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Category: Washington history

A Snapshot of Adams County

A Snapshot of Adams County

Adams is first in a series covering Washington’s 39 counties, including how they got their names. —————————————————————————————————– Adams County, named for the second president, John Adams, is a landscape of pastoral hills, farmland, and vast skies in the southeastern part of the state. It was founded in November, 1883, by the Territorial Legislature, six full years before Washington became a state. Unlike the densely populated counties in the West around Puget Sound, Adams County offers plenty of elbow room. With…

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Historical Zine Contest under way

Historical Zine Contest under way

Are you a Zinester or want to become one? Do you like history? Then take part in the first-ever Historical Zine Contest. Some of you might be asking, What is a Zine? Zines (rhymes with beans) are basically self-published magazines that give the creator’s point of view on the subject. The contest, which is sponsored by the Washington State Library, Washington State Archives and Timberland Regional Library, runs through August 31. The contest is open to 4th graders through adults…

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WA honors Magna Carta’s 800-year legacy of liberty

WA honors Magna Carta’s 800-year legacy of liberty

British flag flies outside Capitol. (Photos courtesy of Benjamin Helle) As the Union Jack flew at the Washington state Capitol and inside the ornate Temple of Justice, the state joined a national and international celebration of the 800-year legacy of liberty and the rule of law. The foundational document was described as “the most famous and pivotal law document in the world” by Robin Twyman, UK consul in Seattle. Robert Stacey, an expert on early British history, said American colonists…

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WA joins MagnaCarta800 celebration

WA joins MagnaCarta800 celebration

Washington state is joining the national and international celebration of the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, the foundational document for the rule of law and individual liberties. The Washington Supreme Court is hosting the state celebration at noon on Monday, June 15, on the Capitol Campus. All are welcome. The event is organized by a citizen committee led by retired Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander and history exhibit designer Sue Lean of Olympia. The celebration is sponsored by the…

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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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Centennial Time Capsule closes for another 25 years

Centennial Time Capsule closes for another 25 years

Secretary Wyman has fun with some of the new Capsule Keepers in front of the Centennial Time Capsule in the Capitol. (Photos courtesy of Benjamin Helle) Washington‘s Centennial Time Capsule was sealed for the next 25 years during a ceremony at the State Capitol Sunday afternoon. Letters and artifacts collected over the last year were added to the capsule. Secretary of State Kim Wyman and members of the Keepers of the Capsule Board spoke to an audience of about 80…

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Talk focuses on women and Washington State Constitution

Talk focuses on women and Washington State Constitution

Local historian Shanna Stevenson talks about the history of suffrage in Washington. Suffragists in Washington Territory were told to leave voting rights to the “chivalry of men,” who would eventually allow for them to vote. Thankfully, many activists and suffragists ignored that advice. Washington state became the 5th state in the United States to permanently protect women’s right to vote. This was just one story from local historian Shanna Stevenson’s presentation. At a brown-bag event hosted by Secretary of State…

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Elk having a spa day in Spokane?

Elk having a spa day in Spokane?

(Photo courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives) These days, a picture like this one more likely to come from the Olympic Rainforest than central Spokane. But in 1910, these elk were bathing in the middle of what is now Manito Park. Manito Park is an important part of Spokane history because it encouraged settlement in a new area. The park and its surrounding neighborhood, which were once considered “way out” from the original Spokane townsite, are now central parts of Spokane. In…

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Happy 100th birthday, Dolliver Building!

Happy 100th birthday, Dolliver Building!

The Dolliver Building soon after opening in 1915. (Image courtesy of Washington State Archives) The Dolliver Building, home to our Corporations and Charities Division, opened 100 years ago in 1915. To celebrate its centennial, the lobby is currently displaying an exhibit about the building’s history. The exhibit (below) will be on display for the next year. It includes a video of Secretary of State Kim Wyman interviewing former Secretary of State Ralph Munro about the building’s history. The Dolliver Building,…

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Looking for historic NW images? State Library has ’em!

Looking for historic NW images? State Library has ’em!

“Hidden from Sight” collection includes this image of Mount Rainier from the Puyallup River. (Image courtesy of Washington State Library) One of the great things about the Washington State Library is that many of its historic photos, newspapers and maps are available digitally, for free. One example is the State Library’s Flickr page, which on some days receives thousands of hits to individual photos. The State Library’s Flickr page now has a collection of images that show life in the…

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