On August 16, 1885, the Isabel docks at Tacoma with the first cargo of tea from Asia bound for the East Coast via railroad. The Northern Pacific had gathered 200 cars at the Tacoma docks ready to load...
On September 7, 1885, in the eastern King County community of Squak (later renamed Issaquah), white and Indian hop pickers gang up on Chinese workers brought in by the Wold Bros. to pick hops at a che...
From September 30 to October 2, 1885, the first Kittitas County Fair is held near Ellensburg. The event runs for three days, closing on October 2, 1885, and attracts celebrants from throughout the Kit...
On November 3, 1885, a mob, including many of Tacoma's leading citizens, marches on the city's Chinese community and forces everyone out of their houses and out of town. Tacoma mayor Jacob Robert Weis...
On December 4, 1885, the Seattle City Council approves Ordinance No. 696, requiring that residential property be connected to existing sewer lines. Mayor Henry Yesler (1810-1892) signs the ordinance t...
In 1886, the Spring Hill Water Company builds a pumping station on Lake Washington to supply water to the city of Seattle. The company, established in 1881, had drawn water from the springs and a cree...
In 1886, a Seattle group of African Methodist Episcopalians, served by travelling missionaries, begin meeting in each other's homes. They establish the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1886, Charles H. and Eva Ellis Harvey come to Seattle. He becomes an early black contractor and employer. After living in Belltown for a brief time, they moved to a house on 2nd Avenue at the prese...
In 1886, Horace Cayton (1859-1940) comes to Seattle from Mississippi and by 1894 is publishing the Seattle Republican newspaper.
In about 1886, Edward F. Lee (1840-1928) acquires land near Pontiac Bay, Sand Point, establishes a shipyard, and by 1892 becomes postmaster of Sand Point's Pontiac Post Office. The Lee Shipyard, one o...
In 1886, future architect, Kirtland Cutter (1860-1939), arrives in Spokane at the age of 26. Cutter is lured to Spokane Falls by his uncle, banker Horace Cutter. He will establish his practice in 1889...
On February 7, 1886, violence breaks out in Seattle as a mob starts to forcibly expel most of the city's Chinese population. The next day one man dies and four are injured when they attack Home Guards...
On February 8, 1886, former King County Commissioner James Manning Colman (1836-1886) is murdered after leaving his Kennydale home by rowboat. Suspicion falls on George Miller, whom Colman had accused...
On February 26, 1886, the long-awaited first Northern Pacific Railroad passenger train arrives in Ellensburg from Yakima. Within two years the town population doubles to 1,200.
On March 22, 1886, longshoremen on the Tacoma waterfront cease loading lumber onto ships, and demand a 10-cent-an-hour raise. The strike continues for five days while employers attempt but fail to hir...
On March 22, 1886, representatives of Thomas Edison demonstrate the first electrical generator in Seattle. The Seattle Electric Company's steam-powered dynamo, located in Pioneer Square, is the first ...
In 1886, striking miners cause coal shipments from Seattle to fall to less than a tenth of coal shipped the year before. Job actions are led by the Knights of Labor and mine owners respond by firing a...
On May 29, 1886, The Eye reports Gilbert Horton's floating photography gallery to be in Snohomish. The Eye, which is Snohomish's second newspaper, lists under its "Eye-Deas" column that "Horton's floa...
The opening of a post office is an important marker of the beginning of a community. Enumclaw Post Office is established on June 10, 1886. Arthur Griffin is appointed postmaster. Enumclaw is locate...
On June 12, 1886, some Seattle dockworkers meet at the residence of Terry King, at the foot of Union Street, and form a longshoremen's union. It is called the Stevedores, Longshoremen and Riggers Uni...
On June 12, 1886, longshoremen working on ships docked on the Seattle waterfront walk off the job, leading to negotiations and then acceptance of the Stevedores, Longshoremen and Riggers Union of Seat...
On July 12, 1886, voters elect People's Party candidate William H. Shoudy (1830-1901) as mayor of the City of Seattle. Shoudy defeats Arthur A. Denny (1822-1899), one of the founders of Seattle, who i...
The opening of a post office is an important marker of the beginning of a community. On July 21, 1886, the Bellevue Post Office opens. Matthew Sharpe is appointed postmaster. Bellevue is located on...
The opening of a post office is an important marker of the beginning of a community. On August 2, 1886, Adelaide Post Office opens. George W. Cunningham is appointed postmaster. Adelaide is locate...