Podcasts about fort stevens

The Western Allies' demand that the Axis Powers unconditionally surrender was essential to keep the Soviets and the Chinese in the war while enduring incredible losses, to keep up the morale of the western allies, and to achieve the elimination of the Nazi regime and reforming Japanese society. 

Summer means big crowds at Oregon's busiest state parks, places like Silver Falls and Fort Stevens, which draw millions of visitors each year. But what about those other parks? On this week's episode of Peak Northwest, we take a road trip to some of the least visited state parks in Oregon, all clustered together in a rural, remote part of northeast Oregon. Here, you won't find crowds – or, at some spots, much of anything. Here are some highlights from this week's show: Where exactly are these little state parks? Finding pockets of beauty at Red Bridge. Which parks might not be worth your time. A delightful afternoon at Catherine Creek State Park. Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming up this week we have another 4 battles including 2 that reach the doorstep of Washington D.C.  Our first battle is the battle of Sappony Church on June 28th, 1864, which was part of the Wilson-Kautz raid to take out Confederate supply lines.  The first battle of Ream's Station was again part of the Wilson-Kautz raid and took place June 29th, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.  Then we move to the battle of Monocacy on July 9th as Jubal Early attempts to divert Union forces away from the Petersburg siege and make his way to D.C.  Our final battle of the episode is a big one for the Union. After their defeat at Monocacy the Union must now make sure Early doesn't march into Washington D.C. at the battle of Fort Stevens on July 11th-12th with the Capital building in Early's sight.  Subscribe to our YouTube! youtube.com/@bangdangnetwork

Whale Watch Week officially kicked off on Tuesday, a chance to catch gray whales as they pass along the Oregon coast during a migration which stretches from the warm lagoons of Baja, Mexico to the icy waters of Alaska. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department hosts the whale watching event twice a year, including most recently last December, when it took place for the first time in person since the start of the pandemic. For the spring event, 17 viewing sites have been set up from Fort Stevens near Astoria to Harris Beach near the California border. At each of the sites the public can explore interactive exhibits, grab a pair of binoculars and get help from trained volunteers to spot the marine mammals traveling about a mile off the coast, some with recently birthed calves in tow. Peter McBride is a park ranger with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department based at Beverly Beach, near Newport. He joins us to talk about Whale Watch Week and what visitors can expect to see during the event which ends this Sunday.

During World War II, most of the fighting was overseas, but there were a few times that the war made its way a little too close to home. This mini episode will tell you about five times the U.S. mainland came very close to disaster. _____ SOURCES Andrews, Evan. “5 Attacks on U.S. Soil during World War II.” History.com. Accessed March 11, 2023. https://www.history.com/news/5-attacks-on-u-s-soil-during-world-war-ii. Associated Press. “Film Shows Spy Defendant Examining War Records of U.S.” The Buffalo News (Buffalo, New York), September 18, 1941. www.newspapers.com. Associated Press. “Huge Paper Balloon, Bearing Japanese Incendiary, Found in Woods Near Kalispell by Two Wood Choppers.” The Independent Record (Helena, Montana), December 19, 1944. www.newspapers.com. Associated Press. “Six Nazi Saboteurs Die In Chair; 2 Spared For Aid to Government.” The Daily Times (Davenport, Iowa), August 8, 1942. www.newspapers.com. “Bombardment of Ellwood.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, February 26, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardment_of_Ellwood. “Bombardment of Fort Stevens.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, December 21, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardment_of_Fort_Stevens. “Duquesne Spy Ring.” FBI. FBI, May 18, 2016. https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/duquesne-spy-ring. “Fritz Joubert Duquesne.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, March 6, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Joubert_Duquesne. Magazine, Smithsonian. “In 1945, a Japanese Balloon Bomb Killed Six Americans, Five of Them Children, in Oregon.” Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, May 22, 2019. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1945-japanese-balloon-bomb-killed-six-americansfive-them-children-oregon-180972259/. “Nazi Saboteurs and George Dasch.” FBI. FBI, May 18, 2016. https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/nazi-saboteurs-and-george-dasch. “The Saboteur Story .” JSTOR. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40067181. Staff, Indy. “Submarine Shelling of Ellwood Oil Field in 1942.” The Santa Barbara Independent, October 2, 2011. https://www.independent.com/2011/10/02/submarine-shelling-ellwood-oil-field-1942/. “This Day in History - What Happened Today - History.” History.com. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history. Tolbert, Kathryn. “When Japanese Balloons Threatened American Skies during World War II.” The Washington Post. WP Company, February 23, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/02/03/japanese-balloon-bombs-world-war/. United Press. “Axis Submarine Shells Oregon Shoreline.” La Grande Observer (La Grande, Oregon), June 22, 1942. www.newspapers.com. United Press. “Planes and Ships In Big Hunt For Japanese Sub Along Coast.” Star Free Press (Ventura, California), February 24, 1942. www.newspapers.com. “When Japan Launched Killer Balloons in World War II - History.” Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.history.com/news/japans-killer-wwii-balloons. Wilma, David. “Japanese Submarine Shells Fort Stevens at the Mouth of the Columbia River on June 21, 1942.” HistoryLink.org, February 8, 2005. https://www.historylink.org/File/7217. SOUND SOURCES Al Jolson. “I'll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music. Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music. Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.

