Best Rhodeislandhistory Podcasts (2024)

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68. ANIMALS: Oscar, the Cat Who Could Predict Death 36:32

1+ y ago36:32

36:32

Oscar seemed like an ordinary kitten when he was adopted by Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation center in Providence, RI. But the staff and residents at Steere House quickly suspected Oscar had a unique ability. He seemed to be able to predict when someone was going to die. Heads up, this episode is more speculative than usual. And it includes …

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WEIRD ISLAND CHECK IN: Taking a (Little) Pause 3:19

1+ y ago3:19

3:19

Hey all! I’m taking a tiny pause on new episodes for a little while to work on some other things that inspire me. I’ll be back before you know it! And, in the meantime, I still have a couple of episodes to drop. So, I hope you’ll stick around. If you’re looking for something new to listen to while I’m taking a breather, I wanted to share some of th…

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67. MILLS: From Cotton Cloth to Space Age Textiles 23:46

1+ y ago23:46

23:46

While researching RI mills, I came across this one little snippet about the Ashton Mill in Cumberland, and had to know more: “Owens-Corning Fiberglas Company bought the mill... They operated in the mill until 1983. They made tire cord, drapery, and beta cloth for spacesuits for the Apollo Moon missions.” Episode Source Material: Address at Rice Uni…

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66. MEET ME AT THE BILTMORE: Dutee Wilcox Flint 26:38

1+ y ago26:38

26:38

This week, I’m joined by Amanda Quay Blount, who just released her new book Meet Me at the Biltmore this October. She brought me a story I’d never heard before about this Rhode Island based Ford dealer. His name was Dutee Wilcox Flint, and he was one of the earliest and most successful Ford dealers in the world before he lost his empire, moved into…

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65. THANKSGIVING: Revisiting the Origin Story 25:53

1+ y ago25:53

25:53

This week, as many get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I wanted to revisit the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving that many of us learned as kids. Because, I found out as an adult that I didn’t really learn the full story–I learned a mythologized version of it. And I learned that while I heard a lot about the Pilgrims landing at Plym…

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64. MURDER: Amasa Sprague and the Trial of John Gordon 25:59

1+ y ago25:59

25:59

On December 31, 1843, Amasa Sprague was found murdered near his home in Cranston, RI. An Irish immigrant named John Gordon was tried and convicted of the crime, but even at the time, many believed he may have been innocent. Episode Source Material: Opinion/Harrington: Mystery still shrouds murder of Amasa Sprague John Gordon - Online Review of Rhod…

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63. HAUNTED: The Conjuring House 17:02

1+ y ago17:02

17:02

Have you seen The Conjuring, the 2013 Hollywood film so successful it spawned a franchise of supernatural horror films? Did you know it’s loosely based on the haunting of a Rhode Island family? The old colonial farmhouse in Burrillville, where they lived and experienced paranormal phenomena in the 1970s, has been described by some as one of the mos…

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62. MILLS: Ann & Hope 27:13

1+ y ago27:13

27:13

Ann & Hope… were two women. Then the words became the name of a ship, followed by a mill, and later a store. This week, I’ll bring you along as I learn the story of the Ann & Hope Mill and the discount department store that shared its name. And along the way, we’ll even uncover a bit of a mystery. Episode Source Material Ann and Hope Store Complex …

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61. WINDSWEPT: The Pain-Killer Mansion 22:14

1+ y ago22:14

22:14

Have you ever been to Scarborough Beach in Narragansett and noticed that beautiful stone ruin just beyond the sand? Well, it turns out it’s the remnants of an old carriage house that once stood beside this mansion overlooking the water. The mansion was called Windswept, but locally it was known as the house built with Painkiller money, and it was b…

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60. FIRSTS: First Oyster Bar in Providence 20:23

2y ago20:23

20:23

Long before the quahog became Rhode Island’s iconic shellfish, oysters dominated local waters. In this episode, I’ll be diving into the stories of black innovators and entrepreneurs who shaped the oyster industry–including Manna Bernoon, who established Providence’s first Oyster and Ale House in 1736, the year of his emancipation from slavery. Epis…

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59. CYCLEDROME: And the First New England NFL Champions 20:33

