In the late 1700s, British explorers like George Vancouver started showing up on the scene, mapping out the coast and claiming the land for their own (because, you know, that's exactly what you do when you find a new place – you put up a flag and say "mine!"). The Spanish were also in on the action, with Bruno de Hezeta leading an expedition to the Olympic Peninsula in 1775 (talk about a road trip!).
Fast forward to the mid-1800s, when the Oregon Trail was in full swing (well, more like a slow and arduous slog, but you get the idea). Thousands of pioneers made their way to Washington State, seeking land and opportunity (not to mention a chance to escape the dust bowl back East). The Washington Territory was officially established in 1853, and the rest, as they say, is history.
