1. In 1856, the first newspaper in Washington Territory, The Columbian, was published in Olympia. It was edited by Samuel Colville and had a circulation of just 300.

2. On April 16, 1908, the state of Washington passed a law prohibiting "unfair or deceptive" business practices. This law was one of the first of its kind in the nation and paved the way for consumer protection laws across the country.

3. In 1947, the Darrington Unit of the Snohomish County Logging Museum was founded in Darrington, Washington. This museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest.

4. On April 16, 1972, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the city of Tacoma, causing $10-12 million in damages and injuring 200 people. This was the largest earthquake to hit the area since 1949.

5. In 1995, Seattle resident Gary Lockwood climbed Mount Everest, becoming the first African American to reach the summit. Lockwood also holds the distinction of being the first African American to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents.