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Tag: Puget Sound

History Day: Vancouver students win state, compete in nationals

History Day: Vancouver students win state, compete in nationals

Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Archivist Tracy Rebstock proudly announces that the state’s top Junior Division 2018 History Day project comes from Pleasant Valley Middle School in Vancouver. Washington’s History Day is an annual contest conducted by National History Day, a nonprofit organization that engages students and teachers from across the United States to do original research on a topic of their choice and present it as a project. Original research on historical topics is right up the State Archives’…

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Historic newspaper spotlight: Northwest Enterprise

Historic newspaper spotlight: Northwest Enterprise

In 1879, Anacortes, Washington was founded and named by railroad surveyor Amos Bowman, who hoped it would become the major terminus for North America’s northwest railroads. Bowman brought in Alfred D. Bowen and Frank M. Walsh from Seattle to establish the Northwest Enterprise [Library of Congress Control Number SN88085204], using its platform to promote the fledgling community and to solidify his city’s metropolitan status. First appearing on March 25, 1882, the politically Independent paper was published as a weekly and…

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Remembering Governor Spellman

Remembering Governor Spellman

The Jan. 16 death of former Gov. John D. Spellman at 91 prompted personal reminiscences from several staffers in the Office of the Secretary of State who knew Spellman during and after his 1981-85 time in state office. State Archivist Steve Excell, who served as Gov. Spellman’s chief of staff, said in a television interview with KING-5 that Spellman had changed his life, as well as those of countless Washingtonians. “He was a true statesman,” Excell said. “He was a…

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From Digital Archives: Classic WA sailing photos

From Digital Archives: Classic WA sailing photos

When you visit Puget Sound or one of the many lakes in Washington, especially during the gorgeous summer months here, you’re bound to see someone sailing. (And maybe you’re the one on the sailboat!) Sailing has been a popular activity around these waters about as long as sailboats first appeared here. These photos on the Washington State Digital Archives website confirm it. The top picture shows a couple of sailboats on Lake Washington around 1960. The middle shot features a…

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Classics in Washington History -A Pioneer’s Search for an Ideal Home

Classics in Washington History -A Pioneer’s Search for an Ideal Home

From the desk of Jeff Martin A Pioneer’s Search for an Ideal Home Written by: Phoebe Goodell Judson Union Printing, Binding and Stationary Co., Bellingham, Washington Publication date: 1925 Phoebe Goodell Judson who crossed the Plains in 1853 and became a resident on Puget Sound before the organization of Washington Territory. A Book of Personal Memoirs (Published in the author’s 95th year) CHAPTER I It is the oft repeated inquiry of my friends as to what induced me to bury…

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From the Archives: ferries from yesteryear

From the Archives: ferries from yesteryear

A “must-do” activity for Puget Sound visitors (and residents, too) is riding one of the ferries that cross its waters. Besides serving an important transportation purpose, the state’s ferry fleet offers riders a great way to enjoy the scenic views of the sound and the Cascades and Olympics. Ever wonder what the state’s ferry fleet looked like many years ago? The State Digital Archives has photo collections that provide an answer. The photo above shows the ferry boat Olympic as…

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Classic WA maps: 1889 Puget Sound & Olympic Peninsula

Classic WA maps: 1889 Puget Sound & Olympic Peninsula

Anyone who looks at a current map of Puget Sound will spot large cities like Seattle and Tacoma and familiar geographic features like Point Defiance and Elliott Bay. But when you look at old maps of the sound, you realize that some names were different. This 1889 map of Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula proves it. What is Elliott Bay today was known as Duwamish Bay in 1889. Alki Point had a different name back then, too — Battery…

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The Devil Fish and Octopus Wrestling

The Devil Fish and Octopus Wrestling

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library What was a life and death struggle in 1913 became a weird form of recreation in Puget Sound in the 1950s-1960s and then an environmentally taboo practice by the 1970s. I am talking, of course, about octopus wrestling. Although the story is set near Anacortes, the article was found at random in the Camas Post, August 15, 1913. A note before we start, the term…

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From Your Corner of Washington: Puget Sound sailing

From Your Corner of Washington: Puget Sound sailing

On many summer days, you’re bound to see sailboats plying the waters of Puget Sound. In fact, Washington is renowned for its many boat lovers. This photo shows several weekend mariners near Shilshoe Bay. We invite you to e-mail your photos and stories to us as part of an ongoing feature called “From Your Corner of Washington” – we want to gather images of landscapes, homes, views, and personal narratives from all over the state. Q) How do I submit…

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April Archives treasure #1: Cross-sound bridge plans

April Archives treasure #1: Cross-sound bridge plans

(Map courtesy of Washington State Archives) Whether you’re a commuter or tourist, taking a ferry across Puget Sound is one of those fun experiences unique to our state. It’s hard to beat the view of Downtown Seattle at sunset or dusk as you arrive on a ferry sailing from Bremerton or Bainbridge Island. Believe it not, there were once plans afoot to replace the ferries with a series of bridges that would cross Puget Sound.  Here is a 1965 analysis…

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