Washington became a state in 1889, but it has an interesting history that goes back much further than that. Lewis and Clark were here in 1805, and our state is home to many Native American tribes like the Chinook, Ozette and Palouse that have been here for centuries. If you’re curious about our state’s past, exploring some notable historical landmarks will give you some insight into our history. Here’s a list of 10 must-see landmarks to get you started:
- Chinook Point, Chinook
Wikipedia It was here that Captain Robert Gray became the first European to see the Columbia River in 1792. A few years later, in 1805, members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped here.
- American and English Camps, San Juan Island
Wikipedia The American and English Camps are now known as San Juan Island National Historical Park. They were used to house British and U.S. Army camps during the Pig War of 1859.
- Arthur Foss, Kirkland
javacolleen / Flickr The Arthur Foss is one of the oldest wooden-hulled tugboats still afloat in the US, and possibly the most famous due to its use in the 1933 production of “Tugboat Annie.” In World War II, the Arthur Foss was the last boat that escaped before 1941’s Battle of Wake Island.
- Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Walla Walla
Jasperdo / Flickr The Whitman Mission was founded by Oregon Trail emigrants. In 1847, it was the site of a massacre that played a key role in our country’s westward expansion. Members of the Cayuse tribe killed 13 settlers, causing the US to annex the land as the Oregon Territory and starting the Cayuse War.
- Fort Nisqually Granary, Tacoma
PROMichael D Martin / Flickr Fort Nisqually was the first European trading post on Puget Sound. It has been relocated to Point Defiance Park in Tacoma and serves as a living history museum.
- Benewah Milk Bottle, Spokane
thomas alan / Flickr Have you ever been to the Milk Bottle restaurant in Spokane? Paul E. Newport, the owner of the Benewah Dairy Company, designed the bottle back in 1935. It’s now on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Burial Site of Chief Seattle, Suquamish
Gexydaf / Flickr This is one of 38 sites in the Nez Perce National Historic Park, which also has sites in Idaho, Oregon and Montana.
- Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver (and half in Oregon)
Mark Goebel / Flickr Fort Vancouver was an important 19th century fur trading outpost, established in 1824 by the Hudson’s Bay Company. Unfortunately all the buildings burned in 1866, but they were all rebuilt in their original places in 1966.
- Panama Hotel, Seattle
Curtis Cronn / Flickr The hotel was built in 1910, and it holds the country’s last remaining Japanese bathhouse.
- Fort Worden, Port Townsend
Steve Voght / Flickr Built during the Endicott period of the US seacoast defense building, Fort Worden is now a beautiful state park.
Take the time to learn some of our state history this year. It will probably make you love Washington even more.
Wikipedia
It was here that Captain Robert Gray became the first European to see the Columbia River in 1792. A few years later, in 1805, members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped here.
The American and English Camps are now known as San Juan Island National Historical Park. They were used to house British and U.S. Army camps during the Pig War of 1859.
javacolleen / Flickr
The Arthur Foss is one of the oldest wooden-hulled tugboats still afloat in the US, and possibly the most famous due to its use in the 1933 production of “Tugboat Annie.” In World War II, the Arthur Foss was the last boat that escaped before 1941’s Battle of Wake Island.
Jasperdo / Flickr
The Whitman Mission was founded by Oregon Trail emigrants. In 1847, it was the site of a massacre that played a key role in our country’s westward expansion. Members of the Cayuse tribe killed 13 settlers, causing the US to annex the land as the Oregon Territory and starting the Cayuse War.
PROMichael D Martin / Flickr
Fort Nisqually was the first European trading post on Puget Sound. It has been relocated to Point Defiance Park in Tacoma and serves as a living history museum.
thomas alan / Flickr
Have you ever been to the Milk Bottle restaurant in Spokane? Paul E. Newport, the owner of the Benewah Dairy Company, designed the bottle back in 1935. It’s now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Gexydaf / Flickr
This is one of 38 sites in the Nez Perce National Historic Park, which also has sites in Idaho, Oregon and Montana.
Mark Goebel / Flickr
Fort Vancouver was an important 19th century fur trading outpost, established in 1824 by the Hudson’s Bay Company. Unfortunately all the buildings burned in 1866, but they were all rebuilt in their original places in 1966.
Curtis Cronn / Flickr
The hotel was built in 1910, and it holds the country’s last remaining Japanese bathhouse.
Steve Voght / Flickr
Built during the Endicott period of the US seacoast defense building, Fort Worden is now a beautiful state park.
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