Today in Washington History
Cities in Washington: Seattle - Spokane
Historical Events
Results 1 - 100 of 144
1577-11-15 - Sir Francis Drake aboard Pelican travels from Chile to Washington
1778-03-22 - Capt Cook sights Cape Flattery, in Washington state
1836-09-01 - Narcissa Whitman, one of the first white women to settle west of the Rocky Mountains, arrives at Walla Walla, Washington.
1842-11-22 - Mount St Helens in Washington, erupts
1843-11-13 - Mt Rainier in Washington State erupts
1851-11-13 - The Denny Party lands at Alki Point, the first settlers of what would become Seattle, Washington.
1853-03-02 - Territory of Washington organized after separating from Oregon Ter
1853-11-28 - Olympia forms as capital of Washington Territory
1854-01-30 - 1st election in Washington Territory; 1,682 votes cast
1854-11-02 - Cobblestone paving of Washington St between Dupont & Kearny starts
1856-07-17 - The Great Train Wreck of 1856 occurs in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania killing over 60 people.
1860-03-09 - 1st Japanese ambassador arrives in SF en route to Washington
1861-03-02 - Government Printing Office purchases 1st printing plant, Washington
1861-05-20 - Cornerstone of University of Washington laid in Seattle
1861-07-01 - 1st public schoolhouse opens at Washington & Mason St, SF
1861-11-04 - University of Washington founded in Seattle
1863-01-29 - Battle at Bear River, Washington: US army vs indians
1864-07-07 - S Middleton, MD -Early's Washington Raid-
1864-07-13 - Early retreats from Washington City back to Shenandoah Valley
1870-06-09 - Washington: Pres Grant meets with Sioux chief Red Cloud
1870-08-17 - 1st ascent of Mt Rainier, Washington
1877-12-06 - Washington Post publishes 1st edition
1878-07-09 - An improved corncob pipe patents by Henry Tibbe, Washington, Mo
1880-01-09 - The Great Gale of 1880 devastates parts of Oregon and Washington with high wind and heavy snow.
1889-02-22 - Dakotas, Montana & Washington admitted to union
1889-02-22 - Pres Cleveland signs bill to admit Dakotas, Montana & Washington state
1889-04-30 - 1st US national holiday, on centennial of Washington's inauguration
1889-07-04 - Washington state constitutional convention holds 1st meeting
1889-10-01 - Washington voters adopt state constitution in referendum
1889-11-11 - Washington admitted as 42nd state
1892-05-22 - Dr Washington Sheffield invents toothpaste tube
1893-01-06 - The Washington National Cathedral is chartered by Congress. The charter is signed by President Benjamin Harrison.
1895-09-18 - Booker T Washington delivera "Atlanta Compromise" address
1898-05-21 - US Assay Office in Seattle, Washington authorized
1899-02-24 - Western Washington University is established.
1902-07-08 - John McGraw, accused by Ban Johnson of trying to wreck Baltimore & Washington clubs, negotiates his release from the Orioles
1903-04-20 - NY Highlanders play their 1st game, with Jack Chesbro losing 3-1 to Al Orth & Washington
1907-08-02 - Walter Johnson, 19, debuts with Washington & loses 3-2 to Detroit
1907-08-28 - UPS is founded by James E. Casey in Seattle, Washington.
1907-09-29 - Construction begins on Washington National Cathedral
1910-03-02 - 2 trains crash in snow storm in Wellington Washington, 118 die
1910-11-08 - 1st Washington State election in which women could vote
1916-01-01 - 1st football game in Rose Bowl (Washington State-Brown)
1916-10-14 - Sophomore tackle and guard Paul Robeson is excluded from the Rutgers football team when Washington and Lee University refused to play against a black person.
1916-11-05 - The Everett Massacre takes place in Everett, Washington as political differences lead to a shoot-out between IWW organizers and local police.
