7 Unique Trivia Facts About Washington You Might Not Have Heard Before
×
Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or new to the neighborhood, one of the best ways to establish your roots in the Evergreen State is to learn more about this stunning neck of the woods. I bet these interesting facts about Washington could teach even the most seasoned townie a new thing or two.
1. There are 29 federally recognized Indigenous Nations in Washington.
Washington exists on the unceded and ancestral lands of Indigenous Nations. These diverse communities continue to make invaluable contributions to Evergreen State culture today.
Though the effects of colonization can never be erased, local Indigenous peoples have fought hard to maintain their traditions, languages, and cultures. For example, today, renowned Puyallup linguist Tami Hohn teaches a Salishan dialect, Southern Lushootseed, at the University of Washington, and intertribal events like the Canoe Journey remain annual celebrations of Coast Salish culture.
Though the effects of colonization can never be erased, local Indigenous peoples have fought hard to maintain their traditions, languages, and cultures. For example, today, renowned Puyallup linguist Tami Hohn teaches a Salishan dialect, Southern Lushootseed, at the University of Washington, and intertribal events like the Canoe Journey remain annual celebrations of Coast Salish culture.
2. The most polluted place in the country is located in Washington.
Advertisement
Though Washington is more readily known for its stunning nature, it also contains the most polluted site in the country. The Hanford Site, located in eastern Washington's flatlands, produced plutonium for the U.S.'s covert nuclear program, the Manhattan Project, until the end of the 1980s. Today, this little-known spot houses 56 million gallons of radioactive waste and remediation efforts have been slow-going and costly.
Advertisement
3. Father's Day was invented right here in the Evergreen State.
On June 19, 1910, Spokane resident Sonora Smart Dodd held the first Father's Day celebration at her local YMCA to honor her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. Dodd was inspired by a Mother's Day sermon she'd heard the year prior, leading her to develop a holiday that afforded dads similar pomp.
Related Stories
This Washington Outdoors Paradise Is One Of The Best Places To View Wildflowers
Did You Know Washington Is Home To The Quietest Place In America?
Few People Know The Real Reason Behind Seattle Becoming The Coffee Capital Of The World
4. That scene from 10 Things I Hate About You was shot in Tacoma.
It's a scene that— in the late aughts— collectively took young girls' breaths away, forever raising the bar of high school romance. Devil-may-care Patrick Verona serenades a prickly Kat in a wavering (yet nonetheless winsome) tone, propelling their unlikely romance to new heights. This cinematic touchstone, along with many of the movie's other iconic scenes, was shot at Tacoma's Stadium High School.
5. The best guitar player of all time was a born-and-bred Washingtonian.
From punk to whisper-core pop, Washington has incubated many of today's most influential music genres. But did you know that Jimi Hendrix, widely considered the best guitar player of all time, was born in Seattle? Hendrix revolutionized his instrument, pioneering an electric sound that used fuzz pedals and amps to give guitar a new voice.
If you want to learn more, Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture has a fantastic exhibit on his career.
If you want to learn more, Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture has a fantastic exhibit on his career.
6. Washington grows more apples than any other state.
More than 94 percent of the nation's organic apples come from Washington, making this humble fruit the Evergreen State's top agricultural product.
Advertisement
7. Pickleball was invented just outside Seattle.
By total fluke, two friends developed pickleball in 1965 mere miles from Seattle on Bainbridge Island. That summer afternoon, they couldn't have foreseen that their improvisational game would lay the foundation for what's now America's fastest-growing sport.
Road-tripping is only one of many ways to get to know a place. Learning about this region can also deepen our appreciation for the Evergreen State. Were you surprised by any of these interesting facts about Washington?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.