1. On March 18, 1927, the Columbia River Highway in Washington was officially opened. It was the first road in the nation to connect the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Mountains, and it allowed for much easier transportation between the two regions.

2. In 1975, the Washington State Senate passed a resolution designating March 18 as "Women's Suffrage Day." This day celebrates the achievement of voting rights for women in the state, which was accomplished on November 8, 1910.

3. The Washington State Capitol building in Olympia was dedicated on March 18, 1928. The building, which features a grand dome and columns, was constructed out of sandstone and granite and is now a major tourist attraction in the state.

4. On this day in 1959, the Dalai Lama arrived in Seattle, marking the beginning of his first visit to the United States. His visit was met with great enthusiasm, and he was greeted by thousands of people at the airport.

5. In 1990, the state of Washington officially recognized the Makah Indian Reservation, located on the Olympic Peninsula. The Makah tribe has a long history in the region, and the reservation now includes over 300 square miles of land along the coast.