The Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History (original) (raw)

8281 HistoryLink.org articles now available.

Diablo Dam incline railway climbing Sourdough Mountain, 1930. Courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives, 2306.
Children waving to ferry, 1950. Courtesy Museum of History and Industry.
Loggers in the Northwest woods. Courtesy Washington State Digital Archives.

Best in Show

Located just south of Olympia, Tumwater holds the title for the first non-Native pioneer settlement in Washington, which came with the arrival of George Bush in late 1845. His son, William Owen Bush, later took over the family farm and became an accomplished agronomist, winning the top prize for grain at the United States centennial exposition in 1876. Bush was one of the first state legislators and was an advocate for the creation of a state agricultural college, which would later become Washington State University.

Flying In

One hundred years ago this week, on September 28, 1924, more than 40,000 people gathered at Seattle's Sand Point Airfield to welcome two U.S. Army aircraft that had just completed the first aerial circumnavigation of the globe. The two planes were the survivors of a fleet of four Douglas Air Cruisers that had departed Sand Point for their round-the-world trip more than five months earlier.

Rolling Out

On September 30, 1968, the public got a close-up view of the first 747 Jumbo Jet at its rollout in Everett, and many were impressed with its sheer size. Four months later the 747 took its first flight and flew for more than an hour while a three-man crew performed a series of tests, including sideslips and a simulated loss of hydraulic power.

Starting Up

Washington cities that celebrate anniversaries this week include South Bend, which incorporated on September 27, 1890; Stanwood, which voted to incorporate on September 29, 1903; Okanogan, which voted to incorporate on September 30, 1907; Granger, which had its incorporation approved on September 28, 1909; and Mill Creek, which incorporated on September 30, 1983.

The Bubbleator at Seattle Center carried its final passengers on October 1, 1980.

I have been absolutely blessed to have five different careers. Each one has been absolutely marvelous because you learn new things.

--Dan Evans

Join us for HistoryLunch!

September 17th

×