1. The State of Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889, but it was not until February 1, 1919, that Washington became the 13th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.

2. On February 1, 1942, the first Japanese American citizens were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to internment camps as part of Executive Order 9066. Over 120,000 people of Japanese descent, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, were incarcerated during World War II.

3. In 2014, on February 1, a United States Navy SEAL who was part of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, Matt Bissonnette, gave a controversial interview and promoted his book, No Easy Day. The book revealed classified information and sparked debate about the ethics of writing about classified military operations.

4. On February 1, 1979, the Washington State Legislature passed the "Sunshine Amendment," which required public officials and candidates to disclose financial information and prohibited the use of public office for personal gain.

5. February 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month in the United States. In Washington, D.C., the month is celebrated with events such as the National Black History Month Festival and the Annual African American History Month Reception.