WHEREAS, The City of Olympia celebrates its 150th birthday, its sesquicentennial, on January 28, 2009; and
     WHEREAS, President Franklin Pierce designated Isaac I. Stevens Washington's first Territorial Governor; and
     WHEREAS, Governor Stevens issued a proclamation naming Olympia as Washington's provisional territorial capital on November 28, 1853, confirmed by the Territorial Legislature in 1855; and
     WHEREAS, The City of Olympia has served as Washington's capital continuously since 1853; and
     WHEREAS, The first Territorial Legislature met in the Parker and Colter Store, near present day Olympia Avenue and Capitol Way, on February 28, 1854; and
     WHEREAS, The City of Olympia was first incorporated by the Territorial Legislature on January 28, 1859, thirty-six years prior to statehood; and
     WHEREAS, Washington became the forty-second state on November 11, 1889; and
     WHEREAS, Olympia takes pride in being the state capital, and its capitol building being one of the largest capitol buildings in the nation, having the fourth largest free-standing masonry dome in the world, surpassed only by St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, St. Paul's Cathedral in London, and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg; and
     WHEREAS, Olympia pioneer Edmund Sylvester donated the land for the capitol building at its current location; and
     WHEREAS, Olympia is located at the south end of Puget Sound, with breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains; and
     WHEREAS, The name "Olympia" was selected by resident Isaac N. Ebey to reflect the view of the majestic Olympic Mountains; and
     WHEREAS, The peninsula on which Olympia was founded was known as "Cheetwoot" or "the black bear place" by the Puget Sound Native Americans who occupied the site; and
     WHEREAS, Budd Inlet was a favorite shellfish gathering site for many tribes including the Nisqually and Squaxin; and
     WHEREAS, The City of Olympia is a regional showcase and center for music, theater, and the other performing and visual arts; and
     WHEREAS, Through its long history, Olympia has steadily prospered, flourished, and overcome disasters and challenges such as fires, earthquakes, and economic recessions; and
     WHEREAS, The people of Olympia and surrounding areas celebrate Olympia's modern-day role as a thriving city with a high quality of life recognized in multiple national surveys, an international port, and regional center for commerce, education, and health care, and the state capital; and
     WHEREAS, Citizens, elected officials, and community leaders celebrated Olympia's historic sesquicentennial with a 150th birthday gala on January 17, 2009;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives commemorate the City of Olympia and its citizens on the occasion of its sesquicentennial; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Olympia Mayor Doug Mah, Mayor Pro-Tem Jeff Kingsbury, and to Olympia Councilmembers Joe Hyer, Joan Machlis, Karen Messmer, Craig Ottavelli, and Rhenda Iris Strub.