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Category: Legacy Washington

Historian/journalist John Hughes honored by state

Historian/journalist John Hughes honored by state

After being praised by Secretary Wyman (left), John C. Hughes addresses the crowd at a reception honoring him in Wyman’s office. (Photo courtesy of Laura Mott)  John C. Hughes was honored by the state Senate and Secretary of State Kim Wyman on Tuesday for his robust 50-year career in journalism and doing critically acclaimed oral history for Legacy Washington. A large delegation from Grays Harbor and dignitaries, colleagues and friends from Olympia filled the ornate Senate gallery as Sens. Jim…

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Justice Alexander: ‘Washington’s march to statehood’

Justice Alexander: ‘Washington’s march to statehood’

Former Chief Justice Gerry Alexander points to an image of the 1889 telegram announcing President Harrison had signed the proclamation declaring that Washington had become a state. (Photos courtesy of Laura Mott) Former Chief Justice Gerry Alexander’s distinguished career in law and the court system has spanned nearly half a century, making him one the the state’s best-known jurists in state history.  On Tuesday, he delighted a Capitol audience with another of his passions — state and local history —…

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Remembering Olympia reporting legend Adele Ferguson

Remembering Olympia reporting legend Adele Ferguson

Adele Ferguson (Photo courtesy Legacy Washington) State Capitol veterans and Olympia political observers were saddened by news that Adele Ferguson, the longtime Olympia correspondent for The Bremerton Sun, passed away Monday after a short illness. Known by many throughout the Capitol simply as “A’-dele,” Ferguson was feared and respected by many, including legislators and other elected officials who were the occasional target of her often-biting weekly column in The Sun. After Ferguson retired as a reporter in 1993, she continued…

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Wyman at “Pressing On” launch: “We need accurate, informative news”

Wyman at “Pressing On” launch: “We need accurate, informative news”

Secretary Wyman applauds as Rowland Thompson (in bow tie) shakes hands with Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen (second from left). Also standing (from left) are Yakima Herald-Republic general manager Rob Blethen, Seattle Times assistant managing editor Ryan Blethen and Wenatchee World publisher Rufus Woods. (Photo courtesy of Patrick McDonald) Few family-owned newspapers remain in Washington, or in the U.S. Two of them are continuing to make their mark with their brand of community-based journalism. The Seattle Times and The Wenatchee…

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Come see our new exhibit on 1889 Washington!

Come see our new exhibit on 1889 Washington!

The official grand opening event for our next great historical exhibit isn’t until Nov. 11, but why wait until then? Everyone is welcome to see the exhibit because it’s now on display in our office. Called Washington 1889: Blazes, Rails & the Year of Statehood, it highlights the major stories of Washington’s seminal year and explores the key events leading to Washington becoming the 42nd state: • Completion of a second transcontinental railroad once it reached Tacoma in 1883. •…

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Getting a sneak peek at 1889 WA exhibit

Getting a sneak peek at 1889 WA exhibit

Our office’s next great historical exhibit, Washington 1889: Blazes, Rails & the Year of Statehood, should be ready for the public to see on Tuesday, Oct. 21.  Secretary Wyman enjoyed a sneak peak of the exhibit panels. She and our office’s Legacy Washington staff joined Washington State Historical Society Executive Director Jennifer Kilmer (second from right in the photo below)  in checking out the panels shortly after they arrived. The exhibit’s official opening is Nov. 11 at 4 p.m., following…

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GC2G exhibit gone; WA 1889 exhibit coming soon

GC2G exhibit gone; WA 1889 exhibit coming soon

It seemed like yesterday, not over a year ago, that the popular Grand Coulee to Grunge exhibit first appeared on the walls in our front lobby in the Capitol. The exhibit showcased what’s made Washington great and world famous since it attained statehood in 1889, including our triumphs in aerospace, agriculture, engineering and technology. The exhibit also highlighted the mark Washingtonians made in music, from Bing Crosby to Jimi Hendrix to Nirvana. But GC2C is no more, at least at…

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Check out new edition of Simply Washington!

Check out new edition of Simply Washington!

Several years ago, we unveiled a fun, colorful booklet called Simply Washington, which highlights and explains many aspects of our great state. Not being ones to sit still, we decided it was time to create a whole different look and feel to this publication, which is popular with teachers, students and tourists. We’re pleased to unveil the new and improved Simply Washington online! It’s available online here for free! For the revamped edition, we’ve gone with slightly smaller dimensions than…

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SecState partnering with Karshner Center

SecState partnering with Karshner Center

Secretary Wyman and crew this week celebrated a new partnership with Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts. Wyman and her Legacy Washington team traveled to the newly renovated Karshner Center in Puyallup, meeting with Puyallup School Superintendent Tim Yeomans and top officials of the district and the Center that operates one of America’s few district-owned teaching museums. The stunning museum, with longhouse-style great hall, classroom, gallery and natural history and performing arts spaces, is housed in a repurposed…

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Kickstarter deadline for new exhibit fast approaching

Kickstarter deadline for new exhibit fast approaching

Washington 125 Years of Statehood logo. (Images courtesy of Legacy Washington) A Kickstarter private fundraising deadline is fast approaching for the latest Capitol exhibit — this one devoted to some of the biggest stories of the year of statehood, 1889. This is the 125th anniversary of being admitted to the union. Legacy Washington, a program of the Office of Secretary of State, is gathering funding for the sixth public exhibit in the ornate lobby of the Secretary’s Office on the…

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