WHEREAS, The City of Des Moines celebrates its 50th birthday, its quinquagenary, on June 17, 2009; and
     WHEREAS, The area constituting the City of Des Moines was first visited by members of the Duwamish and Muckleshoot Indian tribes in their search for salmon and clams; and
     WHEREAS, On Saturday, May 19, 1792, British naval Captain George Vancouver was the first European to view the area constituting the City of Des Moines; and
     WHEREAS, The first homesteader in the area constituting the City of Des Moines was John Moore, whose claim was granted on July 2, 1872; and
     WHEREAS, A plat for the Town of Des Moines was recorded on July 29, 1889; and
     WHEREAS, The first industries in Des Moines included farming, fishing, and lumber and early transportation to Des Moines was provided by the "Mosquito Fleet"; and
     WHEREAS, The first cross-Puget Sound automobile ferry was placed in service between Des Moines and Portage on November 13, 1916; and
     WHEREAS, Following World War I, 2,600 American elm trees were planted between Seattle and Des Moines as a living memorial for our war dead; and
     WHEREAS, The Children's Industrial Home and Training School, the only self-supporting orphanage in the state, operated in Des Moines from 1907 through 1927; and
     WHEREAS, The Des Moines Field House, the only full log cabin in Washington state, was built in 1939 as part of a depression-era recovery program, and was designated as a King county historic landmark in 1984; and
     WHEREAS, On June 2, 1959, a special election was held for incorporating the City of Des Moines, the vote was 245 for incorporation and 168 against incorporation; and
     WHEREAS, The incorporation became effective on June 17, 1959; and
     WHEREAS, The only small boat marina between Seattle and Tacoma was built in Des Moines, opening on May 10, 1970; and
     WHEREAS, Des Moines' history is being preserved by the Des Moines Historical Society, founded in 1978 by Melanie Draper and Joanne Smith, and Des Moines history was documented in the book One Hundred Years of the "Waterland" Community: A History of Des Moines, Washington edited by Richard T. Kennedy and Grechen F. Schmidt; and
     WHEREAS, The City of Des Moines' 50th Anniversary Steering Committee has planned several events from March through July, including a black tie dinner and dance at Highline Community College on March 21st, an official birthday celebration at the Odd Fellows Hall on June 17th, a fireworks spectacular on July 4th, and the Waterland Parade on July 18th;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives officially recognize and congratulate the City of Des Moines and its citizens on the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Des Moines; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Denis Staab, City Clerk of the City of Des Moines; and to Greg Knutson, President of the Des Moines Historical Society.