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HistoryLink.org Home This Week Then Today in Washington History New This Week Upcoming Event Explore About Washington Timeline Slideshows Roll of Honor Book Reviews Podcasts Tours Education In the Classroom History Day Curriculum Materials About About Staff & Historians Trustees & Advisers Donors Publications Contact Commissioned Work Work with Us Events HistoryLunch All Events Search Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Donate The free online encyclopedia of Washington state history 8221 HistoryLink.org articles now available. Search Diablo Dam incline railway climbing Sourdough Mountain, 1930. Courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives, 2306. Children waving to ferry, 1950. Courtesy Museum of History and Industry. Loggers in the Northwest woods. Courtesy Washington State Digital Archives. This Week Then 5/9/2024 Enjoy Public Art Fifty years ago this week, the state legislature created the Art in Public Places program proposed by the Washington State Arts Commission. The AIPP purchases and cares for artworks in state buildings, colleges, universities, and schools throughout Washington. It now includes more than 5,000 works by locally, nationally, and internationally recognized artists, sited at 1,300 public locations. The Washington State Arts Commission was established by the legislature in 1961, and in the 1970s it began exploring ways to create a permanent art collection for the state. When the AIPP was put in place, it was the second statewide "percent-for-art" program of its kind in the nation, following Hawaii. (The city of Seattle launched its 1 Percent for Art program in 1973.) In these programs, a small percentage of the capital construction costs of public buildings at colleges and universities, state agencies, and K-12 schools is set aside for the acquisition and permanent installation of artwork. In 1975 the group commissioned its first work, Langskip Norseland Spirit (shown above), created by Washington artist Ken Lundemo for placement at Poulsbo Elementary School. Over the years, schools and other public buildings have featured works by many Northwest artists, including George Tsutakawa , Jacob Lawrence , Marvin Oliver , Phillip Levine , Lawney Reyes , Buster Simpson , and James Washington Jr . The public helps select the program’s artwork, and the collection includes works in a wide range of materials, styles, and sizes. Look aroundyou might just find that you have some public art near where you live. Mothers with Heart May 12 is Mother’s Day, a good time to note some mothers who left their mark on Washington state history. We begin with Mother Joseph and the Sisters of Providence, who arrived at Fort Vancouver in 1856 and went on to establish many of our state’s first and largest hospitals. The state honored Mother Joseph with her own dedicated day in 1999. Her example was followed by Mother Francesca Cabriniwho became the first American saint in 1946and by the founders of Seattle’s Home of the Good Shepherd . Beyond the Catholic Church, women such as Mother Ollie Ryther and Anna Clise responded to the needs of orphaned and sick children . Edmonds publisher Missouri Hanna has been called the "Mother of Journalism" in Washington, but not all mothers are filled with sweetness and light. Labor activist Mother Jones visited Seattle and Tacoma in May, 1914, bringing fiery condemnations of plutocrats and capitalists involved in the coal-mining industry. And then there was Mary Ann Conklin, a.k.a. Mother Damnable , a mountain of a woman with a volcanic vocabulary, capable of cursing in several languages. She operated Seattle’s first hotel and was known to carry rocks in her apron to hurl at folks who made her upset, which was just about everyone. News Then, History Now Rise and Fall On May 11, 1873 , 36-year-old James Glover arrived at Spokane Falls and bought 160 acres of land along the waterfront. Known as the "Father of Spokane," he later became one of the city’s first bankers and mayor, but has since become regarded as exploitative, dismissive of the region’s Indigenous people, and particularly cruel to his first wife, Susan. Funeral Pall Roslyn was founded in 1886 after surveyors from the Northern Pacific Railroad found rich seams of coal nearby. But mining the coal came with a price. On May 10, 1892, in the worst coalmine disaster in Washington history, 45 men lost their lives in an explosion and fire at the Roslyn mine. Standing Tall Two of Washington’s notable buildings celebrate birthdays this week. On May 9, 1893, the New Whatcom City Hall opened in Bellingham and is now home to the Whatcom Museum of History and Art. And Seattle’s King Street Station opened on May 10, 1906 , and is currently served by Amtrak trains and Sounder commuter rail. Start the Car On May 14, 1969, the final segment of Interstate 5 in Washington opened for traffic, allowing motorists to travel without interruption from the Canadian border to the northern California state line. The new freeway also helped boost the development of cities along its route, including Bellingham , Mount Vernon , Arlington , Marysville , Everett , Lynnwood , Seattle , Federal Way , Tacoma , Olympia , Centralia , Chehalis , Longview , and Vancouver . Daybreak Star On May 13, 1977, the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center opened its doors at Discovery Park in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood. Founded by Native American leader Bernie Whitebear and with the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation as its parent organization, the Daybreak Star Center serves as an urban base for Native Americans in the Seattle area. Come As You Are Communities celebrating birthdays this week include Kelso , which incorporated on May 10, 1890 , and Aberdeen , which incorporated on May 12, 1890 . And on May 14, 1915 , the town of Oak Harbor incorporated. A month later, local residents celebrated with a livestock parade, a baking exhibition, and a talent show. Today in Washington History United States Army establishes Camp Columbia at the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Vancouver on May 13, 1849. Ice is sold in Seattle for the first time on May 13, 1872. Fire destroys seven blocks of downtown Goldendale on May 13, 1888. Machinists in Seattle strike on May 13, 1901. Leif Erikson Lodge No. 1 (now 2-001) of the Grand Lodge of the Sons of Norway of the Pacific Coast (Seattle) holds first formal meeting on May 13, 1903. Second Lieutenant Ray Delhauer takes command of Camp Lewis pigeoneer training on May 13, 1918. Century 21 Exposition official Ewen Dingwall closes controversial "Girls of the Galaxy" show on May 13, 1962. Ester Wilfong becomes first African American member of Seattle’s all-white College Club on May 13, 1968. University of Washington responds to Black Student Union demands on May 13, 1968. Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center opens its doors on May 13, 1977. Metamorfosis: The Journal of Northwest Chicano Art and Culture appears for the first time on May 13, 1977. Sea-Land begins shipping operations at Port of Tacoma on May 13, 1985. "Frasier," the TV sitcom set in Seattle, airs its last show on May 13, 2004. President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to former Sergeant Kyle White on May 13, 2014. City of Tukwila celebrates completion of Duwamish Gardens Project, which converted a historic farmstead into a park with enhanced salmon habitat, on May 13, 2017. New On HistoryLink Allen, John Beard (1845-1903) and Mathilda Cecelia (1848-1921) Jackson Street Jazz Scene (Seattle) Brewster, David Clark (b. 1939) Stone, Corliss P. (1838-1906) Weekly Intelligencer reports false rumors that Seattle Mayor Corliss P. Stone has swindled $15,000 and fled with another man’s wife on March 10, 1873. Prairie Line to Tacoma is rushed to completion on December 16, 1873. Image of the Week On May 15, 1912, near the Olympic Mountains, the first visitors to the Sol Duc Hot Springs resort enjoyed soothing warm waters in a sylvan setting. Quote of the Week "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but...