Invisible Histories

By the late 19th century, thousands of Civil War veterans migrated west to King County, bringing with them a vision of reconstruction, labor, and growth. In our latest podcast episode, we joined historian Richard Heisler (founder of Civil War Seattle ) for a walking tour through Bothell Pioneer Cemetery , established in 1889. Behind the many moss-covered headstones lie astonishing, forgotten stori...

In this special episode of Invisible Histories, we explore the rich history, culture, and enduring legacy of Seattle's Sephardic Jewish community—the third-largest Sephardic population in the United States. Guests Cynthia Flash Hemphill (President of the Seattle Sephardic Network), Hannah Peters (Director at the Washington State Jewish Historical Society), and community members share personal...

In part two of their monorail retrospective, hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala dive into the grassroots effort that nearly brought an expanded monorail system to Seattle. If you missed it, go back and listen to Part 1 to get the deep dive into Seattle Monorail politics and advocacy! In this episode, we are joined by former campaign staffer Michael Taylor-Judd , transit advocate Rodney Rutherford...

Part 1 of The Ghostly Green Line: The Seattle Monorail Chronicles dives into the "ghostly green line"—the proposed Seattle Monorail that promised a transformative transit future between 1997 and 2005. Guest Cindi Laws, a veteran political operative, provides an insider’s look at the campaigns that defined that era. Laws reveals the "death by a thousand cuts" strategy employed by well-funded oppone...

Most people know Lynnwood as a shopping destination or a place to pass through on the way to somewhere else. But beneath today's busy streets lies one of the Pacific Northwest's most fascinating stories of innovation, agriculture, transportation, and community. In our Season 7 premiere episode of Invisible Histories , we visit Heritage Park in Lynnwood with special guest Devon from the Ouija Broad...

In this vibrant episode of Invisible Histories , hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala take listeners on an engaging journey through the layers of one of the most overlooked historical areas of Seattle. With the backdrop of the upcoming June 12th Unpaving SODO Tour, and the 2026 World Cup, they explore the bustling transformation of Seattle's SODO from early settler days through the Klondike Gold Rus...

Correction: As of May 2026, Vermont Forest Cemetery in Roxbury, VT has 48 natural burials, with room for up to 2,000. In this thought-provoking episode of Invisible Histories, hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala engage in a captivating conversation with Michelle Hogle Acciavatti, MS, the founder of Vermont Forest Cemetery . Dive into the world of natural burial and explore how this innovative, yet...

Join hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala in this exciting mini-episode of Invisible Histories as they unveil their dream project: a captivating event centered around the often-overlooked Harbor Island. Discover the rich and hidden history of this industrial area in South Seattle, a place many pass by without a second thought. Cari and Elke share their journey of bringing this event to life, highlig...

Explore the hidden histories of family desertion and social justice in our latest episode! Discover how the Lazy Husbands Act of 1913 aimed to support abandoned families in Washington State, and what actually happened. Tune in for an insightful discussion that connects the past with our present. Don't miss it! In this enlightening episode of Invisible Histories , hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala...

In this powerful episode of Invisible Histories , hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala engage in a gripping conversation with David Norman Lewis, the author of the newly released book, The Burning of Moses Seattle. This episode dives deep into the tragic and violent history surrounding Moses Seattle, a descendant of Chief Seattle, whose life was marked by both cultural significance and horrific even...

In this heartwarming New Year's episode of Invisible Histories, hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala celebrate fresh beginnings by turning the spotlight on their own families. They engage in meaningful conversations with their fathers, John Simson and Burton Kummerow, who share their unique experiences and contributions to public history. As both dads delve into their respective roles, listeners are...

In this reflective episode of Invisible Histories , hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala take a moment to pause and look back on the year that has flown by, filled with challenges and triumphs in their unique engagement with public history. As the end of the year approaches, they share their Year in Review, highlighting memorable episodes, fascinating guests, and the stories that have shaped their j...

In this captivating November episode of Invisible Histories, we dive into the life of Elise Olmstead, a remarkable figure in the history of Seattle, as we chat with local author Rebecca Demarest. Rebecca unravels the threads of Elise's life, from her beginnings in England to her complex relationship with the notorious Roy Olmstead, exploring her influence in the Prohibition era and her role as a r...

