Washington State Bird - American Goldfinch - Photo by Michael Myers |
Admitted to the Union: November 11, 1889; 42nd state; named after George Washington.
Nickname: The Evergreen State.
Motto: Al-ki (Chinook jargon for “by and by”).
Bird: Willow Goldfinch. (pictured at right)
Flower: Coast Rhododendron.
Tree: Western Hemlock.
Gem: Petrified Wood.
Fish: Steelhead Trout.
Dance: Square Dance.
Song: Washington, My Home, by Helen Davis.
Folk Song: Roll On, Columbia, Roll On
by Woody Guthrie.
Rock Song (unofficial): Louie, Louie,
by Richard Berry.
Grass: Bluebunch Wheatgrass.
Fruit: Apple.
State Flag: State Seal on Green Field.
State Insect: Dragonfly (submitted by the students of Crestwood Elementary).
Size: 68,139 square miles.
Highest Point: Mount Rainier, 14,411 feet (F4).
Lowest Point: Sea level.
Give ’em a Brake
The Washington State Department of Transportation urges you to drive safely through work zones. Look out for flaggers in road construction zones, as well as utility – cable, natural gas, power, telephone, and water workers.
Traveler Information
Current traffic and weather information is available by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This automated telephone system provides information on:
- Puget Sound traffic conditions
- Statewide construction impacts
- Incident information
- Mountain pass conditions
- State’s ferry system information
- 800 numbers for passenger rail and airlines
- Weather
Also visit the WSDOT home page at wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/.
Washington State Ferries
WSDOT's Ferries Division is the largest ferry system in the nation, serving 23 million passengers on ten routes throughout the Puget Sound, San Juan Islands and Sidney, B.C. For updated schedules, fares, and service announcements contact:
- 1-800-84FERRY (1-800-843-3779) – automated recording
- 1-888-808-7977 – Inside Washington State and British Columbia only
- 206-464-6400 – Outside Washington State and Canada
- www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
Washington State Tourism
Visit Washington State online: http://www.experiencewashington.com/
Washington State Parks
Call the State Parks Information Center at 1-360-902-8844 during normal weekday business hours. For more information, visit their home page on the Internet at www.parks.wa.gov. To make campsite reservations in Washington, call 1-888-226-7688.
Hood Canal Bridge Information (D3)
The Hood Canal Bridge on SR 104 will be closed May-June 2009 while WSDOT replaces the east half and retrofits the west half. Visit HoodCanalBridge.com or call 1-877-595-4222 for information.
Crossing the United States / Canada Border
Visitors traveling to and from Canada are subject to U.S. and Canada Immigration and Customs inspections. Immigration: Travelers entering Canada or the United States by air are required to have a passport. Travelers entering by land or sea are required to present proof of citizenship. The best proof of citizenship is either a valid passport or a birth certificate plus photo identification. (Note: A driver’s license, social security card, or voter registration card are not proof of citizenship.) If you are not a U.S. citizen, but are a permanent resident, you must have an alien resident card (green card). Children under the age of 18 not accompanied by both parents need proof of citizenship and a notarized letter from their parent(s) or guardian giving permission to enter the U.S. or Canada. For further details see the U.S. Customers and Border Protection Web site. Customs: Vehicles and baggage are subject to inspection. Articles you bring into either country are subject to being taxed. Contacts: U.S. Customs: (206) 553-4676; U.S. Immigration: 1-800-375-5283; Canadian Customs: (604) 535-9754; Canadian Immigration: (604) 535-5450.
General information about crossing the border between the United States and Canada can be found at: http://www.cbp.gov/, or by calling the Blaine, WA, Customs Office at 360-332-5771 (24 hours, seven days a week). For immigration information, contact the US Immigration National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or TTY: 1-800-767-1833.
Rail Information
Amtrak Cascades, European-styled trains, are ready to take you from Seattle to Portland, or to Vancouver, B.C., with several stops in-between. For reservations and information, visit http://www.amtrakcascades.com/ or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).
Transit
Contact information for public transit, intercity bus and shuttle service providers can be found at www.wsdot.wa.gov/choices
Emergency Phone Numbers
Call 911 to reach most local police, fire and medical emergency help.
Map comments and suggestions are welcome.
Contact:
WSDOT Cartography/GIS
PO Box 47384
Olympia, WA 98504-7384
360.709.5520 or e-mail Cartography at: maps@wsdot.wa.gov
Cartography: Mark Bozanich and Taryn Lund
Graphics: Steve Riddle
Cover Background Photo: Skagit Valley Tulip Fields; Jim Culp, WSDOT