On July 12, 1864, the Battle of Fort Stevens threatens Washington, D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you had to guess which Oregon state park sees the biggest crowds, you might try busy destinations like Silver Falls or Smith Rock, or maybe big coastal parks like Fort Stevens or Beverly Beach.You probably wouldn't think of Valley of the Rogue, which was far and away the busiest state park in 2021, as it has been for years.On this week's episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Nathan Seable, the man in charge at Oregon's busiest state park site, to find out why so many people visit – and why most of them are missing out on the southern Oregon park's best attractions.Here are some highlights from this week's show:Where and what is Valley of the Rogue State Park?Home to a busy rest stop, much of the park is overlooked.Valley of the Rogue is also one of the busiest state park campgrounds in the region.The Rogue River offers great recreational opportunities in the park. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, the team discuss attacks on the United States mainland during WWII.Sources for this episode include -https://aoghs.org/petroleum-in-war/wwii-sub-attacks-oilfield/https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/exhibits/ww2/Pages/threats-bombs.aspxhttps://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/balloon_bombs/#.YZmlS2DMJPYhttps://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5374039.pdfhttps://www.beachesmuseum.org/operation-pastorius/https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/nazi-saboteurs-and-george-dasch

Compassion is one of our most admirable traits. And when it's combined with the enlightened use of power, the results can be truly inspiring.  The following story about Abraham Lincoln is a classic example. Told by his personal stenographer, who witnessed it first-hand, it presents an uplifting portrait of the noble heart and keen mind of the great leader.             As an aside, Lincoln was not a good-looking man. He was widely lampooned as the “ape from Illinois,” and Nathaniel Hawthorne once called him the homeliest man he ever saw. Bear this in mind when you get to the end of the story, as it will put a cherry on the top of this deeply moving tale.           So, according to the stenographer, in the summer of 1864, here's what happened -           As we approached the office of the Secretary of War, the President pointed to a woman sitting in the waiting room and whispered, “Find out who that woman is and what is the object of her visit.” Then he passed into Stanton's private office.           I saw a tall, gaunt woman in a plain, calico dress, whose eyes almost frightened me, the anxiety and despair in them were so great. I heard her whisper to a passing orderly, “I must see Mr. Stanton at once.”           “You will have to wait your turn, my good woman,” he coldly responded. I beckoned her aside and said cautiously, “Perhaps Madame, if you tell me your business, I can obtain an interview more rapidly.” With a grateful look she stammered, “My son is to - to be shot today by sentence of the court-martial.”           I requested details. “My boy risked his life in every engagement of the Vermont Regiment for two long years. He is all that is left to me. Speak to Mr. Stanton for me. Hurry! Executions nearly all take place in the forenoon. Hurry!”           “I will speak to one who may aid you,” I said, but didn't mention the President's name, though I knew she would have a much better chance with him than with the iron-faced, glass-eyed man who sat with him discussing the destinies of the Republic.           I stepped up to Madison, Stanton's office assistant and said, “Rap on the door of the Secretary's office.”           With extreme hesitancy, he did and I could see him shiver in his boots as Stanton's sharp voice shouted, “Damn you, come in.” At this moment the Vermont woman flew through the passageway and entered the dread sanctum of Edwin Stanton. Standing before him she said, “As you love God, give me the life of my son!”           “How dare you interrupt me, Madame!”           “How dare I interrupt! How dare I interrupt! My boy fought through the battles of the Peninsula, at Antietam, at Fredericksburg, at Gettysburg. He was wounded twice, enlisted again and now has been sentenced as a bounty jumper.”           “Ah, Private Charles Allen Putnam of the seventh Vermont,” responded the Secretary in frigid tones. “Madame, I'm sorry for you but I do my duty. Don't distress me by an appeal that is useless.”           Here, the impressive, but kindly tones of the Chief Magistrate of the nation intruded upon the conversation.  “Don't be in such a hurry, Stanton. Listen to any woman pleading for her son's life. You say your son, Mrs. Putnam, fought for his country for nearly 3 years? ‘Tis strange he is a deserter now.”           “Not a deserter.  He is simply a boy made foolish by a woman.” As she said these words, she turned to see the kindly eyes and Western face of the President and gave a sigh of hope, knowing she was addressing the supreme head of the nation.           “God has sent you here Mr. Lincoln, to hear my prayer!” She broke forth. “I am a widow up in Vermont. I have given seven sons to death for their country.  Will you take the eighth, the youngest one from me?”           “Seven sons?” The voice of Lincoln had grown as sad as that of the woman addressing him. “Seven sons? Stanton, you hear that? Seven sons!”           “Yes. All volunteered from our farm in Vermont. And this one, all that is left to me, he came home on furlough two months ago, and there saw the woman who has brought him to this. He returned to Washington and six days ago, he was arrested as a deserter. It was only to get a kiss or two from the fool girl and go back and fight again. Please listen to me Mr. President. Seven sons dead and this one to be shot because he wanted to kiss the girl he loves.           “Stanton, you must listen to this patriotic lady who was given up more than either your or I for this country,” muttered Lincoln, his voice husky and his sad eyes filled with tears.           But Stanton wasn't listening. As the woman was speaking, after one quick glance at Lincoln's sympathetic face, the Secretary of War had written a few lines hurriedly.  Then he stepped to the door and handed an envelope to Madison saying, “Immediate! Tell the orderly to hurry!” Having done this, he now turned back to the President.           “Listen to this lady, Stanton,” remarked Mr. Lincoln, “and see if there isn't virtue in her appeal for some revision, some commutation of her son's sentence.”           “Mr. President, I have sworn to myself, for the salvation of the American army, that no convicted deserter shall have pardon or commutation of sentence. It is vital that we stop bounty jumping in the present status of the recruitment.”           Overcome with despair, the woman moaned, “Mercy Mr. Stanton!” Then she turned to Lincoln and said, “Mr. President. as you love your own offspring, listen to me. You have a kinder heart!'           “Recite your case to Mr. Stanton. I do not wish to interfere, if possible,” he replied sadly. “Tell me what he says.” With these words, fortunately, he stepped out of the office into the passageway where I had been standing.  “I believe her honest Vermont face. Women like her do not lie,” he sighed. “But it's awful hard bucking up against Stanton.”           Emboldened by this, I whispered “Mr. President. if you have any intention of pardoning that man, you have no time to lose.”             “What you mean?” asked Lincoln.                “I mean, that if you do not act immediately, the sentence will be carried out before executive clemency can reach the condemned. An orderly just galloped away from this building toward Fort de Russy, the execution site.  He carried with him the few lines Mr. Stanton wrote while the woman was appealing to you.”           “Well, I'm damned,” said the President, growing taller and his eyes commencing to beam with an expression that everyone knew meant business.           