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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 62 |
| 1858 | 29 |
| 1859 | 52 |
| 1860 | 27 |
| 1861 | 101 |
| 1862 | 87 |
| 1863 | 69 |
| 1864 | 32 |
| 1865 | 11 |
| 1871 | 11 |
| 1872 | 140 |
| 1876 | 812 |
| 1877 | 678 |
| 1878 | 526 |
| 1879 | 64 |
| 1880 | 180 |
| 1882 | 130 |
| 1883 | 911 |
| 1884 | 499 |
| 1885 | 838 |
| 1886 | 492 |
| 1887 | 484 |
| 1888 | 440 |
| 1889 | 1,324 |
| 1890 | 287 |
| 1891 | 1,115 |
| 1892 | 2,855 |
| 1893 | 2,829 |
| 1894 | 2,116 |
| 1895 | 1,830 |
| 1896 | 2 |
| 1897 | 62 |
| 1898 | 196 |
| 1899 | 446 |
| 1900 | 114 |
| 1902 | 34 |
| 1903 | 1,332 |
| 1904 | 1,126 |
| 1905 | 124 |
| 1907 | 53 |
| 1908 | 351 |
| 1909 | 1,545 |
| 1910 | 413 |
| 1911 | 160 |
| 1912 | 73 |
| 1914 | 261 |
| 1915 | 300 |
| 1916 | 545 |
| 1917 | 332 |
| 1918 | 45 |
| 1919 | 5 |
| 1920 | 1 |
| 1922 | 18 |
| 1923 | 185 |
| 1924 | 151 |
| 1925 | 64 |
| 1928 | 14 |
| 1929 | 19 |
101 stories
- The Bachelor Frontiersmen of White River
An early settler describes the agricultural promise of the river valley and the social isolation of the men carving out homesteads in the dense wilderness.
- An Early Coastal Survey of the Quillehuyt River
James G. Swan documents his journey to the Quillayute River, describing the geography, the Indigenous stronghold at James Island, and the aftermath of the Southerner shipwreck.
- Tensions Rise on the Upper Columbia
Miners and settlers report growing hostility as military protection is withdrawn from the frontier.
- Volunteers Called to Guard the Frontier
The War Department authorizes a new regiment of mounted volunteers to secure the Washington and Oregon territories as the Civil War escalates.
- The Call for Cavalry
Military authorities look to volunteers to secure the frontier as federal forces withdraw from the Pacific Northwest.
- The Battle for the Territorial Capitol
A legal and political standoff over the physical location of the territorial capital and library forces an Acting Governor to weigh state law against federal fiscal crisis.
- The Divorce Factory of 1861
Tired of a legislative session flooded with endless divorce petitions, the Washington Territorial Council finally moves to curb the practice.
- Searching for the Wenatchee Mines
An expedition returns to Olympia after failing to reach the mountains, but reports finding vast, promising new territory.
- Territorial Legislature Declares Allegiance to the Union
As the clouds of civil war gather in the East, the Washington Territorial Legislature takes a firm stance for the preservation of the national Union.
- The Gold Rush at Nez Perces
A local captain reports on the booming prospects for thousands of miners seeking quartz gold in the Blue Mountains.
- A Politically Charged Appointment in Olympia
The local press rails against the appointment of B.F. Kendall as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, calling him a political turncoat and an opportunist.
- An Indignant Patron
A Chinese man refuses a segregated ticket policy at a local circus.
- The Bureau's War on 'Prostitution and Concubinage'
The Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Olympia issues a directive banning relationships between white staff and Indigenous women.
- The Shipwreck of the Persevere
A vessel founders near Cape Flattery, leading to a precarious encounter with local tribes and a recovery effort by Indian Agent H.A. Webster.
- The Political Price of Loyalty in 1861
A fiery exchange between the Territorial Surveyor General and the local press highlights the intense suspicion of secessionist sympathizers in Washington Territory.
- The Loyalty Oath of a Washington Surveyor
Public official James Tilton defends his reputation against accusations of secessionism during the onset of the Civil War.
- Washington Territory Declares Loyalty to the Union
Legislators in the newly formed territory pass formal resolutions condemning secession and the proposed Pacific Confederacy on the eve of the Civil War.
- An Editor Steps Down Amidst Political Intrigue
James Lodge defends his reputation after withdrawing from the Pioneer and Democrat, denying secret negotiations with Republican rivals.
- Allegations of Land Office Fraud
A citizen accuses political candidate S. Garfielde of withholding land certificates and pocketing fees during his time as a receiver of public moneys.
- Steamer Pacific Wrecked on the Columbia
A local steamer strikes a rock in the dead of night, leading to the loss of its cargo and livestock.
- A Young Seattle's Ambition
A correspondent reports on the rapid development of Seattle in 1861, highlighting the construction of the Territorial University building.
- The Mail That Stopped Coming to Puget Sound
For more than ten days no mail arrived from California or the Atlantic states. Steilacoom’s editor blamed a federal order in San Francisco and wondered how long the town could keep publishing.
- The Governor’s Printing Office Grab
A territorial appointment turns into a public feud over who gets to choose Washington’s public printer—and whether the governor overstepped the legislature’s authority.
- The Day the Steamers Left Puget Sound
An 1861 Steilacoom editor warns that losing ocean steamship service will isolate Washington Territory and strangle its growth.
- The Legislature Votes Itself a Territorial Rifle
In a moment of classic political opportunism, the Council passes a measure granting every member a firearm at public expense.