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Period: to
Hudson Bay Company controlled PNW trading - Economic
Headquartered at Ft Vancouver the Hudson Bay Company controlled nearly all of the Pacific Northwest trading. -
Ft Vancouver opens - Art/Architecture
John McLoughlin, often known as the "Father of Oregon" was the architect that designed and oversaw construction of Ft Vancouver over the winter of 1824-1825. The fort was substantial in size, containing 40 buildings that were protected by palisades that were 750 ft long, 450 ft wide, and 20 ft high. The fort became the center of activity for both imports and exports for the Pacific Northwest. Prior to the forts being built, the primary structure for the coastal indians were plank houses. -
Marcus and Narcissa Whitman head west - Religion
Marcus and Narcissa Whitman head west to convert the Native Americans to Christianity. After first going to Ft. Vancouver, they eventually set their mission up near Walla Walla, WA and began to try and civilize and convert the Cayuse Indians. -
Unsanitary conditions on the Oregon Trail - Environment
Cholera was spread throughout the emigrants due to unsanitary conditions at camps along the Oregon Trail. People would camp amid the garbage and contaminated water from previous wagon parties and catch the disease. It struck so fast that a person could be fine in the morning and dead within 12-24 hours. -
Oregon gold mining begins - Environment
John R. Poole and James Cluggae stop in the Willamette Valley on their way to Sacremento, CA. While digging a water hole for their pack mules they noticed gold in the soil. They had stumbled upon the largest gold strike in Oregon's history. The miners used high pressure water to remove entire hillsides forever altering the landscape and destroying streams and rivers. -
Cataldo Mission finished - Art/Architecture
Over a 3-year timespan, led by the Jesuits, the Indians constructed the Cataldo mission using the wattle and daub technique. This technique does not use any nails, but instead uses woven peices of wood that are coated with clay or soil. -
First Salem, Or courthouse completed - Art/Architecture
Construction began in 1853 and was completed in 1854. Albert Ferguson and Elias Montgomery completed the building for $15,703.93. It was 2-stories, with four doric columns on the front and a cupola on the top. Total size was 68 feet by 40 feet. It was replaced in 1873 by a new courthouse that was described as a "wedding cake." -
Mormons move into Idaho - Religion
Mormons missionaries establish Fort Lemhi -
Oregon became a state - Government
President Polk appointed Brigadier General James Shields to be Oregon's first territorial governor in 1849. He declined and Joseph Lane was appointed in his place on March 3, 1849. John Whiteaker was the first governor of the State of Oregon starting in office exactly 10 years later on March 3, 1859. -
Gold discoverd in northern Idaho - Economic
This brought many miners into the area in hopes of finding their share of the gold. Over the next two years the population grew by over 20,000. On this date Lewiston, ID was established to help support the mining communities. -
Univeristy of Washington founded - Science/Technology
Originally called the Territorial University of Washington, the college struggled in its early years and closed three times due to lack of students and funding problems. Clara Antoinette McCarty Wilt become the first graduate with a bachelor's degree in science. Born in Steilacoom, WA in 1880 she became the first superintendent of Pierce County school district and the first female to hold a position in the Washington Territory. -
The end of the Buffalo? - Environment
Prior to settlers moving east into the PNW, the Native Americans in the area only hunted and killed the number of buffalo needed for survival - using every piece of the animal. With the influx of emigrants, the railway used for both hunting and shipping, and the desire to rid the area of the main source of meat and fur for the Indians the number of buffalo decreased quickly. Originally numbering in the millions, by the end of the hunting the numbers were down to just a few thousand. -
Sumner Academy established - Religion
Founder George Whitworth established a Christian academy at Sumner in the Washington Territory. In 1890 the academy incorporated and became Whitworth College. In 1899 the College moved to Tacoma. In 1914 Whitworth College moved to Spokane. -
Washington becomes a state - Government
President Pierce appointed Isaac Stevens as the first governor of the Territory of Washington on December 3, 1853. Elisha Peyre Ferry was the first governor of the State of Washington, taking office on November 11, 1889. -
Washington State University founded - Science and Technology
Originally called the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science, WSU has led in agricultural and veterinarian studies. It became a statewide institution when it started the Agricultural Experiment Station near Puyallup in 1894 and entered the area of professional education with the School of Veterinary Science in 1899. -
Idaho becomes a state - Government
President Lincoln appointed William H. Wallace as the first governor of the Territory of Idaho in July, 1863. George Laird Shoup was the first governor of the State of Idaho, taking office on October 1, 1890 - only serving until December 18, 1890. -
Great Northern Railway completed - Economic
The last spike was driven in at Scenic, WA. This completed the link between the Pcific Northwest and the rest of the United States and allowed people and product to both come in and leave the PNW. -
Cascade Locks and Canal completed - Science/Technology
Robert Gray first discovered the Columbia River in 1792 and by 1820 it was used to supply trading posts on the lower river. In 1866 the first load of wheat was hauled from the Palouse country. In the 1870's construction began on the lock system which would allow people and product to be transported from Lewiston to the coast almost year round.