In a few long strides the President stepped into the telegraphic office of the War Department and said to the head clerk, “Call up Fort de Russey at once.”           “I can't, Sir. The wire is in current use, Mr. President, on very important orders to the Sixth Corps,” he replied.           “Hold the dispatch!”            “Mr. President. It has Mr. Stanton's personal orders that it be put through immediately.”           “Stop the dispatch!  I direct it!”           It was done instantly.           “Now!” the president commanded. “Telegraph the Provost Marshal in charge of Pvt. Charles Putnam of the seventh Vermont, sentenced to execution today. Inform him, under the direct, personal command of the President of the United States, to disregard all other orders and bring the prisoner to the War Department immediately. Inform him that this dispatch is given to you directly, by Abraham Lincoln in person, and get his acknowledgment by telegraph of the receipt of this order. I will wait here until I receive your statement that the answer is received.”           Five minutes later, the wire came acknowledging the order and stating that the prisoner would be brought to the War Department forthwith. We returned to Stanton's private office, where we found the hopelessly despairing woman pleading with the inflexible, draconian Secretary of War.           “You have concluded of course, Stanton to at least postpone the execution of this man until you can make further investigations?” Lincoln observed, judiciously.           “On the contrary, Mr. President,” replied Stanton. “In order to avoid discussion of this matter, you having promised me yourself, in such cases to withhold the pardoning power and leave it entirely in my hands, I have already taken such steps that discussion is ...            “Discussion is never useless as long as a man is alive,” Lincoln interrupted sharply,           “You intend to pardon my son, Mr. President!” screamed the woman.           “If what you have said to me is substantially true, I do, Madame.”            “God forever bless you!” she exclaimed.           “Now, my good woman,” he said calmly, “I will listen to the details of your story.”            Half sobbing, yet with a glimmer of hope in her eyes, she said her sons, inspired by her own words and notwithstanding that their father was dead, had one by one gone to the front and lost their lives. Charlie, the last one alive, the son of her old age, after reenlisting, gave his entire bounty to her, for her support in case he didn't return from battle, He had spent his furlough with her in the old farm in Stowe Vermont.           “Such a happy month. But Mr. President, there he met a girl that he took to powerfully, and she, this fool girl who has brought him death, loved him like an idiot. He returned and fought at the battle of Fort Stevens. They say you were there, Mr. President.  You saw my son fight. You saw the 6th Corp drive the rebels out of Maryland and run them back into Virginia and save this capital.           “My boy was wounded in the battle,” she continued, her tearful eyes filling with more hope. “Have my boy brought here and I will show you the unhealed wound upon his arm. The records will prove that he risked his life for the union not a week ago. “Then that fool country girl came trolloping down to Washington and beguiled him. Charlie couldn't get leave to come to see her.  So, fool that he was and cajoled by her pleadings, he left the fort to have a day of bliss with her and he was soon captured by the Secret Service without a pass. I was telegraphed and came and found him sentenced to death. Yesterday, I saw him and he gave me his word of honor that he had not intended to desert. He was about to return to the fort on the very day he was seized.            “My son has never lied to me in his life, Mr. Stanton.  He is no bounty jumper. If so, I would say execute him. Though I bore him, he is not my son. But he is, and has been true to his country. And he's the only one left to me.”           Stanton just stared at her blankly, knowing he had already sealed the boy's fate. Suddenly I heard the clack of a military escort in the hall. A moment later Madison entered with a curious grin on his face and declared, “The Provost Marshal from Fort de Russey - with a prisoner!”           “What? Impossible!” exclaimed Stanton, springing up astounded.           Covered with dust from the ride, a cavalry captain entered. Saluting the shocked secretary, he reported, “I have the president's direct personal order to present to him in your office, the prisoner condemned to execution today, private Charles Allen Putnam of the seventh Vermont.” With this, four troopers brought in the manacled prisoner, a young Vermont giant, with a haggard face, fair-haired and gray eyed, like his mother. In a daze, he looked around the office.           “Mother!” the boy gasped.           “My son!” the woman screamed and took him in her arms.           Then she tore the blue sleeve from his arm to show the awful wound inflicted by a Confederate bullet.           “See, Mr. Stanton, “this is proof that he risked his life for his country. I have a certificate from all his officers stating that he did his duty gallantly. And I have the affidavit of the girl that he told her he must leave her to return to command. He has been returned to my arms. You cannot take him from me to murder him!”           Stanton stared at her dumbstruck. Through all this, the President had been hastily writing. In another moment, he stood up and handed her a slip of paper. “The free pardon of your son,” he said, simply.             Stanton turned to the captain. “You received my clear command earlier today?” he asked sharply.             “Yes Sir, I did,” he replied. “But it was superseded by the direct order of the President of the United States, making it the highest military priority. It stayed the execution and ordered the prisoner to be brought here.”           “Stanton, that's where I had a little joke on you,” chuckled the President. “You're not up to the modern telegraph, Mr. Secretary.  Electricity beats horse flesh!”             Mr. Lincoln then turned to the Private and said, “Young man, your sentence to death by court martial acts as a discharge from the army of the United States. My pardon has made it an honorable discharge. Go home and support and cherish your noble mother, who has given you a second life.”           Tears welled up in the deep-set eyes of the backwoods President as the mother, speechless and half-fainting, was escorted out by her freed son, whose manacles had been removed.            Mr. President,” said the Secretary. “This action of yours will produce 1,000 deserters in the Army of the Potomac.”           “I don't care if it does,” replied Lincoln. “It has made one less broken heart in this country. Perhaps two. The fool girl who lured that young fellow away from his duty loves him also.” Then the President sighed, “Oh, if I could send all my boys in blue home to their mothers. Yes, and all the Johnnies, too.”           Suddenly, his voice grew commanding. “We'll discuss the details of the reinforcements to be sent to Grant this afternoon,” he said, looking the Secretary in the eye. Then added curtly, “Good-bye, Mr. Stanton.”           When we were outside, the President remarked, “I had a pretty hard time in there didn't I? Stanton makes a bully good Secretary of War. The only trouble with him is he shows no more caring for the boys than an alligator who buries a pile of eggs in the sand and thinks he's done with his duties to his family.”           Later on, I was told that as the Vermont mother left the building with her son, overcome with emotion, she was heard to say, “Everybody always talks about how ugly the President is. But I think he has the most beautiful face I've ever seen.”           Well, that's the end of the stenographer's tale. I could probably write ten pages about what I've learned from it, but the story truly speaks for itself. And this is the end of this episode. As always, keep your eyes, mind, and heart opened, and let's get together in the next one.

