Washington State Archives

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On June 17, 1974, a group of 620 bicyclists, ranging in age from 12 to 57, departed from Lake Sammamish State Park for a...
06/18/2026

On June 17, 1974, a group of 620 bicyclists, ranging in age from 12 to 57, departed from Lake Sammamish State Park for a five-day trek across Washington via Interstate 90. Heading to Expo '74 in Spokane, the riders aimed to promote the state's new "Zero Litter" program and highlight the need for highway litter control; each participant carried a litter bag.

The event was sponsored by the Washington Department of Ecology and KJR Radio Channel 95, in association with the Washington State Highway Commission/WSDOT, the Washington State Patrol, and the Washington National Guard.

A report issued after the trip recommended that bicycling groups no longer be permitted on the interstate freeway system. Furthermore, it advised that the age, physical condition, and cycling experience of all participants should be thoroughly vetted before embarking on any future cross-state trips.

And maybe bike helmets.

đź“· Cross-state bike expedition, June 1974. WSDOT photographs, Washington State Archives.

Fifty-two years ago this week, a long line of motorists gathered at the Thunder Arm of Diablo Lake, eagerly awaiting the...
06/16/2026

Fifty-two years ago this week, a long line of motorists gathered at the Thunder Arm of Diablo Lake, eagerly awaiting the seasonal reopening of the North Cascades Highway. State Highways crews deployed heavy machinery to swing open the winter gate and lift the entire assembly aside, signaling the end of the long seasonal closure since November 21. With snow finally cleared from the mountain passes, this vital northern artery to Eastern Washington was at last accessible. Highway officials, however, urged a measure of caution, warning travelers that the newly reopened stretch of State Route 20 from Newhalem to Winthrop remained vulnerable to slides and should exercise care during their trips.

This year, SR 20/North Cascades Highway fully reopened on the Sunday, June 14, after extensive repairs.

đź“· North Cascades Highway reopening, June 14, 1974. WSDOT photographs, Washington State Archives.

"America's Most Beautiful Water Trip"Beginning in the mid-late 1950s, travelers boarding a Washington State Ferries boat...
06/16/2026

"America's Most Beautiful Water Trip"
Beginning in the mid-late 1950s, travelers boarding a Washington State Ferries boat between Anacortes and Sidney, B.C., received this souvenir log chart, which traced the vessel's course and highlighted notable points of interest. To further orient passengers, the purser also provided live narration using a newly installed public address system.

🗺️ Souvenir log chart, ca 1954-1956, WSDOT records, Washington State Archives.

"Is chop fine, Captain Ted?""Yyyyyyeah... If we take it slow."Our Digital Access staff have been adding hundreds of hist...
06/13/2026

"Is chop fine, Captain Ted?"
"Yyyyyyeah... If we take it slow."

Our Digital Access staff have been adding hundreds of historic Washington State Ferries images, including this shot of the MV Olympic battling gusting winds, to our Digital Archives. Have a favorite Washington ferry? Take a look and download your own copy on our Digital Archives: https://bit.ly/445uSFE

đź“· Ferry Olympic on Puget Sound, Washington, ca 1970s. WSDOT photograph, Washington State Archives.

As Seattle prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA Men’s World Cup, it is worth remembering that Washington State’s d...
06/12/2026

As Seattle prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA Men’s World Cup, it is worth remembering that Washington State’s deep passion for the "Beautiful Game" dates back decades.

Soccer was designated the official sport of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, represented by the undefeated "Century 21" team. Organized by Ruy Peirera da Silva of the Brazil Pavilion, the squad featured a diverse roster of athletes from 12 different nations, including Australia, Brazil, Germany, and the United States. Led by captain and coach Mike Crawford, a University of Washington student from Australia, the team drew talent from the Fair's various pavilions and restaurants.

Century 21 soccer team, September 1962. C21 photographs, Puget Sound Regional Archives, Washington State Archives.

Step back in time to February 1976, when the Washington State Ferries system had a funky and out of sight look!Moving aw...
06/11/2026

Step back in time to February 1976, when the Washington State Ferries system had a funky and out of sight look!

