1. In 1863, Washington Territory was created. July 1 is often celebrated as "Territorial Day" to commemorate the establishment of Washington Territory three years before Washington became an official state.

2. On July 1, 1897, the Klondike gold rush began when the S.S. Portland arrived in Seattle with over a ton of gold from the Yukon Territory. This sparked a rush of prospectors heading to the far north in search of riches.

3. The state's first minimum wage law was established on July 1, 1913, when Washington became the first state in the country to adopt a minimum wage law. The original law set a minimum wage of $0.15 per hour.

4. On July 1, 1939, the Alaskan Highway was officially opened by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The highway was built during World War II as a supply route to Alaska and played a vital role in the war effort.

5. In 2002, Seattle became the first major city in the United States to implement a city-wide ban on smoking in all indoor public places, including bars and restaurants. The ban went into effect on July 1, 2005, and has since been adopted by many other cities across the country.