1. In 1799, the tomb of George Washington was completed at Mount Vernon. This final resting place of the first President of the United States remains one of the most visited historic sites in the country.

2. In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, officially abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude. Though the amendment had been passed by Congress in January of that year, it required the approval of three-fourths of the states to become law.

3. In 1915, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer published an editorial by Frank B. Coombs proposing the creation of a national park in the North Cascades. The idea gained support over the years, and in 1968, North Cascades National Park was established.

4. In 1947, the United States Air Force announced the development of an experimental aircraft that would eventually become known as the X-1. On October 14, 1947, the X-1, piloted by Chuck Yeager, became the first aircraft to break the sound barrier.

5. In 1986, Washington State Governor Booth Gardner signed the Bottle Bill, which requires a deposit on certain beverage containers in order to encourage recycling. The law has been credited with reducing litter and increasing recycling rates in the state.