Happy 25th birthday to our state ship!

Image
AR-CentennialCommission_LadyWashingtonChristening_MAR1989__033

First Lady Jean Gardner and Secretary of State Ralph Munro help launch Lady Washington in 1989. (Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives)

As any fifth-grader knows (and the rest of us should know), Washington has plenty of state symbols, ranging from a tree (Western Hemlock) and flower (Coast Rhododendron) to even a state vegetable (Walla Walla sweet onion). But do you know Washington has a state ship? The Legislature designated the Lady Washington as the official ship of our state in 2007. The vessel was built over a two-year period in Aberdeen (where it is based today) and launched on March 7, 1989. So a happy 25th birthday to a special lady! Since our office holds a mortgage on the ship, you’d think we’d take it out for a cruise now and then. Our State Archives uncovered these two photos of the Lady Washington. The top photo shows then-First Lady Jean Gardner and then-Secretary of State Ralph Munro at the launch ceremony 25 years ago. The bottom shot features the ship in the waters of Puget Sound near Olympia in 2008.
Image
OlympiaHarborDays_AUG2008_281

Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs

Image of Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

Connect with Us

Search Our Corner

OSOS Websites

About this Blog

The Washington Office of the Secretary of State’s blog provides from-the-source information about important state news and public services.

This space acts as a bridge between the public and Secretary Steve Hobbs and his staff, and we invite you to contribute often to the conversation here.

Comments Disclaimer

The comments and opinions expressed by users of this blog are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of the Secretary of State’s Office or its employees. The agency screens all comments in accordance with the Secretary of State’s blog use policy, and only those that comply with that policy will be approved and posted. Outside comments will not be edited by the agency.