Washington Scavenger Hunt
Washington’s story begins long before the stars and stripes fluttered westward, shaped by the cataclysmic rise and retreat of glaciers and the slow rhythm of tribal lifeways along mist-laced shores. In the land of towering firs and volcanic peaks, of salmon runs and tidal swells, the Coast Salish, Yakama, Spokane, Makah and many others cultivated cultures as deeply rooted as the evergreens themselves. With the coming of trappers, missionaries, and ambitious railroad men, the region became a crucible of reinvention — first as a raw frontier, then a proving ground for industrial might, and finally a launchpad for modern dreams.
Washington’s split personality — coastal and inland, maritime and mountainous — shaped its character. The timber barons and shipbuilders of Puget Sound turned dense forests and deep harbors into booming cities. Wheat barons and miners etched their legacies into the drier east. Yet for all its rugged frontier energy, Washington would become a place of astonishing vision: where artists, architects, engineers, and environmentalists reimagined the world around them. From the sleek thrust of the Space Needle to the ecological ethos of Spokane’s Expo ’74, from Frank Lloyd Wright’s quiet Usonian retreat to massive dams reshaping riverways, the Evergreen State consistently reaches forward while rooted in place. This is a land where a humble log can float its way into a palace — and where rain nurtures both dreams and deep reflection.
The photos and stories collected for this savenger hunt are a fast and fun way to learn the explanations behind the quirks, the traditions and the secrets that make Washington uniquely Washington. Where did Lou Gossett Jr. give Richard Gere an attitude adjustment in An Officer and a Gentleman?” Solved. Where is America’s last surviving pesthouse? A mystery no more. Where is the last Japanese-style public bathhouse in North America? Identified. What did Teddy Roosevelt do for Washington on his last day in office as President? Revealed. How did Pullman score Washington State University over Yakima? No one knows.
Chuckanut stone in commanding array, Holds court from the days of Richardson's sway. Once a courthouse, then Capitol grand, Its gables and towers still proudly stand. Though Olympia won the capital fight, This sandstone castle still reigns in sight.
A railroad car turned greasy spoon, Where breakfast sizzles night or noon. From private train to café cheer—this vintage car still draws you near.
A hop king first, then town’s first name, Ezra chased Oregon Trail fame. With ox and Jim he crossed once more, To mark where pioneers had tore. His house still tells the settler tale, Where dreams were yoked to wagon trail.
They built it too slim and gave it a name, “Galloping Gertie” earned dubious fame. It twisted and groaned and dropped from the sky, As Tubby the pup was too frightened to try. Now engineers study that crash with a sigh, Of how not to build as the cars roll on by.
With bees and timber, Fred took root, And bought the woods in planned pursuit. A Gothic hall of wooden pride, Was floated twice by rising tide. The kingdom built on forest gold, Still tells the tale the pine trees told.
From Yukon to footlights, a Greek dared to dream, And summoned Versailles in a vaudeville theme. Where acts once performed to a sold-out brigade, And velvet-lined echoes of matinees fade. Restored for new curtains and theatrical charms, It stands with outstretched, chandeliered arms.