2y ago20:33

20:33

In 1925, a massive bicycle racing track was built on North Main Street in Providence. Later that year, it would become home to the Providence Steam Roller, remembered today as New England’s first NFL Champions. Episode Source Material Rhode Island History | November 1977 Providence Cyclodrome | ArtInRuins Forgotten Stadiums: The Cycledrome Cycledro…

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58. WRITERS: H.P. Lovecraft 25:40

2y ago25:40

25:40

So, you’ve seen his face on t-shirts and posters and on the covers of anthology books all over Providence, but who exactly is H. P. Lovecraft? Tune in to the first episode of Season 2 to find out! I cover a number of Providence locations in this episode, and you’re welcome to visit them while listening. Many are pretty close to one another. Here’s …

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57. GHOST TOWN: Hanton City 22:55

2y ago22:55

22:55

In Smithfield, Rhode Island, out in the middle of the woods, there are the remains of an old village that disappeared over 100 years ago. A ghost town known as Hanton City, sometimes called Haunted City or the Lost City. To Visit: Walk the Hanton City Hiking Trail, starting from 70 W. Reservoir Rd in Smithfield. About 3/4 of a mile or so in (I didn…

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56. PPAC: Providence’s Movie Palaces 35:27

2y ago35:27

35:27

Have you ever been to see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center and marveled at the gorgeous building? Well, you might be surprised to know that when PPAC opened in the late 1920s, the theater showed a different kind of show–movies! I’m joined by special guests Lynn Singleton and Alan Chille this week to dive into the history of Providenc…

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55. MURDER: Carter Jackson Monument 24:17

2y ago24:17

24:17

In South Kingstown, there’s an odd monument hidden away in the bushes off Tower Hill Road. It’s a four-sided granite pillar covered, from top to bottom on all sides, in a written inscription. And this inscription tells a story. But not one of a famous battle or prominent leader or politician or historical landmark. It tells the story of a gruesome …

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54. DINERS: Modern Diner 22:01

2y ago22:01

22:01

The history of the classic American diner started right here in Rhode Island. It began as something called a Night Lunch Wagon. But over time the diner grew and changed, following trends in the workforce, the American family, and food culture to become the uniquely American restaurant we know and love today. And one of my favorite diners around is …

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53. DINERS: Haven Brothers 15:58

2y ago15:58

15:58

If you’ve been to Kennedy Plaza, you’ve probably seen the big, shiny stainless steel piece of Providence late-night culture that is Haven Brothers diner. Maybe you’ve even eaten one of their famous Murder Burgers. But did you know that Haven Brothers traces its origin back to 1893, making it one of the oldest restaurants on wheels in America? To Vi…

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52. WEIRD NEWS: When the Wright’s Chicken Farm Kids were Kidnapped 14:39

2+ y ago14:39

14:39

When a friend said to me, “What about an episode about that time the Wright’s Chicken Farm kids were kidnapped?” I had to know more. Today’s episode comes right from the newspaper archives, from March of 1979. Episode Source Material: State v. Ballard :: 1982 :: Rhode Island Supreme Court Decisions STATE v. BALLARD | FindLaw Newport Daily News News…

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51. STRANGE STREETS: The Mystery of Ridge St. and Pidge Ave. 27:59

2+ y ago27:59

27:59

Episode Description: On the border of Providence and Pawtucket, there’s a strange intersection. One single road changes its name from Ridge Street to Pidge Avenue. With Ridge and Pidge being just one letter apart, it always seemed like a mistake. With the help of Providence Journal reporter Paul Parker, we get to the bottom of the mystery. And unco…

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50. SUMMER MEMORIES: RI’s Historic Carousels 24:13

2+ y ago24:13

24:13

Carousels are playful and whimsical, bright and colorful. They evoke memories of childhood and innocence. Here, in Rhode Island, they’re not only time capsules of happy summer moments, but museums of folk art from the golden age of the American carousel. To Visit: Looff Carousel | Crescent Park | 700 Bullocks Point Ave, Riverside, RI 02915 Looff Ca…

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49. WEIRD ANNIVERSARY: Part 2 | Fun Facts 32:46

