Washington State Facts and Fun Places
Remembering Washington State
Evergreens, a mild climate, gorgeous mountains, rocky Pacific points, sandy beaches, tribal lands and quaint cities and towns -- these are just some facts of Washington State.
I was 9 years old when we moved from Illinois to Washington. In an old blue Chevy station wagon and a U-haul truck, my family of 6 took to the trail crossing the USA.
Washington was just a place in a geography book prior to that move. Now, 30 some odd years later (never mind how many) I remember it as the state that stole my heart -- my "wanna be" home state -- and I want to share it with you. You can see it through the eyes of a kid and maybe you will fall in love too.
Image: Kelvin Kay under CC by SA 3.0 License
Washington, USA - The Pacific Northwest of the United States
Washington state is located in the Pacific Northwest, above Oregon on the Pacific coast and borders Canada to the north.
It took us 5 days of driving (slow going for a family of 6) to reach Poulsbo, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula. Through the Bad Lands in North Dakota, across the width of Montana and through most of Washington state.
Mileage From Seattle to: - Washington State Facts
Image: DecoratingforEvents - Mandee
Tell us! We want to know...
Have you been to Washington state and if so, what part?
My dad shared some interesting facts about Washington state when I rode shotgun with him in the U-Haul truck. It also took my mind off some of the sheer drops outside my window as we drove through the Badlands.
Washington State Facts -- Early History
- November 11, 1889, Washington became the 42nd state.
- Washington state was named for our first president, George Washington. It is the only state in the union that is named for a president.
- The first aerial circumnavigation of the world used Seattle's Sand Point Airfield for the starting and finishing line of their journey around the world -- starting April 6th, 1924 and arrive back at Sand Point Airfield on September 28th, 1924.
- Sonora Smart Dodd was credited with creating Father's Day in Spokane, Washington at a local YMCA in 1910.
- In 1926, Bertha Knight Landes was elected mayor of Seattle. This was the first time a woman mayor had been elected in a major city.
Washington State Flag
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Velkommen to Viking Fest in Poulsbo, Washington
Celebrating Scandinavian Heritage
The small city of Poulsbo, Washington is located on the Kitsap Peninsula, just west of Seattle and Puget Sound. Founded by Jorgen Eliason, a Norwegian immigrant, Poulsbo was a popular settlement for Norwegian and other Scandinavian immigrants.
For 44 years, the city has celebrated it's heritage and traditions by hosting "Viking Fest". The Festival is held Friday, Saturday and Sunday in mid May each year.
It features normal festival foods and events like parades, rides and craft booths but also has an area on the waterfront designated as "Viking Village". Here, you can watch as folks wearing traditional Viking clothes work their trades -- jewelry making, metalworking and weavers teach about the old Viking ways and give you a taste of like long ago.
Image: Public Domain
Remembering Poulsbo, Washington
I went to elementary school in Poulsbo for a year. I remember the downtown area -- the buildings and Scandinavian styles, the bakery where we would buy "streakers" and donuts, walking to the waterfront to watch the boats and ships in Liberty Bay. I really enjoyed my time in Poulsbo and went back to visit family and friends during my 5 years in Washington. I still have an aunt and uncle living there...
Image: Joe Mabel under the CC by S.A. 3.0 License
Excellent Resources about Washington State
- Washington State travel | experiencewa.com
Welcome to Washington We'd like to welcome you to the official travel and tourism website for the state of Washington. Use our maps, official Visitors' Guide and local experts to plan your next vacation to the Pacific Northwest. - Things to Do in Washington State - Washington State Tourism - Experience Washington - Places to Stay
Looking for things to do and places to stay in Washington State? Experience Washington state tourism by planning your trip at ScenicWA.com - Access Washington
All about the state of Washington for citizens, visitors, businesses and more. The state government welcomes you to Washington. - 2,588 Things To Do in Washington State
Washington State Things To Do: 364 reviews and photos of things to see in Washington State from real travelers and locals. - Washington State - Go Northwest! A Travel Guide
Washington State resource for finding cities, towns, parks, accommodations, attractions, and recreational opportunities.
Quick Video with Washington State Highlights - A Scenic Tour of Washington
Washington State Facts -- Ferries
* Washington state has the largest ferry transportation system in the United States and is number 3 in the world behind British Columbia, Canada and Sydney, Australia.
* Annually, the ferries transport over 24 million passengers and 10 million vehicles to 20 different ports of call.
* The largest ferries (Jumbo Mark II) can carry 2500 passengers and 202 vehicles.
* Of the 24 million annual passengers on ferries, 50% are commuters
* There are 200 miles of marine highways in Washington.
My very first ferry ride was from Edmonds to Kingston. I remember standing on the bow with my family, leaning against the railing and thinking how gorgeous the water and the skies were. Today, what comes to mind is the scene from Titanic where Jack leans over the water and screams: "I'm King of the World".
The Space Needle at Night
Image: Joe Mabel under the CC by SA 3.0 License
Washington State Facts... Did You Know these 10 Facts?
