SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Seattle started out in the mid-1800s as a tiny timber town on Elliott Bay, named after Chief Seattle, a leader of the local Suquamish and Duwamish tribes. It quickly grew into a bustling port, especially during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890s when thousands of prospectors passed through on their way to Alaska, giving the city a huge boost. Over the years, Seattle really diversified, becoming a hub for shipbuilding during the World Wars, then famous for aviation with Boeing taking off. More recently, it's become a tech powerhouse, home to giants like Microsoft and Amazon. So, from lumber and gold to planes and tech, Seattle's always been about innovation and looking forward, though it's still got that rainy, green, coffee-loving vibe people know it for.