Episode Details

This BONUS ENCORE of CASCADE OF HISTORY was one of our LISTENER FAVORITES in 2025, when Feliks Banel spoke with Lee Reynolds, public affairs officer for the U.S. Army's Center of Military History, the part of the Army that funds and manages Lewis Army Museum at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) near Tacoma. In this interview from Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Mr. Reynolds said that Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll would "any day now" adopt a plan to close Lewis Army Museum and 15 other Army museums. Reynolds responded to questions about the threatened closure, including lack of public process, and the specific criteria that were used in selecting museums for closure. The effort to identify museums for closure or consolidation dates to 2024, Reynolds said, and the closures will save a total of $114 million over the next decade. The total of 16 closures represents about half of the museums funded and operated by the U.S. Army. Reynolds also explained that JBLM officials might choose to create a "heritage center" - with no Army artifacts, but perhaps with replicas of artifacts - once the Army museum is shut down. As of December 31, 2025, no further information has been released by the U.S. Army regarding their plans for the future of the 16 museums which were believed in July to be slated for closure as early as August or September 2025. Center of Military History website: https://history.army.mil/ Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll's website: https://www.army.mil/leaders/sa/ Lewis Army Museum official website: http://www.lewisarmymuseum.com/ Friends of Lewis Army Museum website: http://www.fortlewismuseum.com/ Jerry Cornfield's piece for the Washington State Standard: https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/07/01/battle-begins-to-keep-an-army-museum-open-in-washington/ CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.