Page 602 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA
P. 602
600 THE P A CIFIC NOR THWEST
The quest to discover the Northwest Passage with trade, not gunfire. The 1803–1806
– a quick ocean route linking Europe with Lewis and Clark expe dition opened up the
the Far East – lured early European explorers region to American fur traders, who were
to this region in the 16th century. The first deter mined to wrest this very lucrative
was Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez, who trade from the British. At that time, the
sailed from Mexico to southern Oregon in dominant player was Britain’s Hudson Bay
1543. He was followed by Britain’s Sir Francis Company (HBC), which continued to more
Drake, who ventured as far north as the or less rule the region until the
Strait of Juan de Fuca in 1592. middle of the 19th century.
Britain’s next major expedition was Between 1843 and 1860, thousands
in the 1770s, when Captain James of American settlers migrated west
Cook, accompanied by George ward on the 2,000mile (3,218km)
Vancouver and Peter Puget, sailed Oregon Trail. As a result, America
up the coasts of Oregon and and Britain divided the region in
Washington. In 1791, Vancouver and 1846, using the 49th parallel as the
Puget also charted what is now Portland, City of Roses new boun dary bet ween British
Puget Sound in Washington. Their Columbia to the north and Oregon
explo rations coincided with those of an to the south. Oregon, which included the
American fur trader from the East Coast, presentday states of Oregon, Washington,
Captain Robert Gray, who discovered the and Idaho, became a US territory two years
Columbia River in 1792, naming it after his later. In 1852, this territory was further
ship. Soon, other American vessels arrived divided into Washington and Oregon.
in search of animal pelts and other bounty. Those who profited least from the division
The battle to control the Pacific Northwest of spoils were the Native peoples. Diseases
was waged by the British and Americans had already deci mated many tribes, but
now those who survived were removed
KEY DATES IN HISTORY from their lands and moved to reservations.
1543 Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sails to
the coast of southern Oregon People & Politics
1765 Robert Rogers maps the vast territory he refers Nearly ten million people call the Pacific
to as Oregon
Northwest region their home. The nation wide
1792 Merchant ship captain Robert Gray crosses the
Columbia River spurt in growth of the Hispanic pop ulation in
1829 Oregon City is the first town west of the the last two decades is visible in this region as
Rocky Mountains
well. Hispanics, today, constitute the largest
1846 US acquires Oregon and Washington ethnic group in Oregon, rep resenting almost
1848 Oregon Territory established
12 percent of the state’s population. They
1851 Portland is incorporated
also form 12 percent of Washington’s popula
1852 Washington Territory is formed tion. Native Americans have a significant
1859 Oregon becomes 33rd state presence here as well, having recovered
1865 Seattle is incorporated
1897 Klondike Gold Rush brings prosperity to Seattle
1889 Washington becomes 42nd state
1905 Portland hosts World’s Fair with Lewis and
Clark Exposition
1916 Boeing Air Company founded in Seattle,
established by William Boeing
1949 Seattle earthquake
1975 Microsoft founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen
1980 Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington
1995 Amazon.com launched from Seattle Romantic interpretation of the Oregon Trail’s westward trek,
painted c.1904
598-601_EW_USA.indd 600 11/2/16 2:48 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Portrait template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.2)
Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm
