1. In 1920, women in Washington state gained the right to vote in primary elections, two months before the 19th Amendment was ratified.

2. On August 18, 1968, the Washington D.C. riots erupted after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The riots lasted for four days and resulted in 13 deaths and over 1,000 injuries.

3. Seattle's iconic Alki Beach was first named on August 18, 1851, by a group of settlers led by Arthur Denny. The name "Alki" is a Chinook word meaning "by and by" or "someday."

4. On August 18, 1976, John Hinckley Jr., who later attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, was arrested in Tacoma for possession of guns and ammunition.

5. Construction began on the Grand Coulee Dam on August 18, 1933. The dam, located on the Columbia River, is the largest electric power-producing facility in the United States.