1918-05-15 - Washington Senator Walter Johnson pitches 1-0, 18 inning game
1921-01-29 - Hurricane hits Washington & Oregon
1921-11-12 - Washington Conference for Limitation of Armaments
1922-02-06 - US, UK, France, Italy & Japan sign Washington naval arms limitation
1922-03-09 - KJR-AM in Seattle Washington begins radio transmissions
1924-10-10 - Washington Senators win their 1st World Series beat Giants in 7
1925-09-23 - Washington shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh is named AL MVP
1930-03-15 - 1st seaplane glider flown, Port Washington, NY
1930-10-24 - A bloodless coup d'état in Brazil ousts Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa, the last President of the First Republic. Getúlio Dornelles Vargas is then installed as "provisional president."
1932-07-09 - Washington Redskins (then Boston Braves) forms
1933-04-25 - NY Yankee Russ Van Atta shuts out Washington Senators 16-0
1933-10-07 - NY Giants beat Washington Senators, 4 games to 1 in 30th World Series
1934-04-12 - Highest velocity wind ever recorded on Mt Washington, NH, 231 mph
1934-04-17 - New Fenway Park opens, Washington Senators beat Red Sox 6-5
1937-10-02 - FDR visits Grand Coulee Dam construction site in Washington State
1938-12-29 - Construction on Lake Washington Floating Bridge, Seattle, begins
1939-10-11 - Bucky Harris signs to manage Washington again
1940-04-07 - 1st black to appear on US stamp (Booker T Washington)
1940-07-02 - Lake Washington (Seattle) Floating bridge dedicated
1940-09-29 - 1st US merchant ship "Booker T Washington" commanded by a black captain (Hugh Mulzac), launched at Wilmington Delaware
1941-03-22 - Grand Coulee Dam in Washington goes into operation
1941-12-22 - Winston Churchill arrives in Washington for a wartime conference
1943-08-21 - Gromyko named USSR-ambassador in Washington
1945-09-07 - Joe Kuhel hits inside-the-park HR, only HR hit by a Senator all season at Washington's Griffith Stadium
1945-11-26 - During snow storm, school bus crashes, kills 15 (Washington)
1947-06-16 - 1st network news-Dumont's "News from Washington"
1952-09-07 - NY Yankees Johnny Mize's pinch-hit grand slam gives Yanks a 5-1 win at Washington He has now HRed in all 15 major league parks
1955-03-31 - US Assay Office in Seattle, Washington closes Chase National (3rd largest bank) & Bank of the Manhattan Company (15th largest bank) merge to form Chase Manhattan
1955-06-09 - 100°F - Hottest day in Seattle Washington
1955-09-24 - Washington Senators lose their 99th & 100th games of season
1956-09-02 - Washington-Jackson cable line replaced by bus service
1960-10-27 - AL admits LA & Washington to the league
1960-11-15 - USS G Washington, 1st sub with nuclear ballistic missiles, launched
1960-11-17 - New Washington franchise is awarded to Elwood Quesada
1960-11-19 - Mickey Vernon is hired as 1st manager of new Washington team
1960-12-14 - Washington Senators joins American League
1961-05-08 - Alan Shepard receives NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Washington
1961-06-15 - Expansion Wash Senators are 30-30, latest date an expansion team will be at .500, Washington will lose their next 10 games
1961-08-05 - 118°F (48°C), Ice Harbor Dam, Washington (state record)
1962-04-21 - Century 21 Exposition opens in Seattle, Washington
1965-09-26 - Minnesota gains its 1st AL pennant by defeating Washington, 2-1
1967-09-17 - Mount Washington cog railway train derails, kills 8 (NH)
1968-06-03 - Poor Peoples March on Washington