- Among all 50 states, Washington state was rated the best state for cleanest public spaces as well as highest-quality public environmental practices.
- Washington state is/was home to many large companies such as: Microsoft, Amazon.com, Classmates.com/MemoryLane.com, and Boeing.
- 1 of only 7 other states, Washington does not have a personal state income tax.
- Washington is the home state of many celebrities including Jimi Hendrix, Bing Crosby, Bob Barker, Steve Miller, Ray Charles and Adam West (Batman).
- The Olympic Peninsula is home to the only Rain Forest in the continental United States.
- Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River is the largest electric producing dam in the United States.
- The city of Seattle has the largest percentage of citizens with a college degree.
- The World's Fair was hosted in Seattle in 1962. The Space Needle was the centerpiece of the fair.
- Spokane also hosted a World's Fair in 1974.
- The Boeing company based in Seattle was the manufacturer of the Lunar Rover - the vehicle astronauts used on the moon.
Scenes from Washington State
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Image credits from above photos:
1. Deception Pass Bridge - Public Domain
2. Edmonds Ferry photo - Moxfyre under CC by SA 3.0 License
3. Evergreen Point Floating Bridge - Public Domain
4. Grand Coulee Dam - Public Domain
5. Seattle Center - Space Needle - DimiTalen under CC by SA 3.0 License
6. Mount St. Helen - Public Domain
7. Pike Place Market, Seattle - Rootology under CC by SA 3.0 License
8. San Juan Islands at Night - Melamed Katz Copyrighted by free use permissible.
9. Snoqualmie Falls - Deadstar under CC by SA 3.0 License
10. Soap Lake - Public Domain
We only drove over the Deception Pass Bridge a couple of times but my fear of heights was alive and well even at a young age. I spent the time it took to drive over the bridge in the floorboard of the back seat.
(Remember, no seat belt laws back then.)
My 4 Hometowns in Washington State - Poulsbo, Kingston, Sultan, Arlington
In 1974, we lived in Poulsbo. In 1975, we moved to Kingston. In 1976, we moved across Puget Sound to a little town on the way to the Cascade Mountain pass called "Stevens Pass".
In 1977, we moved a bit north and west to another small town, Arlington. I spent half my 7th grade year there along with my whole 8th grade year and the beginning of my freshman year before dad re-joined the US Navy and we were shipped off to Guam, but that's a whole 'nother story...
Washington has Professional Sports Teams
Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, Storm
Washington state has teams in the NFL, MLB, WNBA, MLS as well as various farm and training teams. My brother is still, 30 some years later, a HUGE Seahawks fan.
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I was on a field trip with my class to see the inside of the King Dome before it officially opened in 1976. I remember being in such awe of it. Now it's gone...
How Many ______ are there in Washington? - Answers to Your Questions about Washington State
- There are 140 public airfields in Washington.
- There are 23 to 28 ferries in the fleet owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
- Washington boosts 3 National Parks - Mt. Rainer National Park, North Cascades National Park and Olympic National Park.
- There are 2 National Monuments in Washington state: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and the Hanford Reach National Monument.
- There are 8 military bases/facilities in the state of Washington.
- 9 National Forests are all or partly in the state of Washington.
- There are 8 Wild Life Refuges, wholly or partially in Washington.
- There are 692 wineries in the state of Washington.
- There are over 400 Starbucks locations in its birthplace, Washington state.
Washington State is the Home of Starbucks
Have Starbucks at Your House!
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Me and the Space Needle
On another field trip, this time with my junior high class, we went to Seattle Center. At the time it was like a small amusement park with exhibits and such. One of the highlights of the day was to ride to the top of the Space Needle and look out over Seattle and the surrounding area from the observation deck.
I was worried, knowing my fear of heights but had to play it cool in front of my classmates. I was at the front of the line so I was one of the first on the elevator. There are lots of windows on the elevators and, as luck would have it, I was plastered up against one of the long windows in the center.
They crowded on a ton of junior high kids for the ride to the top. It was very tight and I couldn't get turned around. I rode to the top in less than a minute watching the ground slip out from under me all the way.
When we got to the top, I refused to get off the elevator. They had to take me right back down.
From that point on, I appreciated the Space Needle from the ground. :)
Image: MaplessinSeattle under CC by ND 2.0 License
Washington State - My Adopted Home State
Fact is, I always thought I would end up back in Washington. My whole family loved it. We went from Washington to Guam to Kentucky to North Carolina to Indiana (complements of the US Navy). After I got married we went from Indiana to Illinois to Florida and back to Indiana.
Somehow, I never made it back. I swear, sometimes when I'm alone late at night, I hear the mountains and evergreens calling to me -- guess I always will. I'll get back one day even if it's just for a visit. Washington state is my adopted home state.
Image Credit: Public Domain
Mt. Rainer Reflected in a Lake - A Last Look at the Beauty of Washington State
Image: Kelvin Kay under CC by SA 3.0 License
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