Title: Washington State History for Kids
Headings: Washington
Washington
State History

Content: In 1836, the missionary Marcus Whitman arrived. He built several missions in an effort to teach the Native Americans about Christianity. Marcus Whitman by Paul Kane
Becoming a State
Throughout the early 1800s, the land of Washington was shared between the United States and Great Britain. In 1846, the United States gained control of the region through the Oregon Treaty. Washington became part of the Oregon Territory which included Washington, Oregon, Idaho, parts of Wyoming, and parts of Montana. In 1853, Oregon broke off and the Washington Territory was formed. On November 11, 1889, Washington was admitted into the Union as the 42nd state. Growing
The state of Washington grew rapidly in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The main industry was timber, but soon apples and wheat became important crops. Seattle became one of the main ports for people traveling to Alaska during the Yukon Gold Rush, causing it to double in size over a fairly short period of time.