Why San Francisco’s City Planners Hated the Ferry Building
At the foot of Market Street stands the San Francisco Ferry Building, a majestic landmark overlooking the Bay. But for decades, this architectural gem was hidden behind a double-decker freeway, its grand arches obscured, its interior gutted, and its legacy nearly erased from the city’s memory. At one point, there were serious plans to demolish it altogether.This episode dives into the astonishing rise, fall, and resurrection of one of San Francisco’s most important structures. From its origins during the Gold Rush to surviving two major earthquakes—and nearly being destroyed by urban planning—the Ferry Building’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. Discover how a forgotten transportation hub became a symbol of civic pride once more.
10 Juli 15min
The Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Plant | South Carolina’s Dangerous Relic
In the 1970s, the U.S. launched an ambitious plan to solve its growing nuclear waste problem: reprocess spent fuel into usable energy. The result was the Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Center—an ultra-secure, state-of-the-art complex in South Carolina designed to handle the nation’s radioactive leftovers. But despite half a billion dollars invested and near-complete construction, it never processed a single gram of fuel. What happened? In this episode, we dive deep into the rise and fall of Barnwell—how Cold War optimism collided with nuclear non-proliferation fears, and how a symbol of energy innovation turned into one of America’s most expensive abandoned facilities. From political fallout to urban legends, the site’s story is stranger than fiction—and not quite over.
5 Juli 9min
Why New Jersey Is Basically a Giant Military Base
New Jersey might look like an ordinary East Coast state, but beneath the surface, it operates like one massive military base. With seven major installations—including Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the Picatinny Arsenal, and Naval Weapons Station Earle—New Jersey plays a critical role in America’s defense infrastructure. From testing next-generation weapons to housing elite military units, the Garden State is packed with strategic assets that most people don’t even realize exist. But why does New Jersey have such a high concentration of military facilities? And what does this mean for national security? In this episode of It’s History, we explore the bases, the history, and the growing presence of surveillance and defense technology across the state. Could this explain the increasing number of *mysterious aerial sightings* reported in the region? Join us as we uncover why New Jersey is one of America’s most militarized states.
28 Juni 21min
The Rise and Fall of Campaign Trains
Before microphones, motorcades, and media blitzes — there were trains.From the 1890s to the 1950s, campaign trains were a critical part of how American presidential candidates reached the public. Politicians like William Jennings Bryan, FDR, and Harry Truman crisscrossed the country, delivering speeches from the back of specially outfitted railcars — meeting thousands of voters face-to-face in a whirlwind of stops and spectacle.In this episode, we trace the rise and fall of the campaign train — from Bryan’s grueling 18,000-mile tour in 1896 to Truman’s legendary 1948 whistle-stop comeback. What made these rolling platforms so powerful? And why did they vanish from the political stage?Explore how this lost tradition once shaped American history — and why it came to a stop.
26 Juni 14min
Before Route 66: The Story of America’s First Highway
Long before Route 66 captured the American imagination, another road did something far more ambitious: it connected the country. The Lincoln Highway, completed in 1913, was the United States’ first true transcontinental road—stretching from Times Square in New York to Lincoln Park in San Francisco. But while it revolutionized travel, kickstarted tourism, and helped birth car culture, most people today have never heard of it.In this episode, we trace the rise and quiet fall of the Lincoln Highway: from muddy wagon trails and volunteer road crews to cement milestones, patriotic branding, and fierce industrial politics. You’ll discover how a group of dreamers and auto tycoons built a road without government help, changed how Americans moved—and then watched it get dismantled by the federal highway system. Buckle up: this is the lost story of the road that made road trips possible.
19 Juni 23min
The Strange Story of LAX’s Lost Center | The Theme Building
At the center of Los Angeles International Airport stands a monument to a future that never arrived: the Theme Building. Designed during the golden Jet Age by architects William Pereira and Charles Luckman, this flying saucer-like structure was once meant to be the beating heart of LAX—a central hub where every journey would begin. It was bold, modern, and meant to revolutionize air travel.But the plan was scrapped before the dome ever broke ground. Airlines pushed for autonomy, costs ballooned, and LAX became the fragmented airport we know today. What remained was the Theme Building: a shell of the original vision, reimagined as a restaurant and observation deck. In this episode, we explore the unrealized ambition behind the Theme Building and how it became an enduring symbol—rather than a functioning hub—of Los Angeles’ futuristic aspirations.
14 Juni 9min
NYC’s Lost Island of Warships and Royal Yachts | SHOOTERS ISLAND
Just off the coast of Staten Island lies a forgotten island that once played a surprising role in global history. Shooters Island started as a Revolutionary War spy base and evolved into a powerful shipyard, launching vessels for the U.S. military and even crafting a royal yacht for Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II.In this episode, we explore how this overlooked patch of land helped build warships, hosted presidents and royalty, and then disappeared into obscurity. Today, it’s off-limits, overgrown, and littered with the remains of a once-glorious past.
12 Juni 10min
Chicago’s Lost Fire Alarm Network | From Church Bells to Telegraphs
Before skyscrapers and sirens, Chicago had only one way to fight fire: ringing a church bell. In this episode, we uncover how that simple sound evolved into one of the most advanced fire alarm systems of the 19th century—and how its failure helped fuel one of the greatest disasters in American history.You’ll explore the forgotten world of fire boxes, telegraph wires, and early dispatchers who worked from the rooftops. From the chaos of the Great Chicago Fire to a city rebuilding with underground cables and talking lines, this is the story of how Chicago built—and nearly lost—its first emergency network.
7 Juni 11min