This week on Invisible Histories , we are sharing Part 2 of our two-part journey to the Skagit Valley to visit the Northern State Hospital & Cemetery , a large psychiatric hospital and self-sustaining therapeutic farm and community from 1912-1973 in Sedro-Woolley, WA. Check out Part 1 that focuses on the Northern State Hospital cemetery (episode released on 10/7/25). We are joined by John...

In this episode of Invisible Histories , hosts Cari and Elke visit the Northern State Hospital Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley, WA — a serene field off Highway 20, holding many unidentified graves of more than 1,600 people once confined to Washington’s largest mental institution. Some of the patients’ graves have visible numbers and initials, while many more have sunken under the thick grass or have bee...

In this enthralling episode of Invisible Histories, we delve into the dark and complex narrative of the Salem Witch Trials, exploring the societal and historical contexts that led to one of America's most infamous episodes of mass hysteria. Join us as we navigate through the summer of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. We examine the lives of the women accused, including Cari’s ancestor Margaret Skilli...

Our Potter's Field research and memorialization project points to the past ways that people who died on the margins in Seattle and King County were treated leading up to 1912, and how their burial area was obliterated in the wake of the Duwamish river dredging and straightening in 1913. Invisible Histories seeks to make modern connections with all our stories, and our intern, Jacob Neville, assist...

In this gripping episode of Invisible Histories, we take you behind the scenes of the King County Medical Examiner's Office (KCMEO) where death and the stories surrounding it come to life through the eyes of lead forensic medicolegal death investigator, James Sosik Jr. Join us as we explore the often unseen world of "unnatural" death investigation in King County, WA, and discuss everything from th...

Have you ever wanted to move to Scotland, study folk magic, and help preserve ancient sites? Well we definitely do, and after today so will you! Welcome to our June episode of Invisible Histories: Woven Tales: Reviving Scottish Folk Heritage with Scott Richardson-Read In this captivating episode, we sit down with Scott Richardson-Read, a passionate folklorist and cultural historian deeply rooted i...

W elcome to our May episode: Part 2 of our interview with Cairn Canine Detection and the Case of the "Lost" Potter's Field! We had so much to talk about with the Cairn Canine Detection group that our May episode will continue the conversation with Suzanne Elshult, President and K9 Trainer/Handler. Suzanne shares more about the work they are doing with local Tribes and historical organizations to i...

Welcome to our April episode: Cairn Canine Detection and the Case of the Snohomish Pioneer Cemetery! Have you ever wondered how dogs could help locate unmarked graves? Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of canine detection and its role in uncovering the hidden histories of historic cemeteries. In this episode, we share our experience with Suzanne Elshult and June Mansfield and their te...

Welcome to our March episode: Voices from the Archives! Join us for an insightful conversation with Stephanie Johnson Toliver, the Executive Director of Black Heritage Society of WA for the past 7 years, and a longtime advocate for historic preservation, community-building and storytelling. In this episode, we explore the vital role of community archives in preserving the stories of African A...

Welcome to our February episode! It is time to dive into our own invisible histories! Alongside Cynthia Brothers, the founder of Vanishing Seattle, we discuss the existence of venues, clubs, and other businesses that were, and still are, beacons of creativity and self-expression. As more and more spaces for social connection undergo closure and demolition, how can we hold onto the culture associat...

A rebroadcast of our visit with The Bridge in July 2024, with hosts Jean Godden and Julianna Ross. For January, we are rebroadcasting our lively visit with Jean Godden and Julianna Ross of their radio show, The Bridge, on KMGP 101.1, which aired on July 26, 2024. On the show, we share our origin stories, how we met and formed Invisible Histories, some Lou Graham and Lake Ballinger stories, and som...

Welcome to our December episode! Step into the world of Seattle's street trees with our latest episode featuring Taha Ebrahimi, author of the book, Street Trees of Seattle. Discover how these urban giants connect us to the city's past and enrich our present. Taha shares her journey from a curious walker to a published author, revealing the hidden stories of Seattle's diverse tree canopy. Learn abo...