More Gull Lake (0:42) Introduction (0:59) Crazy Summer Weather (3:00) Flash Flood Warnings (5:10) Scuba in the News ( 5:28) Cutting on third section of Golden Ray complete https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/cutting-on-third-section-of-golden-ray-complete/article_48cbc5f0-d671-5bd4-a992-6d92ab474c4e.html (7:53) Scuba plates to hit road in July https://www.theleadernews.com/community/scuba-plates-to-hit-road-in-july/article_f3ab17d0-d9cf-11eb-a355-5f58b7ae4f10.html (12:08) Mystery boat at Fort Stevens may tell many tales https://www.dailyastorian.com/news/local/mystery-boat-at-fort-stevens-may-tell-many-tales/article_9391fd7e-d5fa-11eb-9ae6-47aff2151557.html (18:20) Hard to get news – Squirrel Moment (20:50) ‘Otherworldly' Photos Give a Peek At A Lake Superior Shipwreckhttps://wrkr.com/isle-royale-shipwreck-mystery/ https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10226764787484654&set=pcb.10226764801605007 (26:30) Hikianalia crew discovers parts of shipwreck in Lalo from nearly 200 years ago https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/06/26/hikianalia-crew-discovers-parts-shipwreck-lalo-nearly-200-years-ago/ (38:39) 3000-Year-Old Remains in Japan Belong to the World's Oldest Known Shark Attack Victim, Study Finds https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/647971/worlds-oldest-shark-attack-victim-may-be-3000-year-old-skeleton (34:15) History lurks below the surface of Gull Lake https://wwmt.com/news/local/history-lurks-below-the-surface-of-gull-lake (45:30) video stream reset – video is better from here on out. 

