1. March 14, 1794, marks the day when Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, received a patent for his invention. The cotton gin revolutionized the cotton industry in the Southern United States, making it possible to separate cotton fibers from seeds more efficiently and quickly.

2. On March 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln met with a delegation of Native American chiefs from various tribal nations in the Pacific Northwest. The meeting focused on the controversial issue of encroachment on Native American lands by white settlers, and Lincoln promised to protect their rights and interests.

3. March 14, 1912, saw the first-ever automobile race held in Washington state. The race was organized by the Seattle Automobile Club and attracted racers from across the Pacific Northwest. The 200-mile race took place on a track in Walla Walla and was won by a local driver named Eddie O'Donnell.

4. On March 14, 1945, the Washington state legislature passed a bill authorizing the state's first-ever sales tax. The tax rate was set at 2 percent, and the revenue generated was earmarked for funding education and other public services.

5. In 1981, on March 14, the Washington State Senate approved a bill designating "Louie Louie" as the state's official rock song. The song, written by Richard Berry in 1955 and popularized by the Kingsmen in the 1960s, is considered a classic of the rock genre and is still widely played and covered today.