History & Politics

Rosa Franklin was the first Black woman elected to the Washington State Senate. She served one term in the House of Representatives from 1991-1993....

In the sequel to his popular Washington Territory, author Robert E. Ficken, ably and with characteristically wry humor, describes Washington State'...

A wild ocean snuggled up to a wild land in the furthest corner of our Lower 48 states—the Washington coast is a unique adventure destination and th...

An anything-but-dry history textbook in a take-it-with-you package, Washington’s History is a fascinating walk through the sweeping story of a plac...

The bridges of Washington State range from soaring suspension spans to utilitarian trusses, from technological wonders to spectacular failures. Fea...

Nancy Bell Evans came to the Capitol with her husband, Governor Dan Evans, in 1965 as the state's youngest ever first lady. During his three terms,...

Exploring Washington's Majestic State Capitol by Cathleen M. Norman.

Washington State is a place of political mavericks. Split tickets are a source of pride and independent voters outnumber Democrats and Republicans....

From his first campaign, and upset victory for the State Senate in 1970, to his last, a 2008 landslide that saw Washington become the second state ...

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy ignited America’s Apollo Project and sparked a revolution in space exploration. Today the New Apollo Energy Proj...

You can't do justice to Adele Ferguson's laugh with only one adjective. It's earthy, infectious and punctuated with delight. Although it has been 5...

The right of citizens to vote is a pillar of democracy--a mainstay denied to Washington women until they united in a campaign to enact change. Suff...

When Governor Chris Gregoire took office in 2005 with the slimmest of electoral margins, she inherited a budget shortfall of more than $2 billion f...

Helen Sommers served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1972 to 2009. She represented the 36th district as a Democrat. At the time of ...

The Washington State Legislature Oral History Program documents the history of the Legislature in Washington State, capturing and preserving person...

Leonard Alson Sawyer represented the 25th district as a Democrat initially elected in 1955, serving until 1975. He was Speaker of the House from 19...

From the Washington State Legislature Oral History Program, these books capture and preserve personal recollections and perspectives of individuals...