2+ y ago32:46

32:46

Sometimes when I’m researching, I waste a bunch of time researching something only slightly related to the episode topic. Like the time I read an entire book about apples while researching the Tree Root that Ate Roger Williams. Today, instead of a regular episode, for each topic I’ve covered, I’m going to share one fun or interesting fact I learned…

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48. WEIRD ANNIVERSARY: One Year of Weird Island 13:25

2+ y ago13:25

13:25

I've been making this podcast for a year! So instead of bringing you a normal story, I thought I'd tell you my own.By sara elizabeth corben

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47. WEIRD FOOD: Cuffy Cockroach’s Sea Turtle Soup 20:37

2+ y ago20:37

20:37

People began eating turtle soup in the 1700s, and they kept eating it through the early 1900s. Companies like Campbell’s and Heinz made canned turtle soup (and something called mock turtle soup). And it wasn’t just available. It was a real culinary obsession. In the early days, there would be these big, elaborate parties, called Turtle Frolics, whe…

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46. FIRSTS: First Oval-Track Auto Race 17:07

2+ y ago17:07

17:07

In 1896, the very first auto race on an oval track took place at the Rhode Island State Fair, just one year after the first city-to-city auto race in the world took place. Cars were so new, no one knew what to call them. Horseless wagons? Motor wagons? Motocycles? Electric Traps? Episode Source Material: Left Turns In The Ocean State | Hemmings Sci…

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45. ARCHITECTURE: Turk’s Head Building 16:09

2+ y ago16:09

16:09

How did the Turk’s Head building get its name? Well, it’s actually built on the site of a colonial house and a store that had an unusual sign mounted outside--a wooden carving of an Ottoman Sultan. The store became known as "at the Sign of the Turk's Head." To visit: 1 Turk’s Head Place, Providence, RI 02903 Episode Source Material: Providence in C…

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44. BUBBLERS: Cogswell’s Infamous Fountains 19:30

2+ y ago19:30

19:30

In the middle of downtown Pawtucket, there’s an old, no longer functioning drinking fountain that most people assume is just a statue. But it’s one of only a handful of remaining Temperance Fountains, donated to the city by a man who believed that the solution to drunkenness might just be a glass of fresh, cold water. To Visit: Corner of Roosevelt …

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43. WRITERS: Edgar Allan Poe in Providence 24:47

2+ y ago24:47

24:47

Episode Description: While he never lived in Rhode Island, Edgar Allan Poe famously spent time here at the end of his life. He courted a Providence writer, Sarah Helen Whitman, and spent time at her East Side home, Swan Point Cemetery and the Athenaeum. Episode Source Material: About… – Edgar Allan Poe: Rhode Island Sarah Helen Whitman, Providence …

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42. ANIMAL ESCAPE: Frosty The Polar Bear 11:26

2+ y ago11:26

11:26

A mini episode this week, with another animal escape. Frosty the Polar Bear escaped from the now-closed Slater Park Zoo, twice! Episode Source Material: Life After Slater Park Fanny the elephant to be freed Newport Daily News Newspaper Archives, May 25, 1979, p. 13 Newport Daily News Newspaper Archives, May 23, 1979, p. 13 'JATIONAL REGISTER OF HIS…

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41. WATERFIRE: In the Renaissance City 20:21

2+ y ago20:21

20:21

WaterFire is the quintessential Providence experience, centering around a series of nearly 100 bonfires along the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence. But just 40 years ago, you might not have even known that those rivers existed. If you think WaterFire isn’t weird, well, maybe it isn't. But the fact that, at one point,…

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40. HOLIDAY MAGIC: The Polar Express 20:01

2+ y ago20:01

20:01

The Polar Express has become a Christmas classic, but did you know it was written right here in RI by author Chris Van Allsburg? Episode Source Material: Chris Van Allsburg Christmas at the Van Allsburgs' | Holiday House Tour - New England Today About Chris Van Allsburg AT HOME WITH: Chris Van Allsburg; Bad Things Happen To Good Houses - The New Yo…

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39. RHODESIDE ATTRACTIONS: The Big Blue Bug 18:15

2+ y ago18:15

18:15

The star of this week’s episode is a 58 foot long, 9 foot tall, 4,000 pound termite named Nibbles Woodaway. But you might know him better as the Big Blue Bug. Episode Source Material: Big Blue Bug Get To Know Us | The Big Blue Bug Of RI, MA & CT World's Largest Bug, Providence, Rhode Island Creator of RI's Big Blue Bug dies The Big Blue Bug in Prov…

