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• 1860–1869 ×

1. The Violent Expulsion of a Black Resident from Olympia

   A white resident publicly recounts his role in forcing a Black man out of town, illustrating the overt racism prevalent in the territory during the Civil War era.

   Aug 8, 1863Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyExclusion & Resistance

2. University of Washington Territory Opens Its Doors in Seattle

   Newly established in Seattle, the territory's first institution of higher learning promises a rigorous curriculum and strict moral oversight.

   Aug 22, 1863Washington StandardSeattle, King CountyCity Hall

3. Jailbreak in Walla Walla

   Emil Bordeneuf escapes county jail, leaving behind a bizarre, rambling farewell letter.

   Jan 13, 1865Walla Walla StatesmanCounty Jail, Walla Walla, Walla Walla CountyTrue Crime

4. The Counterfeit Gold Dust Panic That Brought Vigilantes to the Valley

   A vigilance committee in the Payette Valley smashed a counterfeiters' mill and sent suspects fleeing toward Walla Walla, where fake gold dust began showing up in trade.

   Jan 20, 1865Walla Walla StatesmanWalla Walla, Walla Walla CountyTrue Crime

5. A Violent Dispute Over Laundry

   A domestic disagreement over washing services in the Pacific Northwest escalates into a targeted racial assault, exposing the local climate of 'Black Republican' tension.

   Sep 28, 1861Washington StandardUnknown, Snohomish CountyExclusion & Resistance · True Crime

6. Seattle's First Great Milestone

   The University of Washington is dedicated, marking a pivotal moment in the territory's intellectual development.

   Jan 4, 1862Washington StandardSeattle, King CountyCity Hall

7. A New Territory Born from the Gold Fields

   As the Idaho Territory is carved from Washington's eastern reaches, residents hope the split will bring order to the Salmon River mining region.

   Mar 14, 1863Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

8. The Land Office Money That Never Reached the Books

   Register Isaac W. Smith accuses Receiver Selucius Garfielde of holding land-claim payments on private deposit and refusing to account for them—an 1861 public audit fight in Washington Territory.

   Feb 7, 1861Puget Sound HeraldOlympia, Thurston CountyFollow the Money · City Hall

9. The Ballroom Ignored the Flames: Olympia’s Nonchalant Dance Amidst Disaster

   While citizens and firemen battled a blaze at the Washington Hotel on Friday evening, revelers inside continued dancing with startling indifference to the falling cinders.

   Nov 30, 1860Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyStrange But True

10. The Dollar Deed: How a Husband’s ‘Gift’ to His Wife Cost Him His Land Claim

    In a dispute over who settled first on public land, the Register of the Olympia Land Office ruled that W.S. Fish could not claim priority because he had technically transferred his donation claim to his wife for just one dollar.

    Nov 30, 1860Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyFollow the Money

11. The Divorce Dozen: Olympia’s Council Clears a Path for Broken Marriages

    In December 1860, the Washington Territory Council processed a flurry of divorce petitions, including one from prominent local figure Carson D. Boren, revealing the fragile nature of domestic life in the frontier.

    Dec 15, 1860Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall · Scandal

12. The Wedding of Necessity in Olympia

    A couple from Columbia County traveled to Olympia for the fair, found no vacancy in the local hotels, and sought a creative solution from the local Esquire.

    Dec 22, 1860Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyStrange But True

13. The Marriage Mill: Is Olympia a Haven for Runaways?

    Legislative divorce bills in 1860 are turning Washington Territory into a 'by-word and reproach' as lawmakers bypass the courts to dissolve marriages for political favors.

    Dec 22, 1860Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall · Scandal

14. The High Cost of Borrowing in Territorial Olympia

    An indignant citizen writes to the editor to protest the predatory lending practices bankrupting the territory's early settlers.

    Jan 5, 1861Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyFollow the Money

15. Divorce by Legislation

    In the 1861 territorial session, the Washington Legislature became a de facto divorce court, forcing members to adjudicate the intimate failures of local couples.

    Jan 19, 1861Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

16. The Great Territorial Rifle Scandal

    Legislators in the late assembly faced public backlash for voting themselves government-issued military rifles as personal loot.

    Feb 16, 1861Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

17. Thurston County Rallies for the Union

    As the Civil War ignites, Republicans in Olympia gather to declare their loyalty to the Union and choose their delegates for the coming struggle.

    May 18, 1861Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

18. Washington Territory Prepares for Civil War

    Acting-Governor Henry M. McGill calls for a territorial militia to defend the Union, a symbolic gesture of loyalty from a frontier thousands of miles from the conflict.

    May 18, 1861Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

19. The Steamer Stella and Her Pocket-Knife Crew

    Traveling the Chehalis River was a rugged endeavor that relied on passenger grit and a box of matches.

    May 18, 1861Washington StandardChehalis, Lewis CountyBoom & Bust

20. The Republican Territorial Convention Meets in Olympia

    With the shadow of the Civil War looming, Washington Territory Republicans gathered at the Capitol to pledge support for the Union and nominate a delegate to Congress.

    May 25, 1861Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

21. The Political Rumble at the Capitol

    Candidates for Congress square off in Olympia as the territory prepares for a heated election season.

    Jun 8, 1861Washington StandardOld Capitol Building, Olympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

22. A Clash Over Religion and Power at Simcoe

    Superintendent Kendall's decision to fire staff at the Simcoe Agency sparks a furious debate over the separation of church and state in Indian affairs.

    Nov 2, 1861Washington StandardWhite Swan, King CountyCity Hall

23. The Bold Navigator and the Tatoosh Island Light-Keeper

    A maritime dispute over a salvaged anchor reveals the shady side-hustles of a government lighthouse official.

    Dec 7, 1861Washington StandardNeah Bay, Clallam CountyFollow the Money · Strange But True

24. The Territorial Legislature’s Failed Loyalty Pledge

    A political standoff in the Washington Territorial Legislature over Union support reveals the region's deep sectional divisions during the Civil War.

    Jun 14, 1862Washington StandardOlympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

25. The Union Ticket: Thurston County's 1862 Political Campaign

    As the Civil War rages, local political factions organize mass meetings to nominate candidates and define their loyalties in Olympia.

    Jul 5, 1862Washington StandardOld Capitol Building, Olympia, Thurston CountyCity Hall

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