November 12 – Washington State was late to the party.

On this day in 1889, Washington became the 42nd state, arguably the most disputed piece of real estate in the country.

Washington was late to the party by the time it made into the union.  Coveted by four countries and one quasa-country, Hudson Bay Company, permanent ownership didn’t get settled until 1846.

The squabbling actualy started with Christopher Columbus.  His “new world” discovery led the Spanish-born Pope Alexander VI to issue a papal bull dividing the entire Western Hemisphere between Spain and Portugal.

Spanish captain Bruno de Heceta (right) was the first European to record making landfall near the mouth of the Columbia River. in 1775  He’d been instructed by the Crown to lay claim everywhere his feet touched terra firma.

Next  in the parade came the British, Captain James Cook in 1778 and George Vancouver in 1892.

Captains Cook (left)  and Vancouver

War between England and Spain was barely avoided with the Nootka Convention of 1795.  It was largely a gentleman’s agreement that Spain would withdraw from the Northwest Territory.  

Russia was the next player.  In 1799, Russian nobleman, Nikolai Rezanov, founded the Russian-American Company, an enterprise he and the Czar believed game the Russians exclusive rights to the North American fur trade.  Rezanove planned to colonize the Columbia River valley, but instead Russian settlement moved south with the founding of Fort Ross in norther California.

Lewis and Clark arrived in Washington State in the Fall of 1805

By the time Lewis and Clark arrived in 1805, it was hard to tell who was in charge.  It wasn’t until the Ango-American Convention of 18181 that Oregon Territory, which included Washington, came under joint control of England and America.   A series of treaties in the 1820s between Russia and the U.S., the Russians and England and the Spanish, leaving America and England last nations standing.

The powerful Hudson Bay Company, however, was set to prolong British ownership.  In 1841, trapper and explorer James  Sinclair (right) led 200 colonists to the Columbia Valley, hoping to deter American settlement.  His  efforts failed.   In 1844, the two nations established the 49th parallel as the border between British held territory and the U.S.

  It seemed to go well until 1859 when a dispute over a pig on San Juan Island nearly caused a shooting war.  Much of the region’s puzzling geography left doubt as to who owned what.   A joint tenancy agreement that lasted 12 years averted bloodshed.  

Washington State eventually became part of Oregon Territory.  As the population north of the Columbia River increased, it became Washington Territory  that went clear to Idaho.  By 1878 a constitution was drafted for present-day Washington State but was never enacted.  A revised constitution was approved by Congress in 1889, clearing the way for statehood.

While Washington is today united under one flag, it is sharply divided politically.  Wast of the Cascade Mountains is considered liberal and the east much more conservative.

The  economic promise those Spanish, Russian, English and American explorers saw three centuries ago has been realized.  The state is host to large aviation, electronics, biotech and technology industries and to some of the country’s most recognizable brand names including Boeing, Starbucks, T-Mobile, Nordstrom and Eddie Bauer.   In addition, the richest man in America , Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, calls it home .  

Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, located in Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, was founded by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1833 and gradually became an important agricultural and export center.  Following the establishment of the 49th parallel, the fort found itself on the wrong side of the border.  It was closed in 1869 due to the declining fur trade and pressure from American settlement.  Two orginal buildings remain, the Factor’s House (above)  and the Granary.  A working blacksmith shop, demonstration kitchen, kitchen garden and trade store recreate the fur trade era.  Open May through September, 11 to 5 daily and open the months of October and April, 11 to 4, Wednesday through Sunday .  Regularly closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years and closed following some special events.  Contact the museum for the complete schedule.  Regular admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and military personnel, $5 for youth 4 to 17, younger than 4 free and family admission $22.  Inquire for admission for special events.  For more information go to metroparkstacoma.org,  e-mail fortnisqually@tacomaparks.com or call (253) 591-5339.

© Text Only – 2017 – Headin’ West LLC  – All photos – public domain.