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Category: Just for Fun

“Library Jewel” #2: Slide presentation of the 1914 Sedro-Woolley bank robbery

“Library Jewel” #2: Slide presentation of the 1914 Sedro-Woolley bank robbery

Compiled by a Washingtonian with a flair for the dramatic, this collection of glass lantern slides, along with a typewritten narrative script, tells the story of the infamous Sedro-Woolley bank robbery of 1914. Traveling to theaters throughout Western Washington, this spirited presentation was staged with a performer reading the narrative script while the slides were shown on screen. Last year the Sedro-Woolley Museum and Sedro-Woolley Public Library partnered to digitize these slides along with over 300 additional resources through the…

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Sunday Canoe landing, “Paddle to Squaxin 2012”

Sunday Canoe landing, “Paddle to Squaxin 2012”

This Sunday marks the 24th annual Canoe Journey, a colorful event that has helped  strengthen the cultural ties of Pacific Northwest coastal tribes. Every summer a different tribe hosts the canoe landing.  This year, hundreds of canoes will paddle to the Port of Olympia where they will be welcomed by the Squaxin Island Tribe to participate in a week of potlatch ceremonies to celebrate the resurgence of coastal Salish traditions. Cedar canoes served the indigenous tribes of the coastal Pacific…

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Visiting cloudy Coupeville

Visiting cloudy Coupeville

Taking his final tour of the northwestern part of our state, Secretary of State Reed is visiting Coupeville, the Island County seat located in the central part of beautiful Whidbey Island.  Reed chatted with Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider and staff at the Island County Courthouse, and took a tour of the Island County Historical Society Museum.  Later this afternoon, Reed will travel to Bellingham. Below is a picture of the Coupeville wharf on this fine, if cool, June-uary morning.

March “Archives treasures” poll opens

March “Archives treasures” poll opens

Over the last few days we have chosen three of the thousands of interesting treasures from your Washington State Archives, and now it’s time to vote on your favorite. The first is a photograph and information about the founding of the Women’s Club of Olympia, followed by a failed Walla Walla Penitentiary break, and the passage of the Barefoot Schoolboy Act. This poll will close Monday at noon, so vote now on the treasure you value most! #1 The Women’s Club…

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There’s the beef

There’s the beef

It’s that annual event during legislative session in which carnivores rejoice and vegetarians avoid. It’s Beef Day. The state Cattlemen’s Association is cooking up a BBQ between the Legislative Building and Cherberg Building on Thursday between noon and 3 p.m. As you can see in the photo, the cattlemen were already cranking up the grill this morning in preparation.

From Your Corner of Washington: Capitol Lake sunrise

From Your Corner of Washington: Capitol Lake sunrise

Photo courtesy of Dyan Boling In Olympia during winter, we are rarely privy to the sunsets and sunrises that more arid climates often enjoy.  Which is why this spectacular sunrise recently was particularly welcome to us, especially amidst the busyness of the legislative session.  It is already a privilege to work in state government, but driving to work with this kind of scenery made the experience quite thrilling. Have you traveled anywhere recently around our beautiful state and taken any…

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This Day in Washington History: November 16, 1932

This Day in Washington History: November 16, 1932

On November 16, 1932, the Wenatchee World newspaper made a plea to local businesses requesting that they write letters to Congress about building a dam in their area.  The plea worked.  The letters were written, and Congress responded by funding the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, which still stands today. Photo courtesy of the Washington State Archives.           

Troubled Bridge over Water

Troubled Bridge over Water

Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives Seventy-one years ago yesterday, “Galloping Gertie” galloped her way into the icy Puget Sound waters below. Dedicated on July 1, 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge spanned the narrow section of Puget Sound that separates Pierce County from the Kitsap Peninsula.  With its two towers bridged by 2,800 feet of lightweight materials, the bridge was considered a true marvel of its time. Too lightweight for its own good, however, the bridge would catch the wind blowing through the…

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Autumn in Olympia

Autumn in Olympia

The fall colors of the deciduous trees in Olympia have been slow to turn this year, giving us the opportunity to enjoy the changing colors of autumn for quite some time.  Our Capitol Campus looks quite grand on this recent morning, as the unusually bright blue sky makes the fall colors particularly bold. Photo courtesy of Benjamin Helle, Washington State Archives.