1. On February 18, 1803, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in the case of Marbury v. Madison. The decision established the principle of judicial review, meaning that the Supreme Court has the authority to strike down laws that are deemed unconstitutional.

2. In 1861, on February 18, the territory of Washington was created by the United States Congress. This was two years before Washington became a state and it remained a territory until 1889.

3. February 18, 1930, is the birthdate of Toni Morrison - an acclaimed author, Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize winner. She wrote numerous novels, with some of her most famous works including Beloved, The Bluest Eye, and Song of Solomon.

4. On February 18, 1970, the Northwest Power Planning Council was established. It was created to ensure the availability of affordable and reliable power in the Pacific Northwest.

5. In 2001, on February 18, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Nisqually Delta near Olympia, Washington. It was the largest earthquake to hit the region since 1965. Fortunately, there were no fatalities caused by the quake, but it did cause widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.