Washington State University Press

We want to help readers find new heroes, connect with their past, and enhance their understanding of the present. Our passion is telling unique, focused stories of the Northwest—lesser-known yet fascinating accounts of people, places, and events that matter in the region’s history or culture and are part of the broad picture of Western expansion. Like how a Walla Walla, Washington, penitentiary made national news and changed prison reform. Or what happened after the military selected an isolated Columbia River community for a critical, secret, military operation. Or how a determined engineer with a wagon-sized odometer opened up the Northwest, and why deep-seated bitterness still lingers in parts of central Washington. Even though our books often focus on the past, we are excited about our future. Through new series and partnerships, we continue to preserve and enrich our region's history.