Previous Next
Previous Next
Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
The state flag and the state seal are similar. Passed in 1923, Washington law describes the flag as having dark green bunting with a state seal in the centre. In the late 1890s, a blue and gold military state flag with George Washington's profile on it flew over many cities and towns throughout the state. But, when it came to a final decision, the current flag was adopted by the Legislature.
Nickname: The Evergreen State.
Capital: Olympia.
Constitution: The 42nd State.
Statehood: November 11th 1889.
Motto: Al Ki - Bye and bye
History:
The first people known to have lived in the Washington area were Piscataway Indians. Whites moved into the area during the late 1600's and established farms and plantations. In 1749, settlers founded Alexandria, the area's first town, in what was then the colony of Virginia.
Bird:
Willow Goldfinch or Wild Canary. The goldfinch is a delicate little bird with a yellow body and black wings, and although it eventually became the official state bird, many other birds were considered for the title.
In 1928, legislators let school children select the state bird and the meadowlark won hands-down. It was a nice choice but seven other states already had chosen the same bird. A new vote was taken in 1931 by the Washington Federation of Women's Clubs. Many birds were nominated, but the goldfinch won handily over the tanager, song sparrow, junco and pileated woodpecker. Now there were two state birds and the Legislature decided to leave the final choice to school children. In 1951, children voted for the goldfinch and the Legislature made it unanimous.
Economy:
Agriculture: Seafood, dairy products, apples, cattle, wheat, potatoes, nursery stock.
Industry: Aerospace, food processing, paper products, lumber and wood products, chemical products, tourism.
Flower:
Coast Rhododendron - In 1892, before they had the right to vote, Washington women selected the coast rhododendron as the state flower. They wanted an official flower to enter in a floral exhibit at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Six flowers were considered, but the final decision was narrowed to clover and the "rhodie," and voting booths were set up for ladies throughout the state. When the ballots were counted, the rhododendron had been chosen as the Washington state flower.
Motto:
"Al-ki" or "Alki"
Al-ki or Alki is an Indian word meaning "bye and bye." This motto first appeared on the territorial seal designed by Lt. J.K. Duncan of Governor Steven's surveying expedition. On one side it pictures a log cabin and an immigrant wagon with a fir forest in the background; on the other side, a sheet of water being traversed by a steamer and sailing vessel, a city in perspective; the Goddess of Hope and an anchor is in the centre. The figure is pointing at the significant word "Alki." According to Professor Edmond Meany, settlers from the schooner "Exact" first named their settlement on Alki Point New York. The new settlement was slower to grow than its East Coast counterpart however, so the name was changed to New York-Alki, meaning New York, bye and bye.
Nickname:
"The Evergreen State" - On November 11, 1889, Washington became the 42nd state to enter the Union. It is the only state named for a president. Washington was nicknamed "The Evergreen State" by C.T. Conover, pioneer Seattle realtor and historian, for its abundant evergreen forests. The nickname was adopted by the Legislature in February, 1893.
Seal:
sIn 1889, jeweler Charles Talcott designed our first state seal using an ink bottle, silver dollar and apostage stamp. Talcott's brother, L. Grant Talcott, lettered the words, "The Seal of the State of Washington, 1889," and another brother, G.N. Talcott, cut the printing die. A more detailed history can be found at the Secretary of State site on the State Seal.
Tree:
Western Hemlock - In 1946, an Oregon newspaper teased Washington for not having a state tree. The Portland Oregonian picked out the western hemlock (Tsuga Heterophylla) for us, but Washington newspapers decided to choose their own and selected the popular western red cedar. State Representative George Adams of Mason County pleaded with the Legislature to adopt the western hemlock. The hemlock, he said, would become "the backbone of this state's forest industry." Adams' bill passed the Legislature and was signed into law in 1947.
The first people known to have lived in the Washington area were Piscataway Indians. Whites moved into the area during the late 1600's and established farms and plantations. In 1749, settlers founded Alexandria, the area's first town, in what was then the colony of Virginia.
Bird:
Willow Goldfinch or Wild Canary. The goldfinch is a delicate little bird with a yellow body and black wings, and although it eventually became the official state bird, many other birds were considered for the title.
In 1928, legislators let school children select the state bird and the meadowlark won hands-down. It was a nice choice but seven other states already had chosen the same bird. A new vote was taken in 1931 by the Washington Federation of Women's Clubs. Many birds were nominated, but the goldfinch won handily over the tanager, song sparrow, junco and pileated woodpecker. Now there were two state birds and the Legislature decided to leave the final choice to school children. In 1951, children voted for the goldfinch and the Legislature made it unanimous.
Economy:
Agriculture: Seafood, dairy products, apples, cattle, wheat, potatoes, nursery stock.
Industry: Aerospace, food processing, paper products, lumber and wood products, chemical products, tourism.
Flower:
Coast Rhododendron - In 1892, before they had the right to vote, Washington women selected the coast rhododendron as the state flower. They wanted an official flower to enter in a floral exhibit at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Six flowers were considered, but the final decision was narrowed to clover and the "rhodie," and voting booths were set up for ladies throughout the state. When the ballots were counted, the rhododendron had been chosen as the Washington state flower.
Motto:
"Al-ki" or "Alki"
Al-ki or Alki is an Indian word meaning "bye and bye." This motto first appeared on the territorial seal designed by Lt. J.K. Duncan of Governor Steven's surveying expedition. On one side it pictures a log cabin and an immigrant wagon with a fir forest in the background; on the other side, a sheet of water being traversed by a steamer and sailing vessel, a city in perspective; the Goddess of Hope and an anchor is in the centre. The figure is pointing at the significant word "Alki." According to Professor Edmond Meany, settlers from the schooner "Exact" first named their settlement on Alki Point New York. The new settlement was slower to grow than its East Coast counterpart however, so the name was changed to New York-Alki, meaning New York, bye and bye.
Nickname:
"The Evergreen State" - On November 11, 1889, Washington became the 42nd state to enter the Union. It is the only state named for a president. Washington was nicknamed "The Evergreen State" by C.T. Conover, pioneer Seattle realtor and historian, for its abundant evergreen forests. The nickname was adopted by the Legislature in February, 1893.
Seal:
sIn 1889, jeweler Charles Talcott designed our first state seal using an ink bottle, silver dollar and apostage stamp. Talcott's brother, L. Grant Talcott, lettered the words, "The Seal of the State of Washington, 1889," and another brother, G.N. Talcott, cut the printing die. A more detailed history can be found at the Secretary of State site on the State Seal.
Tree:
Western Hemlock - In 1946, an Oregon newspaper teased Washington for not having a state tree. The Portland Oregonian picked out the western hemlock (Tsuga Heterophylla) for us, but Washington newspapers decided to choose their own and selected the popular western red cedar. State Representative George Adams of Mason County pleaded with the Legislature to adopt the western hemlock. The hemlock, he said, would become "the backbone of this state's forest industry." Adams' bill passed the Legislature and was signed into law in 1947.