball that darkened the sky, leaving his kids fatherless and his wife a widow…and taking three members of his flight crew with him. Some people call it a tragic culmination of circumstances that took the life of one of our country’s bravest. Many others call it

Read More

Finding the Ship That Flew

Finding the Ship That Flew

There are dozens of things to see and do on the Lewis and Clark Trail Highway in southwest Washington (see here and here for just a few examples), but surely one of the most unique lies just outside a tiny berg called Knappton on the bank of the Columbia River. If you head west from Knappton Cove you might spot a rusty barge parked in a shallow bay called Hungry Harbor. There is

Read More

Visit Old Alder Before it Vanishes…Again

Visit Old Alder Before it Vanishes…Again

The term “ghost town” in today’s time has evolved from its more literal interpretation to describe any small town that has been abandoned or vacated. In fact, there’s a whole culture of folks dedicated to discovering and exploring ghost towns and their history. Most of the time, however, towns devoid of inhabitants have nowhere to grow but older. Not so for old Alder. Join your fearless field guide Erich Ebel

Read More

The man with the golden gun

The man with the golden gun

In 1989, one of the most brazen heists in Washington history occurred at the height of the state centennial celebration. Worse yet, it happened right under the nose of then-Secretary of State Ralph Munro. The thief – or thieves – simply walked into his office, and walked out with a first-issue, limited edition, gold-plated, commemorative .44 Magnum revolver made by Ruger especially for the centennial. And it wouldn’t be seen

Read More

Of Pork and Politics: Washington in the Pig War

Of Pork and Politics: Washington in the Pig War

We’re all familiar with the historic events that led to the American Revolution, when the American Colonies seceded from rule by Great Britain. Somewhat less well known are the reasons behind the second war between England and the U.S…the War of 1812. But it’s unlikely you can find very many people who can tell you about the third war between these two superpowers, which took place – or, more accurately,

Read More

The Deadliest Bridge Collapse in Washington State History

The Deadliest Bridge Collapse in Washington State History

On Wednesday, January 3rd, 1923, Cowlitz County Commissioner-elect Benjamin Barr sat in the back seat of his vehicle, when his driver – Arleigh Millard – felt an unsettling shudder through the springs in his seat. Miller glanced nervously at Barr through the rear-view mirror, unable to move the vehicle forward. The pair were stuck atop the Allen Street Bridge here in Kelso, Washington, when seconds later it all came crashing

Read More

Visiting Walla Walla’s Historic Marcus Whitman Hotel

Visiting Walla Walla’s Historic Marcus Whitman Hotel

Visitors to eastern Washington often find themselves drawn to the rich viticultural tasting opportunities found in Walla Walla wine country. There are literally dozens of wineries, tasting rooms and wine bars dotting the historic downtown area. It’s a superb example of a rural agricultural community that has revitalized its downtown core through business and tourism development. And the best place to stay in Walla Walla, by far, is the Marcus Whitman Hotel. Your fearless field guide Erich Ebel escorts you through the historic halls and into the palatial parlor on this exclusive Washington Our Home tour.

Columbia Gorge Overlook and the Wanapum Indian Tribe

Columbia Gorge Overlook and the Wanapum Indian Tribe

Until recent times, the Wanapum Indians inhabited the banks of the Columbia River in Washington State from Beverly Gap to Pasco, about 75 miles south. The Wanapums were a very religious and peaceful people, living on venison, berries, roots, and fish…expertly caught using nets, spears and woven willow traps. Yet today, the Wanapums are virtually extinct. What happened to the tribe that once numbered in the thousands, and what’s left of their culture?