Washington Centennial Commission

The Washington Centennial Commission was established in 1982 by an act of state law with the purpose of organizing, funding, and coordinating events, artworks, and publications in honor of the state's centennial celebration in 1989. Financed with $157 million of state money, the Commission was headed by executive secretary Putnam Barber and co-chaired by First Lady Jean Gardner and secretary of state Ralph Munro. Events were coordinated by a number of Commission committees that addressed specialized areas of interest such as the Native American Committee and Maritime Committee, etc. Centennial committees were also established at county levels with their activities documented in quarterly reports sent to the centennial commission headquarters in Olympia. Highlights of the centennial commission: centennial winter and summer games; the Lewis and Clark Trail Run; opening day festivities in Olympia, 11 Nov. 1988; visit by Pres. George H.W. Bush to Spokane, Jan. 1989; and the Wings over Washington air show.