There are a lot of interesting things about our Pacific Northwest state - after all, we are pretty awesome. But did you know about any of these fun facts?
1. There's a tree with an old bicycle somehow infused in its trunk just off Vashon Highway!
8. They recently discovered the first dinosaur fossil in Washington along the shores of Sucia Island State Park in the San Juan Islands! It was identified as a femur leg bone from a Theropod.
Washington has introduced several notable inventions to the world along with other Washington firsts you may not be aware of. After all, you can thank us for Pickleball that has taken the country by storm. But there are so many more things invented in Washington state that will surprise you. Here are 10 Washington state inventions that might help to improve your score on trivia nights.
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1. After Prohibition, we opened the first Brew-Pub in the U.S.
Not only is this illegal, but also highly dangerous. It can wait!
For even more Washington fun, watch this video featuring 101 facts about Washington:
We were also the first to celebrate Father's Day - in Spokane - as we detailed in our inventions in Washington article! This state is so innovative... what are some other things invented in Washington state that you've heard about? Or tell us about your favorite things about living in Washington state.
From Hell's Canyon to the ghost forests of Copalis, the Evergreen State contains places of spectacular and utterly unique beauty. However, there's a natural wonder in Washington that I bet you've never heard of. Scientists say that the emerald-green Olympic Peninsula rainforest may contain the quietest place in America.
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If you were going to find the country's quietest place, it would make sense to find it in the Peninsula's Hoh Rainforest. This iconic Washington spot is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of just a few places worldwide where high precipitation coexists with a temperate climate.
Paradoxically, however, this otherworldly beauty attracts bevies of tourists — around three million annually. These visitors bring noise, which can impact the fragile habitat.
The mission to find America's quietest places arose through the conservation work of Emmy Award-winning acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton. Called "One Square Inch of Silence," his project uses decibel readings to identify areas with practically zero noise pollution.
Hempton hopes that identifying the country's quietest places will help people see quiet as a natural resource worth protecting. The same hopes informed the creation of America's national parks, where the public was encouraged to appreciate nature for its beauty, not just its utility. In the Hoh Rainforest, this quiet spot is left intentionally non-descript, only marked by a small, red pebble.
Silence may be intangible, but its disappearance has very real effects on people and the environment. Drawing visitors' attention to this tranquil spot encourages hikers to make less noise, reducing their impact on the surrounding habitat.
Of course, even if tourists are quiet, there's still a lot to hear in the Olympic National Park. This is a key feature of the One Square Inch project. By reducing anthropogenic noise, hikers can experience the sounds of water, wind, and wildlife, all of which are proven to improve human health.
There are only 11 similar "quiet zones" in the United States, and the Hoh Rainforest's One Square Inch is the quietest of them all. But this peace requires protection. Though most visitors respect the project's mission, some don't. Despite protests, the US Navy conducts training in the airspace above. Keeping this place and others like it free of noise pollution will require continued effort from those who believe quiet is worth fighting for.
One Square Inch of Silence is a natural wonder in Washington that deserves more attention. I recommend visiting it yourself! All you need is a pair of hiking shoes and an appreciation for nature's solitude.
