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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 53 |
| 1858 | 2 |
| 1859 | 6 |
| 1860 | 12 |
| 1861 | 60 |
| 1862 | 65 |
| 1863 | 44 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 14 |
| 1876 | 10 |
| 1877 | 12 |
| 1878 | 8 |
| 1879 | 4 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 4 |
| 1883 | 39 |
| 1884 | 12 |
| 1885 | 19 |
| 1886 | 11 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 58 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1891 | 218 |
| 1892 | 194 |
| 1893 | 111 |
| 1894 | 19 |
| 1895 | 112 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1902 | 1 |
| 1903 | 24 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 95 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1912 | 4 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1915 | 8 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1919 | 1 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1924 | 4 |
| 1925 | 10 |
1,327 stories
- Tragedy on the Tracks near Tenino
A woman identified as Tillie Myers was killed instantly by a Northern Pacific train after being spotted walking on the tracks.
- The Last-Day Bill Rush—and a Women’s Suffrage Amendment
Washington’s Senate introduced dozens of measures on the final day of bill introduction, from railroad assessments and a company-store ban to a referendum on votes for women.
- The Explorer’s Widow Visits Olympia
Lady Jane Franklin, still searching for answers about her husband's lost Arctic expedition, visits the Washington Territory.
- Federal Officials Move to Ban Private Indigenous Land Claims
Federal Indian agents warn that private acquisition of land from Indigenous people without government oversight is strictly prohibited.
- The Emancipation Proclamation Reaches Washington Territory
A brief editorial note acknowledges that the monumental news of the Emancipation Proclamation was delayed in the local press due to legislative reports.
- Washington's Shifting Demographics
State health officials report a slow decline in birth rates, while noting divergent trends across different racial communities.
- Fourth of July Crowds in the Capital City
A bustling 1878 Independence Day celebration in Olympia draws throngs of visitors as regional sporting rivalries take center stage.
- When Washington Voters First Weighed Statehood
In 1878, Governor Elisha P. Ferry issued a formal proclamation calling for a territory-wide vote on the proposed state constitution and the future of regional representation.
- Washington’s Citizen Soldiers Prepare for Duty
While the upcoming National Guard encampment at Chambers Prairie promises camaraderie, it serves a serious, dual purpose: law enforcement and the maintenance of civil stability.
- The Price of Progress: A Victim of the Storm
A devastating windstorm hits Olympia, leaving a man critically injured and highlighting the physical perils of frontier expansion.
- The Supreme Court Rules on Local Terms
A legal dispute over when county officers begin their terms reaches a final decision in Olympia.
- The Crumbling Capitol Gets a Patch-Up
As legislators prepare for the 1893 session, the barn-like structure in Olympia receives a new roof and a desperately needed expansion.
- The Islander's Printing Contract Ruled Invalid
The Washington Supreme Court finds that San Juan County erred in awarding a printing contract to the Islander, directing the work to the Graphic instead.
- The Olympia Gold Rush Rumor
A local prospector claims to have found a high-value gold ledge just two miles from the state capital, sparking intense local excitement.
- Militia Encampment Under Siege by Rain and Mud
Washington's National Guard troops endure a damp, difficult training session near Olympia, marked by runaways, a fistfight, and dismal weather.
- Olympia's Shifting Rail Line
The Olympia branch railroad plans a major reroute to avoid dangerous trestles and prioritize the lucrative logging trade.
- The Profit in Prunes
How a small-scale orchard near Olympia is proving that fruit farming can be a lucrative venture in Western Washington.
- A May Day Celebration on Chambers Prairie
While war clouds gathered on the horizon, the citizens of Olympia took to the countryside to celebrate May Day with a traditional picnic, Maypole, and dancing.
- Independence Day in Olympia, 1861
Citizens celebrated the 85th anniversary of American independence with a picnic at a nearby lake, a patriotic reading by Elwood Evans, and a grand ball at Washington Hall.
- The Loss of Captain J.P. Keller
The town of Olympia lowers its flags to honor a fallen military figure.
- Federal Crackdown on Liquor Trafficking in Indian Country
The Superintendent of Indian Affairs warns traders and settlers that selling alcohol to Indigenous people or operating on reservations without a license is a federal crime punishable by seizure and jail.
- Greenbacks Earn Trust in Olympia
Citizens freely exchange Treasury notes for gold at par, signaling local faith in the Union cause.
- The Christmas Poultry Heist
Two local drifters outsmart a tavern keeper in a holiday shooting match scheme.
- The Preacher and the Circassian Slave
A popular clergyman gets more than he bargained for during a trip to a local photography studio.
- The Rules of Law in Territorial Washington
A comprehensive look at the legal framework governing property disputes, mortgage foreclosures, and individual liberty in 1854.