1. In 1844, a large fire destroyed several buildings in the town of Olympia, including the governor's mansion.
2. In 1951, the Washington State Legislature approved the creation of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which would become one of the busiest airports in the world.
3. In 1980, Mount St. Helens, located in southwestern Washington, began to show increased volcanic activity, leading to its catastrophic eruption in May of that year.
4. In 1998, Seattle hosted the Goodwill Games, an international multi-sport event featuring athletes from over 60 countries.
5. In 2015, Seattle Seahawks player Derrick Coleman became the first legally deaf offensive player in the NFL to play in a Super Bowl, helping his team win Super Bowl XLVIII the previous year.