1968-12-30 - -48°F (-44°C), Mazama & Winthrop, Washington (state record)
1970-02-10 - 26.4 cm precipitation falls on Mount Washington NH (state record)
1970-02-11 - 26.37 cm (10.38") of rainfall, Mt Washington, NH (state 24-hr rec)
1971-04-25 - About 200,000 anti-Vietnam War protesters march on Washington
1971-05-17 - Washington State bans sex discrimination
1971-07-01 - State of Washington becomes 1st state to ban sex discrimination
1971-09-21 - AL OKs Washington Senator move to Arlington (Texas Rangers)
1971-11-25 - "Dan Cooper" jumps with $200,000 out of plane over Washington
1972-12-31 - Washington Redskins beat Dallas Cowboys 26-3 in NFC championship game
1974-11-10 - Montreal Canadiens shutout Washington Capitals 11-0
1975-01-04 - Montreal Canadiens shutout Washington Capitals 10-0
1975-03-30 - Ron Lalonde scores the 1st hat trick by a Washington Capital
Famous Birthdays
Results 1 - 69 of 69
1849-10-16 - Geoirge Washington Williams, famous African
1856-04-05 - Booker Taliaferro Washington, pioneer educator (1st black on US stamp)
1869-10-26 - Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa, President of Brazil (d. 1957)
1890-02-18 - Edward Arnold, NYC, actor (Mr Smith Goes to Washington)
1892-06-05 - Alexander Loudon, diplomat (Washington)
1903-12-23 - Fredi [Fredericka] Carolyn Washington, actress (Black & Tan)
1907-06-11 - Paul Mellon, US, oil magnate/pres (Washington National Gallery of Art)
1910-06-17 - Red Foley, Blue Lick Ky, country singer (Mr Smith Goes to Washington)
1921-10-16 - Michael Conrad, Washington Hgts NY, actor (Delvecchio, Hill St Blues)
1922-04-15 - Harold Washington, 1st black mayor of Chicago (D, 1983-87)
1922-04-29 - George Allen, football coach (LA Rams, Washington Redskins)
1923-03-24 - Murray Hamilton, Washington NC, actor (Rich Man Poor Man)
1924-08-29 - Dinah Washington, Chicago, singer (What a Difference a Day Makes)
1930-02-22 - Allison Hayes, Washington, actress (Attack of the 50 Foot Woman)
1935-09-12 - Allan B Swift, (Rep-D-Washington, 1979- )
1936-03-05 - Dean Stockwell, Calif, actor (Werewolf of Washington, Blue Velvet)
1938-01-05 - Edwin Elliason, Washington, US archer (Olympic-92)
1938-05-26 - William Elden Bolcom, Seattle Washington, composer (Oracles)
1938-07-09 - Paul Seiko Chihara, Seattle Washington, US/Japanese composer
1940-05-10 - Taurean Blacque, actor (Neal Washington-Hill Street Blues)
1940-11-13 - Justine "Baby" Washington, US singer (Only Those in Love)
1941-05-12 - Little Jayotis Washington, US R&B singer (Persuasions)
1941-07-19 - Jennifer Dunn, (Rep-R-Washington)
1941-10-12 - Craig A Washington, (Rep-D-Texas)
1943-09-28 - Mike Kreidler, (Rep-D-Washington)
1943-12-12 - Grover Washington Jr, jazz artist (Mr Magic)
1944-02-14 - Carl Bernstein, Washington Post investigative reporter (Watergate)
1944-04-26 - Martha Rockwell, Providence RI, skier (Mount Washington)
1945-05-12 - Jayotis Washington, rocker
1947-03-24 - Christine Gregoire, American politician, current governor of Washington
1948-11-03 - Tom Shales, TV critic (Washington Post)
1949-11-30 - Arthur Lee Washington Jr, Neptune NJ, murderer (FBI Most Wanted)
1950-10-11 - Patty Murry, (Sen-D Washington)
1951-02-09 - Jay Inslee, (Rep-D-Washington)
1951-06-30 - Stephen S Oswald, Seattle Washington, astronaut (STS 42, 56, 67)
1954-12-28 - Denzel Washington, Mount Vernon NY, actor (Dr Chandler-St Elsewhere)
1958-10-13 - Maria Cantwell, (Rep-D-Washington)
1960-10-12 - Lionel Washington, cornerback (Oakland Raiders)
