Photo: MOHAI, “Flying Boat”: Boeing Clipper, ca. 1930s.

Local Broadcaster Reveals ‘Hidden Aviation History’ of Magnuson Park at Historical Society Speaker Series

The Redmond Historical Society kicks off the 2024 season of its Saturday Speaker Series with broadcaster and historian Feliks Banel.

Magnuson Park was once known as Sand Point Naval Air Station and might be the site of more aviation history than anywhere in the Northwest. Its history dates to the 1920s and it was one of the first places that the Boeing Company assembled aircraft for delivery to the US military. In 1924, Sand Point was also the site of the beginning and end of the famous “Around The World Flight” by the US Army, perhaps second only to Charles Lindbergh’s Atlantic crossing in aviation history – and the centennial will be observed later this year. Lindbergh visited Sand Point in the 1920s and received a hero’s welcome. In the 1930s, Boeing tested its famous “Clippers”―giant flying boats for passenger service―just north of Sand Point at what’s now Matthews Beach Park.

The event is free to RHS members, with a suggested donation of $5 for non-members.

Feliks Banel is a broadcaster and historian who focuses on Pacific Northwest history, geography, cartography, and pop culture. He presents stories about Northwest history twice each week on KIRO Newsradio and is host of the weekly radio program and podcast “Cascade of History,” heard live Sunday nights from historic Magnuson Park on SPACE 101.1 FM. Prior to joining the staff at KIRO, he created the history series “This NOT Just In” for KUOW Public Radio. Feliks also produces Emmy-winning history documentaries for the Seattle Channel. He lives in Seattle.