Oregon becomes the 33rd State of the United States.

Lewis and Clark opened up the west for the rest of the nation with their exploration. Part of their exploration included the Oregon Trail, and in 1848, Oregon Territory was incorporated into the U.S. Parts of the Oregon Territory were disputed by the English, but eventually it was resolved via treaties.

On this day February 14th, in 1859, Oregon was accepted into the Union as the 33rd state. The boundary quarrel that had begun in the late 18th century sprung from the lucrative fur trade and trading posts. The Hudson Bay Company played a key role in the fur trade. In 1818, the U.S. and Britain decided to control Oregon jointly; in 1846 in the Oregon Treaty the British were given Vancouver Island, while the U.S. received the Oregon and Washington Territory.

As many flocked to Oregon during the Westward Expansion in the mid-19th century, in modern times Oregon has once again become a desirable destination. Oregon’s largest city is Portland, which is considered to have one of the best standards for quality of living in the United States and the world. Gorgeous forests, waterfalls, and lakes draw in tourists, who also get a chance to visit the hundreds of wineries and breweries in Oregon.