1964-01-12 - Lynne Marie Thurik, Vancouver Wash, Miss Washington-America (1991)
1966-01-16 - Anthony Washington, Glasgow Montana, discus thrower (Olympics-4th-96)
1966-06-27 - Jeff Conine, Tacoma Washington, outfielder (Florida Marlins)
1966-07-07 - Jeff Shaw, Washington Ohio, pitcher (Cin Reds)
1966-08-28 - Teresa Zarzeczny Bell, Washington Crossing NJ, rower (Oly-silver-1996)
1967-01-23 - Christine Parris-Washington, Truro Nova Scotia, softball (Olympics-96)
1968-06-11 - Staci Baldwin, Miss Washington USA (1996)
1969-06-20 - Malivai Washington, Glenn Cove NY, tennis star (Olympics-96)
1970-04-10 - Sean Gilbert, defensive tackle (Washington Redskins)
1972-01-18 - Ryan Kuehl, defensive tackle (Washington Redskins)
1972-03-09 - Sara Nicole Williams, Miss USA-Washington (1997)
1972-05-31 - Bryan Walker, safety (Washington Redskins)
1972-10-23 - Patrise Alexander, linebacker (Washington Redskins)
1972-12-17 - Dewayne Washington, cornerback (Minnesota Vikings)
1972-12-31 - Kelvin Kinney, defensive end (Washington Redskins)
1973-03-21 - Larry Bowie, running back (Washington Redskins)
1973-04-22 - Christopher Sanders, tight end (Washington Redskins)
1973-12-22 - Jamel Williams, safety (Washington Redskins)
1974-03-01 - Stephen Davis, running back (Washington Redskins)
1974-04-25 - Twan Russell, linebacker (Washington Redskins)
1974-05-10 - Janet Reasons, Port Orchard Washington, Miss America-Washington (1997)
1974-05-13 - Albert Connell, wide receiver (Washington Redskins)
1974-05-16 - Keith Thibodeaux, cornerback (Washington Redskins)
1974-05-22 - Greg Jones, linebacker (Washington Redskins)
1975-01-11 - Brad Badger, guard (Washington Redskins)
1975-01-18 - Derek Smith, linebacker (Washington Redskins)
1975-01-31 - Kenard Lang, defensive end (Washington Redskins)
1975-04-28 - James Thrash, wide receiver (Washington Redskins)
1976-10-19 - Amber Hamilton, Auburn Washington, Miss America-Washington (1996)
1977-12-04 - Emily Ballard, Miss Washington Teen USA (1996)
1979-02-16 - Emma Louise DeSilets, Miss Washington Teen USA (1997)
Famous Deaths
Results 1 - 18 of 18
1847-11-29 - Marcus Whitman, Washington state pioneer (b. 1802)
1859-11-28 - Washington Irving, US author (Geoffrey Crayon, gent), dies
1898-03-17 - Blanche Kelso Bruce, (Sen-Miss, 1875-1881), dies at 57, in Washington
1946-12-10 - Walter Johnson, great pitcher (Washington Senators), dies at 59
1956-04-26 - Edward Arnold, actor (Mr Smith Goes to Washington), dies at 66
1963-12-14 - Dinah Washington, singer, dies of sleeping pill overdose at 39
1968-09-19 - Red Foley, country singer (Mr Smith Goes to Washington), dies at 58
1969-03-28 - Dwight D Eisenhower, 34th pres/gen (WW 2), dies in Washington at 78
1971-06-24 - Kenneth Washington, actor (Sgt Baker-Hogan's Heroes), dies at 53
1971-06-27 - Kenneth Washington, actor (Sgt Baker-Hogan's Heroes), dies at 53
1979-08-09 - Raymond Washington, founder of Los Angeles, California gang, the Crips
1987-11-25 - Harold Washington, 1st black mayor of Chicago (D, 1983-87), dies at 65
1988-06-07 - Vernon Washington, American actor (b. 1927)
1988-11-09 - John Mitchell, former Atny Gen, dies of heart attack in Washington
1993-09-19 - Bruce Ferden, US conductor (NY, Washington, Amsterdam), dies at 44
1994-04-05 - Kurt Cobain, grunge rocker (Nirvana), commits suicide by gun at 27 in Seattle, Washington
1999-10-20 - Calvin Griffith, Former owner of Washington Senators (b. 1911)
2006-07-22 - James E. West, mayor of Spokane, Washington (b. 1950)