I sit with Ranger Steve Phan to discuss the Civil War Defenses of Washington. Hear the story of the first and only time in history where a sitting US President came under fire on the field of battle!More on the Civil War Defenses of Washington here: https://www.nps.gov/cwdw/index.htmhttps://instagram.com/civilwardefensesofwashington?utm_medium=copy_linkMusic is graciously provided by Craig Duncan: http://www.craigduncan.net/This show is made possible by the support of The Badge Maker. Please check out his wares and improve your Civil War impression! https://www.civilwarcorpsbadges.com/Support the show:(The podcast receives monetary compensation from these options.)Make a monthly payment through Patreon and get the most up to date news on the podcast! Also, if you choose the 2,3, or 4 tier, you'll be able to ask the experts questions ahead of time!https://www.patreon.com/user?u=51151470&fan_landing=trueCheck out Gentleman's Box! Get all the tools you need as a gentleman delivered to your door! From cuff links, to cologne, to fitness gear, they have it all!http://imp.i121497.net/KaPv7You can also support us by using Instacart! Hauling groceries can be a thing of the past! Have all your groceries delivered to your doorstep. Use the link below to start an account and you will be supporting this show at no extra cost to you!https://instacart.oloiyb.net/PPVYzCheck us out on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube:https://www.facebook.com/untoldcivilwar/ https://www.instagram.com/untold_civil_war/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMMWxeF5zojtN8_NeWtyULw?view_as=subscriber

