This is a story about a pig, or I guess it's a story that started with a pig.

On a Wednesday in June 1859, on an island off the coast of Northwestern Washington,

a man shot and killed this pig.

Its death brought two of the world's greatest military powers to the brink of war.

It's an incredible story that is made even more incredible by the fact that 100 years

after it happened, a group of mannequins were cast in a play about this event.

And about 60 years after that, a taxidermied pig claimed to be the original pig ended

up in my friend's garage.

That is some pig.

I have so many questions for you Mark.

This is Atlas Obscura.

I'm Sarah Wyman.

The San Juan Island pig stays in the picture after this.

I hope that we had a baby who was living in our guest cabin and the baby found it.

There have never been this many people in my living room before.

Ten of us are here to do a table read of a play.

That's Meg and Pete, two of my best friends in Bellingham.

Pete's propped up on my desk, beaming in over Zoom because he has COVID.

Did you bring up your snacks?

No, I'm a few left.

Is everyone ready?

Ready?

...