In September 2022, Wrangell History Unlocked released Rise & Fall of the Star of Bengal, a 5-part podcast series diving into the controversies surrounding the 1908 wreck of the Star of Bengal.
From the Producer
“The Star of Bengal story has always fascinated me. I created Rise & Fall of the Star of Bengal to answer the big questions: was the cannery crew locked inside the ship as it sank? Who was responsible for the wreck? And why are there so many different versions of the story? I hope you have as much fun learning about the Star of Bengal as much as I putting together this podcast series.”
Award of Excellence
In June 2023, the American Association for State and Local History announced that Rise & Fall of the Star of Bengal received the prestigious Award of Excellence. From the press release:
“The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena.”
In The Media
The Alaska Association for Historic Preservation invited Ronan Rooney to address their annual meeting to talk about the history of the Star of Bengal and the advantages of sharing history through podcasting.
Juneau Empire: Tale of historic Wrangell shipwreck surfaces in podcast (August 31, 2022)
Ketchikan Daily News: Rooney recounts 1908 shipwreck of Star of Bengal (August 16, 2024)