Mac & Alana chat with Justin Parker the North Coast District Manager for Oregon State Parks.  Fort Stevens, campers, cougars, bears and picnic baskets – what a show!

Grab a cool refreshing beverage, pop some popcorn, sit back and get ready for. . .the Battle of Cape Lookout!  Mac & Alana tell the edge-of-your-seat story about Japanese Submarines and the Oregon Coast during World War II.  This story is the exciting sequel to the Japanese Submarine that shelled Fort Stevens.

We're back with season 2 of The Woo-Woo Report! Kicking off this season with a story of my experience at haunted Fort Stevens: Battery Russell Don't forget to visit my IG for orb videos from my trip! Nicole Burron is on Instagram @nicoleburron. She is a psychic medium, shadow work guide, death doula and grief counselor. The Woo-Woo Report is on Instagram @thewoowooreportpodcast Follow us on Facebook for your fix of daily woo-woo news! Facebook Have a mystical question you want answered or ghost story you want to share? Drop an e-mail at: hello@thewoowooreport.com

This episode comes to you from our camping trip at Fort Stevens at the very top of Oregon. Sloths have a bad reputation for being lazy, but they really aren't. They evolved to be as slow as they are. We learned a lot of cool things about sloths, including how they have a symbiotic relationship with moths, how infrequently they poop, and some of their funny nicknames. Check it out!  We are so excited for our next episode, which will include an interview with our local congressman, Earl Blumenauer. Stay tuned! Have a question? Suggestion? Want to answer our creature quiz or our riddle? Get in touch with us at: coolfactsaboutanimals@gmail.com Or tweet us at @coolanimalspod Thanks for listening!

