1. On March 23, 1901, Washington state governor John R. Rogers signed a bill establishing the University of Washington School of Mines in Seattle. The school would later become the University of Washington College of Engineering.

2. In 1916, the town of Oso, Washington, located about 50 miles northeast of Seattle, was incorporated on March 23. Almost exactly 98 years later, on March 22, 2014, a devastating landslide occurred in Oso, killing 43 people and destroying dozens of homes.

3. On March 23, 1965, a new state law took effect prohibiting racial discrimination in housing. The law was one of the first of its kind in the country and helped to establish Washington as a leader in civil rights.

4. In 1982, the Washington State Convention and Trade Center opened in downtown Seattle on March 23. The massive facility, which was later renamed the Washington State Convention Center, has hosted a wide variety of events over the years, including political conventions, trade shows, and concerts.

5. March 23, 1995 saw the official opening of Safeco Field (now known as T-Mobile Park), the home of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. The stadium, located south of downtown Seattle, has been celebrated for its innovative design, including a retractable roof and spectacular views of the nearby Puget Sound.