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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia

We were rooting for the Martha S., but hey…

State vegetable? Check.

State frog? Check. (Oh, pardon: state amphibian.)

State boat?

No?

Lawmakers moved to right that wrong Wednesday, as the Senate approved Rep. Brian Blake's bill to declare the Aberdeen-based Lady Washington as the state's official ship.

"The bill sometimes hit rough waters, but it's now sailing on to the Governor and hopefully into law," Blake allegedly said, according to a press release about the bill's success.

The ship -- built in Aberdeen -- is a life-size replica of the first American vessel to visit the West Coast 219 years ago. That original Lady Washington, which was nearly 40 years old when it rounded Cape Horn in search of Pacific Northwest sea otter pelts.

Her modern namesake, launched in 1989, has been several movies, including "Pirates of the Caribbean -- Curse of the Black Pearl."



Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.