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38. FIRSTS: The First Presidential Phone Call 14:00

2+ y ago14:00

14:00

The first presidential phone call took place in Rhode Island, when Alexander Graham Bell called 19th President Rutherford B. Hayes as he attended a clambake at Rocky Point Park. To Visit: Rocky Point Ave. | Nothing to see but a sign, but you can stand where the first Presidential phone call took place, if that’s a thing you want to do. Episode Sour…

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37. ANIMAL ESCAPE: Rhoda the Sea Lion 15:11

2+ y ago15:11

15:11

Could a rumor that a sea lion escaped Roger Williams Zoo and made it all the way to the bay possibly be true? To Visit: Roger Williams Zoo | 1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI 02907 Episode Source Material: Roger Williams History Roger Williams Park - Wikipedia Horace Cleveland Rhode Island Providence 1T

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36. ABANDONED: The Railroad that Went Down with the Titanic 23:42

2+ y ago23:42

23:42

We’re heading to Woonsocket this week to check out a mural painted on what was an unassuming concrete wall you wouldn’t think twice about. But this concrete wall actually has an incredibly interesting backstory, one with ties to the Titanic. To Visit: Cass Ave, Woonsocket, RI - across from Woonsocket High School Episode Source Material: The Souther…

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35. GIANT PUMPKINS: And the RI Grower Who “Squashed” World Records 19:30

2+ y ago19:30

19:30

In 2006, Rhode Islander Ron Wallace grew the first 1,500 lb. pumpkin--something no one thought was possible. Then in 2012, he became the first person in the world to grow a pumpkin weighing 2,000 lbs. Now his goal is to be the first to grow a 3,000 lb. pumpkin… Hear about what it takes to grow a giant pumpkin, then try for yourself: Giant Pumpkin S…

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34. HAUNTED: Ramtail Mill 23:25

2+ y ago23:25

23:25

Out in Foster, Rhode Island a ghost is rumored to haunt the place of his death. A factory that once stood along the Ponaganset river. And his presence has been noted so often and for so long in this place that it actually became Rhode Island’s only officially documented Haunted location. To Visit: In the woods off Route 6 and Ramtail Road, Foster, …

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33. CUMBERLAND LIBRARY: Wednesday, October 20 at 6:30PM 8:30

2+ y ago8:30

8:30

Come meet me! I’ll be telling stories at the Cumberland Library on Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30PM. Check out this mini episode to learn the unique history of the Cumberland Library and its past life as a Trappist Monastery. Event Details: Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30PM Cumberland Public Library, 1464 Diamond Hill Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864 Weir…

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32. HAUNTED: Newport’s Belcourt Castle 19:05

2+ y ago19:05

19:05

Belcourt Castle, the third biggest mansion in Newport, was built as a bachelor pad for Oliver Belmont and his many horses. Over the years, it developed a reputation for its paranormal activity. To Visit: 657 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840 - Tours on Weekends Episode Source Material: Belcourt of Newport Ghost Hunters Investigate Newport's Belcourt …

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31. BARNABY CASTLE: Part 2 | A Murder Mystery 27:06

2+ y ago27:06

27:06

Don't just listen, see inside Barnaby Castle yourself at this years HALLOWEEN PARTY! Tickets at: http://www.kaitlyn-alyece-events.com/barnaby-castle Last week we explored the story of Barnaby Castle and the first person convicted of committing murder via the mail. This week, we’ll dive deeper into that murder mystery and ask, what if the man who wa…

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30. BARNABY CASTLE: First Murder by Mail 18:43

2+ y ago18:43

18:43

Barnaby Castle, on Broadway in Providence, is this unusual looking building designed to suit its original owner, this larger-than-life personality and self-made millionaire named Jerothmul Bowers Barnaby. But while the story of J.B. Barnaby is interesting enough on its own, it’s actually his death that launches the most fascinating and odd part of …

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29. MINI EPISODE: Pawtucket’s Hollywood Walk of Fame 11:35

