1. On July 24, 1889, Washington was admitted as the 42nd state in the United States. The territory had been created 15 years earlier by the Organic Act of 1873, which divided the region into two territories, Washington and Idaho.

2. In 1969, the world's largest waterfall was officially recognized as the Ribbon Falls. Located in Mount Rainier National Park, the waterfall is fed by snow and ice melt, and plummets over 1,000 feet to the ground below.

3. On July 24, 1987, the infamous serial killer known as the "Green River Killer" was arrested. Gary Ridgway was responsible for the deaths of at least 49 women in the Seattle area, making him one of the most prolific serial killers in American history.

4. In 1929, the first ever Seafair event was held in Seattle. This annual summer festival now includes a variety of activities and events, including parades, carnivals, concerts, and hydroplane races on Lake Washington.

5. On July 24, 1974, President Nixon announced his resignation from the Oval Office. The Watergate scandal had reached its peak, with the President facing impeachment charges for his involvement in the cover-up of a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. His resignation marked one of the most significant political events in American history.