For American history buffs, the Civil War can feel like covered ground. But if you put aside the big battles and turning points, there are still so many smaller, fascinating stories deserving to be told. And there truly is no one better to dig into those lesser-known stories than my guest, CEO of Atlas Obscura David Plotz, whom you may also know as the co-host of the Slate Political Gabfest. In this episode, we talk about how the city of Washington D.C. defended itself during the Civil War, why it built dozens of forts around its perimeter, and why those forts are now in ruins. It's a huge honor to have David on the show today, and I can't wait for you to hear it. The hidden history of Washington D.C.'s forts David told me he first got interested in the forts the capital when he went on a bike ride with his daughter down a path he'd never gone down before. And while pedaling around, he noticed that all of the areas they were biking through were named “Fort” something. And when he looked at a map, he realized that all of the areas arranged in a circle around the capital were named for Civil War defenses. And then later, on a hike with his family, he discovered the remains of Fort Derussy out in the middle of the woods. You can still see it today, the moat, the high earthen walls (David mentioned he and his family played capture the flag there for his wife's birthday). As David says it's a magical place now, but we dig into why Fort Derussy was built in the first place, and how it and the other forts came to be forgotten. Defending the capital The union built 68 forts in Washington, D.C., most of them between 1860 and 1863. As David points out, the capital of the union was actually in the heart of Confederate territory, so the fortification had to be extensive. And of course, while D.C. had to be defended, as David highlights, there is “strong evidence” that the building of so many forts was an attempt by the Army Corps of Engineers to show Congress how important it was and to boost its funding. It was a huge effort, considering that before the war, there was only one fort in D.C., Fort Washington, which stood fairly ineffectually in the War of 1812. As David says, D.C. was an important location not so much for military strategy, but for morale. The South didn't want to win the North, they just wanted to force a settlement. So the Union “defended the heck out of it,” to prevent its capital from falling, and allowing the South to claim that leverage point. The battle for Abraham Lincoln's seat Nothing much happened in Washington, D.C. for the first four years of the war. In fact, D.C. was set up largely as a hospital city to treat the Union's wounded (and it's where Clara Barton set up shop). In fact, David says, the forts of Washington had begun to atrophy by 1864, because there weren't any attacks. And the soldiers stationed there weren't the best because those were off fighting the major battles. But that year, General Robert E. Lee decides the Confederacy should take Washington, D.C., forcing out Lincoln and sweeping the presidential election to the Democrats. And so in July of that year, 15,000 cavalry came to D.C., but when confronted by the high walls of Fort Reno, decided to go a different way. Little did they know, Fort Reno was abandoned. That was just the first of a few tactical mistakes that made the next day's battle at Fort Stevens a historic victory for the Union, but that's not even the craziest part. You'll want to listen to find out who made a surprise cameo. The ruins of D.C.'s forts, and David's favorite spots Many of the Washington forts were on private land, so after the war was over, the owners of that land tore them down. Some ended up on public parkland, which is why David and his family could play Capture the Flag on the ruins of Fort Derussy. But as David says, though the defenses were important to protect the Union, they weren't consecrated ground. Not a lot of people died there, there wasn't a lot of revered battles. But these forts still clearly have a place in D.C.'s history, and along with the remaining sites, David provides a Washingtonian's guide to the unknown history of the city. You're not going to want to miss this. Outline of This Episode [2:24] How David got interested in D.C.'s Civil War defense [7:30] The building of the forts [11:27] Notable Civil War events at the forts [17:50] How the forts fell into ruins [21:29] David's D.C. must-sees [27:58] The mission of Atlas Obscura Resources & People Mentioned David Plotz Atlas Obscura David Plotz on Twitter Slate's Political Gabfest How to Tour the White House Visiting Hallowed Ground on Halloween: My Trip to Gettysburg Connect With Stephanie stephanie@historyfangirl.com https://historyfangirl.com Support Stephanie on Patreon Featuring the song “Places Unseen” by Lee Rosevere For more information and photos, check out my blog post.  