Moving away from strictly utilitarian roots, Seattle's Burhans Design Associates introduced a warm, inviting aesthetic for the 1972 fleet additions. The MV Walla Walla and the MV Spokane embraced classic '70s style, featuring cozy earth-toned carpeting and seating, along with thoughtful passenger comforts like social seating layouts, galley-noise shields, and bulkhead panels celebrating the beauty of Puget Sound.

And ashtrays.

đź“· Ferry scenes, February 17, 1976. WSDOT photographs, Washington State Archives.

In a 1957 safety campaign, Washington Governor Albert Rosellini proclaimed June 9–15 as "Don't Leave a Death Trap Week" ...
06/09/2026

In a 1957 safety campaign, Washington Governor Albert Rosellini proclaimed June 9–15 as "Don't Leave a Death Trap Week" to prevent children from suffocating inside abandoned refrigerators, freezers, and iceboxes. Older appliances used heavy, mechanical slam-latches that could only be opened from the outside by pulling the handle.

While newer laws required manufacturers to include interior safety latches on new models, millions of older, hazardous units remained in circulation. To comply with state laws prohibiting the abandonment of these appliances, the public was urged to destroy them, remove their hinges and doors, face them against walls, or contact dealers who would render them safe free of charge.

đź“· Gov. Rosellini (left), Edward J. Arthur of the Tacoma-Pierce County Safety Council, Ronnie and Kathy, son and daughter of T.R. Marshall of Olympia (right), June 1, 1957. Susan Parish Photograph Collection, Washington State Archives.

The Washington State Ferries records held in the state archives span a wide array of materials, including correspondence...
06/09/2026

The Washington State Ferries records held in the state archives span a wide array of materials, including correspondence, advertising, agreements, financial and legal documents, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, reports, statistics, and studies.

Today, we opened the publicity files, which feature promotional maps, flyers, and pamphlets collected by WSF over the years. Among them is an early 1960s map from the former Seattle Convention & Tourism Bureau. Highlighting notable attractions like the University of Washington, the Seattle "Rainiers," the Woodland Park Zoo, and the Civic Center, the map perfectly captures the style of the era and touts a round-trip Puget Sound ferry crossing as the “easiest, least expensive saltwater cruise that can be had.”

On June 8, 1970, an unbeaten Muhammad Ali applied for a boxing license in Washington - a bid to end his three-year exile...
06/08/2026

On June 8, 1970, an unbeaten Muhammad Ali applied for a boxing license in Washington - a bid to end his three-year exile from the ring after refusing military induction during the Vietnam War. Approval from the Washington Athletic Commission would have brought Ali’s highly anticipated showdown against champion Joe Frazier to the Seattle Coliseum that fall.

The commission denied the application, delaying the historic bout. When Ali and Frazier finally met in March 1971 at Madison Square Garden, it was universally billed as “The Fight of the Century.”

Two remarkable details on the application. First, Ali started to write "Muhammad Ali" before striking it through to sign as "Cassius Clay." Second, he listed his close friend and legendary broadcaster Howard Cosell as a reference. Another reference was Chauncey Eskridge, who argued the Clay v. United States case before the US Supreme Court.

82 years ago today on June 6, 1944, 18-year-old U.S. Navy Shipfitter 3rd Class George Narozonick (1925-2015) took part i...
06/06/2026

82 years ago today on June 6, 1944, 18-year-old U.S. Navy Shipfitter 3rd Class George Narozonick (1925-2015) took part in Operation Neptune, the largest amphibious assaults in world history. Serving aboard the USS LST-501, a massive, 328-foot Landing Ship, Tank (LST), Narozonick operated a 40mm anti-aircraft gun as the Allied armada crossed the English Channel amid heavy winds, gray fog, and rough waves.

After decades of silence, Narozonick relived the fateful Normandy landings from aboard a homely ship that helped win the war. “You could feel the effect and smell the real thing, gunpowder,” he remembers. “D-Day was the day it was for real. It wasn’t a maneuver anymore. It was not an exercise. Either you knew how to pray or you learned how to pray.”

His story is part of Legacy Washington's "Washington Remembers":https://www2.sos.wa.gov/legacy/washington-remembers/stories/george-narozonick/pdf/narozonick-pdf.pdf

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