 SHOWS

 THIS DAY IN HISTORY

 SCHEDULE
 TOPICS
 STORIES
 AD CHOICES
 ADVERTISE
 CLOSED CAPTIONING
 COPYRIGHT POLICY
 CORPORATE INFORMATION
 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
 FAQ/CONTACT US
 PRIVACY NOTICE
 TERMS OF USE
 TV PARENTAL GUIDELINES
 RSS FEEDS
 ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT
 PRIVACY SETTINGS




 UPDATED:

APR 1, 2020

ORIGINAL:

DEC 18, 2009

Washington
HISTORY.COM EDITORS




CONTENTS

1. Interesting Facts

2. Photos
Granted statehood in 1889, Washington was named in honor of George
Washington; it is the only U.S. state named after a president. The state’s
coastal location and excellent harbors have contributed to its role as a leader
in trade with Alaska, Canada and countries of the Pacific Rim. The majestic
Mount Rainier soars above Seattle and is the highest peak in the continental
United States. Another Washington landmark, Mount St. Helens erupted in
1980, the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S.
history. The Evergreen State is the nation’s leader producer of apples and is
the home of the coffee chain Starbucks. Famous Washingtonians include
musician Jimi Hendrix, entertainer Bing Crosby and computer pioneer Bill
Gates.

Date of Statehood: November 11, 1889

Capital: Olympia

Population: 6,724,540 (2010)

Size: 71,298 square miles

Nickname(s): Evergreen State

Motto: Alki (“Bye and Bye”)

Tree: Western Hemlock

Flower: Coast Rhododendron

Bird: Willow Goldfinch

Interesting Facts
 On January 26, 1700, a large earthquake 60 to 70 miles off the coast of
the Pacific Northwest caused a tsunami roughly 33 feet high to engulf the
Washington coastline. Ten hours later, the tsunami hit the main island of
Japan with 6-to-10 foot swells.
 In 1836, Marcus and Narcissa Whitman established a mission at
Waiilatpu on the Walla Walla River to bring Christianity to the Cayuse
Indians. When an increasing number of colonists migrated to the area and
an epidemic of measles spared the lives of white children but killed almost
 all Cayuse offspring, Chief Tiloukaikt and several members of his tribe
became infuriated, and, on November 29, 1847, killed the Whitmans along
with 12 other settlers. The Whitman Massacre, as it became known,
resulted in the Cayuse War and, ultimately, the dissolution of the Cayuse
tribe.
 Seattle’s Great Fire, which destroyed 64 acres and many businesses,
began on June 6, 1889, after a pot of glue from a cabinet shop burst into
flames.
 In an attempt at honoring her father—a Civil War veteran who had
raised six children by himself after his wife died in childbirth—Spokane
resident Sonora Smart Dodd garnered support for the first statewide
Father’s Day celebration on June 19, 1910. Afterward, Dodd continued to
press for a national observance; although the idea was backed by
President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and President Calvin Coolidge in 1924,
Father’s Day did not become a federal holiday until 1972.
 Boeing’s Everett factory, where twin-aisle airplanes are manufactured,
is the world’s largest building by volume, covering 98.3 acres and
encompassing 472 million cubic feet of space. More than 100,000 people
tour the plant each year.
 Washington is the nation’s leading producer of apples, pears, sweet
cherries, red raspberries and hops. In 2010, the state’s apple harvest
generated $1.44 billion.

 Three national parks and 68 state parks border Puget Sound, which
spans 2,500 miles of shoreline and helps to generate $20 billion of
economic activity for the state of Washington.

 The Seattle Space Needle, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, is an iconic
part of the city’s skyline and features a rotating restaurant at the top.
Photos
Washington

9
GALLERY

9 IMAGES

Citation Information
Article Title
Washington
Author
History.com Editors
Website Name
HISTORY
 URL
https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/washington
Access Date
May 15, 2020
Publisher
A&E Television Networks
Last Updated
April 1, 2020
Original Published Date
December 18, 2009
BY

 HISTORY.COM EDITORS




FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you
see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!

VIDEOS
Washington

Washington, D.C.
The Summit of Mt. Washington

George Washington

Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present.

SIGN UP
RELATED CONTENT

Washington, D.C.
George Washington's Mount Vernon
George Washington

Martha Washington
Virginia
March on Washington

George Washington Carver

Wyoming
Alaska

SEE MORE

 Ad Choices
 Advertise
 Closed Captioning
 Copyright Policy
 Corporate Information
 Employment Opportunities
 FAQ/Contact Us
 Privacy Notice
 Terms of Use
 TV Parental Guidelines
 RSS Feeds
 Accessibility Support
© 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

MAVEN

HISTORY.COM EDITORS
George Washington

HISTORY.COM EDITORS
Oregon
HISTORY.COM EDITORS
Martin Luther King,
Jr.

HISTORY.COM EDITORS
Manhattan Project

HISTORY.COM EDITORS
Utah
BESb
swy
BES
bsw
yBE
Sbs
wyB
ESbs
wyB
ESb
swy
BES
bsw
yBE
Sbs
wyB
ESb
swy
BES
bsw
yBE
Sbs
wyB
ESbs
wyB
ESb
swy
BES
bsw
yBE
Sbs
wyB
ESb
swy
BESb
swy
BES
bsw
yBE
Sbs
wyB
ESb
swy
BES
bsw
yBE
Sbs
wyB
ESbs
wyB
ESbs
wyB
ESb
swy
BES
bsw
yBE
Sbs
wyB
ESb
swy