Uncharted

The Local's Map of Washington

A visual guide to the real state geography.

08/28/2025 By Allison Williams Illustrations by Hawk Krall

Checklist

Things to Learn About Washington Before You Die (or Leave)

Our bucket list of museums, historic sites, and oddities.

08/13/2025 By Allison Williams

Lingua Franca

Seattle’s Historic Chinook Jargon Is Having a Moment

The Pacific Northwest’s very own trade language never went away.

04/21/2025 By Bess Lovejoy

Rail Ways

A Ride Back in Time on North Bend’s Historic Train

What other museum ticket comes with a conductor, mountain views, and steam power?

10/18/2024 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Know Your Place

Tacoma's Triangular Bostwick Building Has Boomtown Roots

Built in 1889, the city’s iconic flatiron has been a hotel, a shoe store, an ice cream parlor, and the backdrop of your favorite Tracey Ullman movie.

10/07/2024 By Meg van Huygen

Recounted

How Washington’s 2004 Election Made History

The story behind the epically close, record-breaking race for governor.

09/10/2024 By Eric Nusbaum

Top Dogs

The Wildest Moments in the History of Washington’s Governors

Some strange things have happened in Olympia.

09/09/2024 By Allison Williams

Explainer

The Past and Future of Washington’s Ferries

From the mosquito fleet of yore to the hybrid ships to come.

08/12/2024 By Ryan Packer

The worst luck

How to Visit Mount St. Helens While the Visitor Center Is Closed

The volcano's observatory is off-limits thanks to—what else—a natural disaster.

05/17/2024 By Allison Williams

Excerpt

A Promising Team, a Fatal Crash in Snoqualmie Pass

The most deadly accident in American pro sports history happened outside Seattle.

04/26/2024 By Eric Vickrey

Burger Sleuthing

Was This Olympia Restaurant the Inspiration for In-N-Out Burger?

It turns out California's famed burger chain has some Washington in its secret sauce.

02/29/2024 By Allecia Vermillion

Explainer

Why Can't Washington Find More Dinosaur Fossils?

A decade ago, the state dug up a fragment of the "Suciasaurus." It hasn't found any remains since.

09/20/2022 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Made in WA

Washington’s 60 Most Timeless Inventions

The World’s Fair put Seattle's ingenuity on the map six decades ago. But before and since, our quirky and vital innovations have endured.

08/23/2022 Edited by Benjamin Cassidy By Seattle Met Staff

Made in WA

Washington's Music Inventions, Sung and Unsung

Grunge was a hit. But Paul Tutmarc's electric bass strikes a deeper chord.

08/23/2022 Edited by Benjamin Cassidy By Sophie Grossman

Made in WA

The Greatest Thing Since Fresh Bread

A Yakima-based company invented the humble clip that’s kept food fresh for six decades. Then a new generation invented it all over again.

08/23/2022 By Allecia Vermillion

Made in WA

Broad Strokes

David Giuliani revolutionized more than just oral hygiene.

08/23/2022 By Angela Cabotaje

Made in WA

The Toys “R” Hers

How a Magnolia mom built an empire from the ground up.

08/23/2022 By Benjamin Cassidy

Made in WA

Shane Chen's Forward Motion

Copycats haven’t stopped a Camas inventor from continuing to change the way the world moves.

08/23/2022 By Benjamin Cassidy

Made in WA

Washington's Travel Innovations

Rides, in many forms.

08/23/2022 Edited by Benjamin Cassidy By Benjamin Cassidy and Allison Williams

Made in WA

Eddie Bauer's Original Down Jacket Is More Than Just a Puff Piece

How one outdoorsman's near-death experience spawned Seattle's favorite winter coat.

08/23/2022 By Zoe Sayler