Summer fun
photo challenge
I'm not sure miniature golf would be my activity of choice with all the beautiful surroundings, but these folks look like they're having fun. And apparently mini golf used to be an adults-only game.

This is a two-part challenge: first, name the destination where this mini golf course is (or was). Two, name the mountain in the background. (Click the photo to view larger.)
Drawing challenge
results
I gave some pretty big hints on this one. Thanks to those of you who confessed to using the hints to search the web for the answer.

It's Hotel California, and yes, it's in Washington — Spokane, to be exact. Unfortunately, the hotel was lost in Spokane's Great Fire of 1889. Read a little more about it on the Digital Archives blog.
Cracking the Archives
On Saturday, June 9, the Aberdeen Museum of History caught fire. No injuries were reported, but myriad historical documents and artifacts were lost in the blaze.

The Aberdeen Fire Department worked tirelessly to contain the disaster and ensure the building's safety, then allowed recovery of its contents on Tuesday, June 12. Several staff members from the Washington State Archives were onsite to assess damage, and recover photos and documents from the armory's basement. Thousands of these records are currently at a State Archives facility in Tumwater for clean-up and other conservation work.

As of now, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Read the report from The Daily World here, and see more photos on the Archives' Flickr page here.
by William H. McCarter, Central Washington University, Central Regional Branch Intern
The Central Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives received an interesting series of documents from Mesa, a small town in Franklin County. The collection came with over 30 historic photographs, some dating back to the early homestead era at the turn of the 20th century.

The photographs were in great condition, allowing the Archives to have a peek into the early days of Mesa. The majority of the photos are of early pioneering families, farms, and farming equipment. One photo in particular shows ... keep reading
History Happy Hour a hit again!
How do you make history exciting and real to today's always-connected students? You meet them online.

For the last few years, the Washington State Library, Washington State Archives, and Legacy Washington have been meeting with Washington teachers. We asked for their help in finding a better way... read more on the OSOS blog
1968: the year that rocked Washington.

Change was in the air. Everywhere. From Saigon to Seattle, Paris to Pasco, Memphis to Mexico City. On college campuses, the campaign trail and evergreen peaks, Washingtonians were spurred to action.

History Happy Hour was a rousing success once again.

The State Archives teamed up with the Washington State Historical Society for a night of great food, better beer, and a big game of trivia! The theme honored Washington's transportation history.

Thanks to 3 Magnets Brewing Co. for hosting the May 17th event.