Travel Oracles 50 States: Washington
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: Wyoming
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Joined: Washington became the forty-second state of the United States of America on November 11, 1889. After a hiatus of thirteen years when no new states were admitted to the Union, the United States Congress passed an act enabling the territories of Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana to seek statehood.
Original Indigenous Peoples: There are 29 federally recognized tribes throughout Washington and they are: Chehalis, Colville, Cowlitz, Hoh, Jamestown S'Klallam, Kalispel, Lower Elwha Klallam, Lummi, Makah, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Nooksack, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Puyallup, Quileute, Quinault, Samish, Sauk-Suiattle, Shoalwater Bay, Skokomish, Snoqualmie, Spokane, Squaxin Island, Stillaguamish, Suquamish, Swinomish, Tulalip, Upper Skagit, and Yakama
First Settlers: On July 14, 1775, Spanish explorers Bruno Heceta and Bodega y Quadra went ashore at what is now Point Grenville, near the Hoh River on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, and became the first known europeans to set foot on the soil of Washington State. The following year, during an expedition along the Pacific coast and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the English explorer Capt. George Vancouver anchored his vessels, including the Discovery, in the bay and named it Discovery Bay
History moment: 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 leading 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. 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. 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.
Known for: Greenery-mountains-ocean, Mount St. Helens, Starbucks and overall coffee culture, grunge music scene, the Seahawks, the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, headquarters of a lot of Top Fortune 500 companies and the tech industry (including both Amazon and Microsoft), hiking, kayaking, and general outdoors lifestyle (think REI)
Places: Seattle, Spokane, San Juan Islands
Movie setting: An Officer and a Gentleman, Twin Peaks, Twilight, Sleepless in Seattle, Singles
Musicians from: Jimi Hendricks, Heart, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Modest Mouse, Fleet Foxes, Macklemore
Surprising facts: The state of Washington is the only state to be named after a United States president. Seattle is home to the first revolving restaurant, 1961. Washington state produces more apples than any other state in the union and is home to home of the coffee chain Starbucks. Washington state has more glaciers than the other 47 contiguous states combined. 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.
Whether you’re looking for hip cities, beautiful hikes, or laid-back beaches, the diversity of Washington state means there's something here for every type of traveler. In Seattle, you can sample farm-to-table treats at Pike Place Market and get a glimpse of the city lights at the top of the Space Needle, while smaller cities like Tacoma and Olympia entertain with quirky museums and small-town charm. Outdoor adventurers can explore national parks like Olympic, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier, as well hike up to Mt. St. Helens and the Cascade Mountains. Beach bums will find their bliss here too, with the San Juan Islands and Long Beach Peninsula offering plenty of swimming, surfing, and whale-watching. Let’s travel to Washington
My Experience: I know the state well, having lived right beside it in British Columbia and making regular trips to Seattle. Like Vancouver, there has been abundant growth over the years into the leading cities they are today. Top thing to do in Washington
Seattle: Seattle is a city of many neighborhoods: eclectic, urban, outdoorsy, artsy, gritty, down-to-earth, or posh—it's all here, from the quirky character of the Seattle Waterfront and the eccentric "Republic of Fremont," to hipsters walking baby carriages past aging mansions on Capitol Hill. There's something for just about everyone within this vibrant Emerald City. Indeed, part of Seattle’s diversity lies in the topography: the city is a feat of environmental engineering. When the Denny party arrived on its shores, "Seattle" was a series of densely forested valleys covered by Douglas fir, Western hemlock, and red cedar.
Nature: There are three national parks in Washington, plus a number of national historic sites and other federally managed areas. These include Mount Rainer National Park · Olympic National Park · North Cascades National Park
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, Washington is currently ranked #1 out of 50 in 2021 and in 2019.