Happy birthday Washington
| The state of Washington turns 118 years old today. It took over three and a half decades to transition from territory to state, but on November 11, 1889 Washington officially became the 42nd state in the United States. Prior to statehood Washington had been part of the Oregon Territory until 1853 when the Us Congress passed a bill known as the Organic Act to establish a separate territory north of the Columbia River. Originally to be called “Columbia”, the territory was named after the first US President, instead. |  |
| Did you know that Washington state enfranchised women on November 8, 1910, ten years earlier than the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution? | Photo by Dee M |
(Dates checked with the ever-fascinating HistoryLink.)
