Delia D'Ambra
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
We're in probably one of the most remote places in the world.
We're in probably one of the most remote places in the world.
When we got to the top, Mark was exhausted.
When we got to the top, Mark was exhausted.
I kind of threw the backpack at him and said, here's everything you need.
I kind of threw the backpack at him and said, here's everything you need.
Hi, park enthusiasts. I'm your host, Delia D'Ambra. And today's episode is a unique one. I'm going to tell you about two different cases, which are both more than 100 years old. But they share something crucial in common. Well, more like a crucial question in common. And that is, are they accidents or are they murders?
Hi, park enthusiasts. I'm your host, Delia D'Ambra. And today's episode is a unique one. I'm going to tell you about two different cases, which are both more than 100 years old. But they share something crucial in common. Well, more like a crucial question in common. And that is, are they accidents or are they murders?
The first case I'm going to dive into is the death of a man named William McMullen, who met his demise in Minnesota's Itasca State Park. It happened in the fall of 1898, so more than 125 years ago. But I became obsessed with his case after reading a book by author John Dobie called The Itasca Story.
The first case I'm going to dive into is the death of a man named William McMullen, who met his demise in Minnesota's Itasca State Park. It happened in the fall of 1898, so more than 125 years ago. But I became obsessed with his case after reading a book by author John Dobie called The Itasca Story.
For those of you who aren't as familiar with this recreation space or may never read Dobie's book, Itasca State Park is Minnesota's oldest state park. Located in the northwest part of the state, its roughly 32,000 acres are home to more than 200 campsites, a historic lodge, and other cabins, as well as a wilderness sanctuary.
For those of you who aren't as familiar with this recreation space or may never read Dobie's book, Itasca State Park is Minnesota's oldest state park. Located in the northwest part of the state, its roughly 32,000 acres are home to more than 200 campsites, a historic lodge, and other cabins, as well as a wilderness sanctuary.
It was officially established as a state park in 1891, so seven years before William McMullen's death. And let's just say, back in the late 19th century, things looked a little differently than they do now.
It was officially established as a state park in 1891, so seven years before William McMullen's death. And let's just say, back in the late 19th century, things looked a little differently than they do now.
The second case I'm going to dive into is the mysterious death of a man named Jasper Mellinger, who met his untimely end in the early 1900s in what is now known as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Great Smoky Mountains is a park that prides itself on prioritizing the preservation of historic artifacts and stories. And Jasper Mellinger's tale is no exception.
The second case I'm going to dive into is the mysterious death of a man named Jasper Mellinger, who met his untimely end in the early 1900s in what is now known as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Great Smoky Mountains is a park that prides itself on prioritizing the preservation of historic artifacts and stories. And Jasper Mellinger's tale is no exception.
While researching this episode, I got in touch with a librarian and archivist for the National Park Service who provided me with a handful of historic documents and writings from the park's collections preservation center. Reading these archives was like traveling back in time. It was amazing.
While researching this episode, I got in touch with a librarian and archivist for the National Park Service who provided me with a handful of historic documents and writings from the park's collections preservation center. Reading these archives was like traveling back in time. It was amazing.