It's a Triple Beach weekend! This week the boys, joined by the incomparable David Lincoln Mann, visited Astoria, OR on the brackish waters of the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. There they took in the sites, sounds and sustenance of the Buoy Beer Company. Then they grabbed some ice cream, played some video games, checked out some comic books and bought some toys at the ARC Arcade. From there they went south and got in a little beach time at Fort Stevens and spent the rest of the evening further southward still at scenic Seaside, OR just in time to take down a couple of freshly dipped corn dogs at the Pronto Pup. This episode we're talking a ton of Star Wars; Rogue One, Rebels and more. We're talking Seahawks, The Night Of, Mr. Robot, Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, Outcast, Suicide Squad, Transformers: The Movie, Mr Robot, Breaking Bad, Preacher, Halt & Catch Fire, The Get Down, No Man's Sky, Telltale Batman, we got some comic news, Chase takes a quick call from his dad and we discuss whether or not Chase believes aliens exist. And tons more. More than enough, for sure. Links: Buoy Beer Co: http://www.buoybeer.com ARC Arcade: https://www.facebook.com/The-Arc-Arcade-272283246271716 Pronto Pup: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pronto-Pup/144167605618504

It's a Triple Beach weekend! This week the boys, joined by the incomparable David Lincoln Mann, visited Astoria, OR on the brackish waters of the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. There they took in the sites, sounds and sustenance of the Buoy Beer Company. Then they grabbed some ice cream, played some video games, checked out some comic books and bought some toys at the ARC Arcade. From there they went south and got in a little beach time at Fort Stevens and spent the rest of the evening further southward still at scenic Seaside, OR just in time to take down a couple of freshly dipped corn dogs at the Pronto Pup. This episode we're talking a ton of Star Wars; Rogue One, Rebels and more. We're talking Seahawks, The Night Of, Mr. Robot, Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, Outcast, Suicide Squad, Transformers: The Movie, Mr Robot, Breaking Bad, Preacher, Halt & Catch Fire, The Get Down, No Man's Sky, Telltale Batman, we got some comic news, Chase takes a quick call from his dad and we discuss whether or not Chase believes aliens exist. And tons more. More than enough, for sure. Links: Buoy Beer Co: http://www.buoybeer.com ARC Arcade: https://www.facebook.com/The-Arc-Arcade-272283246271716 Pronto Pup: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pronto-Pup/144167605618504

The life of Astoria painter Christos Koutsouras sounds like it was ripped from a classic adventure novel. Born in 1957 on the island of Samos, the birthplace of people like Epicurus and Pythagoros (you know, the guy with the theorem), Koutsouras forged his father's signature at age 18, got a sailors book, and climbed aboard a ship bound for Mozambique. And he hasn't stopped since, traveling the world and making a name for himself as a painter.Now Koutsouras calls Astoria home and paints big, tumultuous landscapes of Fort Stevens. His newest exhibition, “Accessible to All,” opens at Imogen Gallery and a pop up retail space in downtown Astoria during the Second Saturday Art Walk on August 8 and runs through September 8.

In which we learn that keeping Oregon green once meant keeping it from being bombed. This podcast is sponsored by Pixel Party! Listen about Japanese Balloon Bombs here, and Oregon’s First Christmas here. A few images of Imperial Japanese Navy Chief Warrant Flying Officer Nobou Fujita, the only person to have dropped a bomb on the continental United States… in Oregon, Baby!               Here is a schematic of the Japanese I-25submarine. Note the hangar at the front of the conning tower, where the zero float plane was stowed while not bombing Oregon And here is an image of a Japanese submarine launching one of the zeros.   Japanese submarine I-25 should be a common name in the Beaver State. Brookings, Oregon has the distinction of being the community nearest to the bombing, which dropped on Mt. Emily. Fort Stevens has the distinction of being the only military base shelled in the continental United States in World War Two. It’s a fascinating story, and we hope you enjoy this World War Two, classic Oregon tale!