1. In 1851, the first quarry in Tenino, Washington was opened. The quarry provided sandstone which was used in the construction of the Washington State Capitol building.

2. In 1868, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, one of the oldest operating newspapers in the country, was established. The newspaper has won numerous Pulitzer Prizes throughout its history.

3. In 1944, the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington became operational. The site produced plutonium for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan during World War II.

4. In 2006, Seattle's iconic Space Needle underwent a major renovation to add a glass floor observation deck. The renovation also included the addition of the world's only rotating glass floor.

5. In 2019, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge celebrated its 70th anniversary. The bridge was famously nicknamed "Galloping Gertie" due to its tendency to sway in the wind before collapsing in 1940. A new bridge was built in its place and still stands today.