Official news and information from the Washington State Archives. Previously - WADigitArchives

Olympia, WA
Joined June 2010
50 years ago today on May 8, 1975, WA Gov. Dan Evans announced that the state had agreed to participate in the resettlement and sponsorship of at 500 refugees from Vietnam. Two weeks later, the first refugees arrived at Camp Murray to began new chapters in their lives.
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Washington State Archives retweeted
Good morning! Sweater weather is upon us. Thanks to @WAStateArchives for this photo of the MV Enetai.
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The Office of the Secretary of State and its divisions will be closed on Friday, June 19. We will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 20.
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46 years ago today, WSP Chief Landon made a final attempt to save Harry R. Truman from Mt. St. Helens. Truman refused, posing for one of his last photos. The next morning, May 18, 1980, #MountStHelens erupted, burying the lodge and claiming 57 lives, including Truman. #OTD
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Join the Washington State Archives and play a vital role in preserving our state’s history! We are currently seeking dedicated professionals for several key records management and archivist positions across the state. View the full job descriptions here: bit.ly/4m738Zv
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61 years ago today on January 13, 1965, Daniel J. Evans became the youngest governor in state history at the age of 39. #waleg #wagov
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📷 Construction on the Pacific Avenue Interchange on the Tacoma Freeway, 1966. Work on the exchange started in 1959 by the state Highways Department and was considered the most complex interchange in the state.
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Happy 75th Birthday, "Sturdy Gertie!" Ten years after the collapse of the first bridge, the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened on October 14, 1950.
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30 years ago on October 12, 1995, some 500 Seattle Mariners fans rallied outside the Capitol building in Olympia to demand that state lawmakers approve financing for a new baseball stadium and prevent the team from leaving WA. #mariners #refusetolose #waleg
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The Office of the Secretary of State and the @WAStateArchives will display the 1889 Constitution of the State of Washington at the Spokane Public Library on Monday, September 15, 2025. Read the full news release here: bit.ly/47FVSia
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Happy birthday to the original "Galloping Gertie"! The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the third-longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, was dedicated 85 years ago today on July 1, 1940. These photographs shows the bridge less than one week before opening day. #gallopinggertie
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This week, the @WAStateArchives awarded $506,000 in grants to 27 local government agencies for digital imaging, technology tools, and record management programs through the Local Records Grant Program. Read the full news release: bit.ly/45tuL8P
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"Ralph Munro was a dedicated servant of the people during his time as Secretary of State ... I extend my condolences to his family for their loss." – Secretary Steve Hobbs. Read the full news release here: bit.ly/4isNyVx Photos courtesy of @WAStateArchives
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#ArchivesLandscape on this month's #ArchivesHashtagParty! Washington's diverse geography means you can go from the lush, temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula to the arid, wind-swept hills of the Palouse, all within a few hours.
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39 years ago today: More than 2,000 people from across Washington marched to the Capitol in Olympia as part of the state’s first observance of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day on January 20, 1986. #waleg #MLKDay
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34 years ago: In the prelude to Operation Desert Storm, 1,500 anti-war protestors take over the House chamber in Olympia, flooding the floor and rostrum, vowing not to leave. 📷 Anti-war protests, January 15, 1991. House photograph, Washington State Archives. #waleg
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Inauguration of Governor Daniel J. Evans, January 13, 1965. youtu.be/8EWclLkjfcQ?si=JN5e… via @YouTube #waleg
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