Washington became the 42nd state of the Union on November 11, 1889! It’s named after first president, George Washington, but you can also call it The Evergreen State! Its capital is Olympia, and its largest city is Seattle! Washington’s unofficial motto is “Alki,” which means “Bye and bye!” This state is famous for its Cascade volcanoes (especially Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens), its seafood, coffee, and Space Needle, not to mention the ever-present rain! Don’t forget to check out Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park while you’re at it!