3y ago11:35

11:35

Pawtucket has it’s very own, tiny little “Walk of Fame” that Roadside America has dubbed “either the saddest or most optimistic Hollywood Walk of Fame.” I've got a Live Episode coming up on Monday, September 20th at 7:30pm! It's on Zoom, and if you wish to attend please email info@eghps.org and the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society will …

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28. TAYLOR SWIFT: The Story of Her Rhode Island Home 22:37

3y ago22:37

22:37

In 2013, singer Taylor Swift showed up in Rhode Island with $17.7MM in cash and purchased a summer home called High Watch. Then, she wrote a song about it (see: “the last great american dynasty”). This is the real history behind Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island home. Episode Source Material: Holiday House (Watch Hill) The Outrageous Life of Rebekah Hark…

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27. GETTYSBURG GUN: A Cannonball Trapped in Time 21:51

3y ago21:51

21:51

In the entrance of the Rhode Island state house there is a cannon with a cannonball stuck in its muzzle. And for 100 years, no one checked to see if that cannon was filled with explosive gunpowder. To Visit: Rhode Island State House | 82 Smith St, Providence, RI 02903 Episode Source Material: Our Story: The Lives and Legacy of Those Who Served in B…

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26. MINI EPISODE: The Madman of Jerimoth Hill 10:03

3y ago10:03

10:03

Some people spend months or years trying to visit the highest point in every state. Rhode Island’s is Jerimoth Hill, and it’s the 5th lowest highest point in the U.S. But if you think that means it’s always been easy to get to, think again. To Visit: The trailhead is right on Route 101/Hartford Pike, approximately 0.8 miles east of the Connecticut …

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25. MINI EPISODE: Tombstone Tourism at Precious Blood 12:55

3y ago12:55

12:55

Precious Blood Cemetery in Woonsocket is one of Rhode Island’s most haunted cemeteries, after a natural disaster left spirits searching for their loved ones--and even their own body parts! In addition to its paranormal activity, this cemetery features interesting graves, including that of Marie Rose Ferron, America’s first stigmatic. Episode Source…

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24. SISTINE CHAPEL OF NEW ENGLAND: St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center 26:48

3y ago26:48

26:48

Hidden away in Woonsocket, RI is a church that has been called the Sistine Chapel of New England. Inside is one of the largest collections of frescoes in the United States. While the artwork is incredible, it’s only the beginning. After the paintings draw you in, what you find are stories--because all 475 people painted into the frescoes are real p…

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23. MINI EPISODE: Woonsocket’s Hachikō Statue 11:52

3y ago11:52

11:52

Have you heard the story of Hachiko, Japan’s most loyal dog? Find out why there’s a statue of Hachiko hidden in Woonsocket, RI. To Visit: 1 Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895 Episode Source Material: Akita (dog) History of the Akita Breed - The Akita Breed Akita History: Hachikō & the Revival of the Devoted Japanese Breed – American Kennel Club 15 …

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22. SLATER THE TRAITOR: Father of the American Industrial Revolution 20:57

3y ago20:57

20:57

Episode Source Material The Birth of American Industry: Why Pawtucket? - Online Review of Rhode Island History The Industrial Revolution - The Big Story - Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Rhode Island and the Industrial Revolution | EnCompass Slater Mill | EnCompass Brown University Portrait Collection Wikipedia, History of Rhode …

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21. MINI EPISODE: What the heck is Cumberlandite? 11:49

3y ago11:49

11:49

Episode Source Material: GEOLOGY OF MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND - 184 The American journal of science Rhode Island State Rock: Cumberlandite Cumberlandite Raw Cubes stone of Venus – Song of Stones GC51DR2 Only in Rhode Island (Earthcache) in Rhode Island, United States created by Twohig260 Walking RI: Hunt for RI's rare state rock at Cumberland'…

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20. ABANDONED: It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane.. It’s the Superman Building! 23:20

3y ago23:20

23:20

Episode Source Material: Gotham state of mind: what do comics tell us about cities? Why Superhero Comics Are Obsessed With Cities DC Finally Confirms Metropolis is Located in New York CLE Myths: Ohio Bell Building Inspired Superman The Architecture of Superman: A Brief History of The Daily Planet Daily Star - Supermanica Daily Star (DC Comics) The …

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