How savvy are you on your Washington trivia? We love learning the little-known facts about our state, and these 10 never cease to surprise many people.

1. Washington exports 70% of the nation’s hops, directly contributing to the happiness of many other Americans (or at least happy hours).
Washington State Department of Agriculture / Flickr
2. The first well-known UFO sighting occurred right here in the Evergreen State in 1947.
Chris Ford / Flickr
Businessman Kenneth Arnold claimed to see a group of nine high-speed objects near Mount Rainier when he was flying a small plane.
3. Love them or hate them, you must admit the concept of the "bikini barista" is creative... and it originated right here in Washington.
Joanna's portfolio / Flickr
4. We once nearly went to war with Canada over a pig.
Dan Belanescu / Flickr
It was called the Pig War of 1859, and it was a confrontation between the U.S. and the British Empire over the boundary of countries. The dispute was over the San Juan Islands, and all started after the shooting of a pig who had been trespassing and eating potato crops.
5. The 9,000-year-old skeleton, Kennewick Man, was discovered in Washington.
Wikipedia
The discovery led to a lengthy battle and a controversial nine year court case, but in the end, Kennewick Man's remains were a coalition of Columbia Basin tribes for reburial according to their traditions.

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6. Prosser is home to a phenomenon known as Gravity Hill.
Ben Tesch / Flickr
If you can find the spot, put your car in neutral and you'll somehow start rolling uphill.
7. Spokane's Hoopfest is actually the largest three-on-three basketball tournament in the world.
Daniel Brunner / Flickr
8. The extraordinarily fun game of Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island.
Ron B / Flickr
Former State Representative Joel Pritchard and two of his friends invented it somewhat by accident.
9. Eastern Washington is included in American Redoubt, a movement created by best-selling author James Wesley Rawles.
Preconscious Eye / Flickr
Rawles designated part of the PNW as a safe haven territory in a post-apocalyptic society.
10. Washington is responsible for Father's Day.
Mirza Asad Baig / Flickr
It was founded here in 1910.

Washington definitely has its share of quirks. In fact, you might even say we’re America’s black sheep.

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