Who were the first explorers of Washington?

The first explorers of what is now Washington state were primarily European explorers in the late 18th century, with notable figures including British Captain George Vancouver, who mapped the region in 1792, and American Captain Robert Gray, who explored the Columbia River and the area around Puget Sound. Prior to European contact, Indigenous peoples inhabited the region for thousands of years, with their own rich histories and exploration of the land. The combination of Indigenous knowledge and European exploration significantly shaped the understanding and development of Washington.