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Washington Territorial Legislature creates Sawamish (Mason) County on April 15, 1854.

On April 15, 1854, the Washington Territorial Legislature forms Sawamish County out of Thurston County. The new county is named for the tribe of Native Americans who inhabit the bays and inlets of sou...

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Washington Territorial Legislature incorporates the City of Steilacoom on April 22, 1854.

On April 22, 1854, Steilacoom becomes the first town in Washington to be incorporated by the new Washington Territorial Legislature. Originally two separate and competing towns founded in 1851 by Lafa...

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Washington Territorial Legislature forms Walla Walla County out of Skamania County on April 25, 1854.

On April 25, 1854, the Washington Territorial Legislature forms Walla Walla County out of Skamania County. The county seat is set "on the claim of Lloyd Brooks," at what will become the city of Walla ...

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West Seattle Beginnings: Alki Post Office opens on April 29, 1854.

The opening of a post office is an important marker of the beginning of a community. On April 29, 1854, the Alki Post Office is established. Charles Terry (1830-1867) is appointed postmaster.

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Lynch mob hangs two Snohomish Indians in Seattle's Pioneer Square on April 12, 1854.

On April 12, 1854, a lynch mob hangs two members of the Snohomish tribe in Pioneer Square. The Native Americans are accused of murdering a man believed to be Pennsylvania native James B. McCormick, wh...

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Seattle residents celebrate Independence Day on July 4, 1854, and adopt names for Lake Union and Lake Washington.

On the Fourth of July, 1854, most of Seattle's few hundred residents gather to celebrate near a lake called Tenas Chuck ("little waters"). Thomas Mercer (1813-1898) addresses the group and proposes na...

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South Puget Sound tribes sign Treaty of Medicine Creek on December 26, 1854.

On December 26, 1854, at Medicine Creek in present-day Thurston County, members of the Puyallup, Nisqually, Steilacoom, and Squaxin Island tribes enter a treaty with the United States in which they ce...

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Native American tribes sign Point Elliott Treaty at Mukilteo on January 22, 1855.

On January 22, 1855, Chief Seattle joins 81 other leaders of Puget Sound tribes in signing a treaty with Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens (1818-1862) at Point Elliott (now Mukilteo). Tribes includin...

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Makah leaders and Territorial Gov. Stevens sign treaty at Neah Bay on January 31, 1855.

On January 31, 1855, at Neah Bay near Cape Flattery at the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, 42 Makah leaders sign a treaty with Isaac Stevens (1818-1862), governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs of...

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Seattle's first church is dedicated on May 12, 1855.

On May 12, 1855, Seattle's first church building, called the Little White Church because of its white paint, is dedicated. The Reverend David Blaine (1824-1900) had established the church's Methodist ...

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Artist Gustavus Sohon documents the Walla Walla treaty council in May, 1855.

In May 1855, Gustavus Sohon (1825-1903) documents important scenes at the Walla Walla treaty council conducted by Governor Isaac Stevens (1818-1862) and General Joel Palmer, the Superintendents of Ind...

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Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens convenes the First Walla Walla Council with Native American tribes on May 29, 1855.

On May 29, 1855, Washington Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens (1818-1862) convenes the First Walla Walla Council with Native American tribes of the Columbia River basin. Stevens' orders are to exting...

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Henry Yesler's Native American daughter Julia is born on June 12, 1855.

On June 12, 1855, the Native American daughter of Seattle pioneer Henry Yesler (1810-1892) is born. Julia (Benson) Intermela (1855-1907) is the child of Susan, the daughter of Curly (Su-quardle) and H...

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Tourists visit Snoqualmie Falls for the first time in the summer of 1855.

In June or July, 1855, the first group of tourists visits Snoqualmie Falls, a spectacular waterfall located on the Snoqualmie River in eastern King County.

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Sand Point on Lake Washington is first surveyed on August 29, 1855, and opened for settlement.

On August 29, 1855, the area around the later-named Sand Point on the western shore of Lake Washington was surveyed, so that settlers could homestead the land and acquire it from the federal governmen...

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Yakama tribesmen slay Indian Subagent Andrew J. Bolon near Toppenish Creek on September 23, 1855.

On September 23, 1855, three Yakima tribesmen slay U.S. Indian Subagent Andrew Jackson Bolon in what will become Klickitat County. Bolon is investigating the killing of white miners by Yakima tribesme...

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Yakama War begins on October 5, 1855.

On the afternoon of October 5, 1855, gunfire erupts between Yakama Chief Kamiakin's 300 warriors and Major Granville O. Haller's 84-man troop of soldiers. The two groups have been at a standoff across...

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Residents of Skookumchuck (later Centralia) begin building Fort Henness on October 17, 1855.

On October 17, 1855, after hearing news of Indian uprisings in other parts of Washington Territory, residents of Skookumchuck (later Centralia) begin construction on Fort Henness. The fort on what is...

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Nisquallys and Klickitats battle Territorial Volunteers in Pierce County beginning on October 27, 1855.

On October 27, 1855, Nisqually and Klickitat tribesmen battle Territorial Volunteers sent to seize Nisqually chiefs Leschi (1808-1858) and Quiemuth in Pierce County. Two volunteers die on the 29th (so...

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Muckleshoots attack settlers along White River between Kent and Auburn on October 28, 1855.

On Sunday morning, October 28, 1855, Indians of the Muckleshoot and Klickitat tribes under Nelson and Kanasket raid farms between present-day Kent and Auburn and kill nine settlers. The survivors retr...

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Major Gabriel Rains and 700 soldiers and volunteers skirmish with Yakama warriors under Kamiakin at Union Gap on November 9, 1855.

On November 9, 1855, U.S. Army Major Gabriel J. Rains (1803-1881), U.S. Army soldiers, and Oregon and Washington volunteers skirmish with warriors of the Yakama and other tribes under Chief Kamiakin (...

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Native Americans kill U.S. Army Lieutenant William Slaughter and three other soldiers along the White River on December 4, 1855.

On December 4, 1855, Native Americans under Klickitat Chief Kanasket attack a U.S. Army encampment between the Green and White rivers and kill Lieutenant William Slaughter (1827-1855) and three other ...

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Oregon volunteers battle the Walla Wallas and other tribes beginning on December 7, 1855.

On December 7, 1855, a four-day battle begins between Oregon volunteers and the Walla Wallas and other tribes. Tensions have been growing that year between many of the Native American tribes of the in...

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Responding to fears of imminent attack, naval steamer Active reaches Seattle on December 25, 1855.

On Christmas Day 1855, the U.S. Coast Survey Ship Active drops anchor off Seattle after steaming from San Francisco Bay with munitions for the USS Decatur, lying crippled with a broken back at the vil...

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