Growing up in Washington means learning a lot about Pacific Northwest history. But there are always a few facts that seem to slip through the cracks of school curriculum for one reason or another. Do any of these bizarre facts about the Evergreen State surprise you?
- Like celebrating Father’s Day? Thank Washington.
Al Case / Flickr Father’s Day originated in Spokane, by Senora Smart Dodd. She wanted to find a way to honor her own father, who was a Civil War veteran. Of course, despite her efforts and the backing of two presidents, Father’s Day didn’t become a federal holiday until 1972.
- We also invented the concept of the bikini coffee stand here.
Shibby777 / Flickr You’re welcome, America!
- Washington is the most glaciated state in the U.S.
Wikipedia You might think Montana would have that honor since they have Glacier National Park. But since there are more than 3,000 here, we definitely win at glaciers.
- This is pretty terrible, but in 1909, there was a one-month-old orphaned infant raffled off at the Seattle World’s Fair.
Toshiyuki IMAI / Flickr No one ever claimed the prize, and as of 2009, no one could find out what had happened to the boy.
- Statistically, Washington is the least religious state.
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr That’s just the way God made us.
- People come from all over the Northwest to ride our ferries, and for good reason — we have the largest ferry system in the country and the second largest in the entire world.
Andy DeBroux / Flickr The Ferries in Istanbul, Turkey is the only system that has us beat.
- Here’s something that’s totally mindblowing: Snoqualmie Falls is actually 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls.
Howard Ignatius / Flickr And it’s much less crowded.
- We may or may not have a unique species known as the Northwest Tree Octopus living among us.
Dru! / Flickr Allegedly, the Hood Canal is home to the mysterious tree octopus, which begins its life like any other octopus (in the water) before making their way to the Olympic Peninsula. Because of their ability to change color and the texture of their skin, tree octopuses are hard to detect by human forest visitors. Their existence has been hotly debated for years.
- Washington also has a shockingly high number of reported UFO sightings.
Joe / Flickr We have one of the highest reporting rates per capita — 227 in King County alone from 1947-2005.
We love our wonderfully weird facts here in Washington. In fact, we like to think of ourselves as America’s black sheep in some ways.
Al Case / Flickr
Father’s Day originated in Spokane, by Senora Smart Dodd. She wanted to find a way to honor her own father, who was a Civil War veteran. Of course, despite her efforts and the backing of two presidents, Father’s Day didn’t become a federal holiday until 1972.
Shibby777 / Flickr
You’re welcome, America!
Wikipedia
You might think Montana would have that honor since they have Glacier National Park. But since there are more than 3,000 here, we definitely win at glaciers.
Toshiyuki IMAI / Flickr
No one ever claimed the prize, and as of 2009, no one could find out what had happened to the boy.
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
That’s just the way God made us.
Andy DeBroux / Flickr
The Ferries in Istanbul, Turkey is the only system that has us beat.
Howard Ignatius / Flickr
And it’s much less crowded.
Dru! / Flickr
Allegedly, the Hood Canal is home to the mysterious tree octopus, which begins its life like any other octopus (in the water) before making their way to the Olympic Peninsula. Because of their ability to change color and the texture of their skin, tree octopuses are hard to detect by human forest visitors. Their existence has been hotly debated for years.
Joe / Flickr
We have one of the highest reporting rates per capita — 227 in King County alone from 1947-2005.
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