Washington State Motto: Alki
Fact-checked • Updated December 5, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Alki"
Bye and Bye
About This Motto
Washington is the only U.S. state without an officially adopted motto. The unofficial Washington state motto is Alki, a word from Chinook Jargon that means Bye and Bye. This phrase has appeared on state documents since territorial days in the 1850s. The motto first showed up on the territorial seal designed by Lieutenant J.K. Duncan. Despite appearing for over 170 years, the Washington Legislature has never passed a law making Alki the official state motto.
What the Motto Means
Alki comes from a trade language called Chinook Jargon. The word means bye and bye or eventually. Settlers in the 1850s used it to express hope for the future. When pioneers arrived at Alki Point in 1851, their settlement grew slowly. They renamed their town from New York to New York-Alki. This meant something like New York, eventually or New York, someday.
The phrase carried a sense of optimism. Early Washington residents believed their territory would prosper by and by. Records from the 1850s show the word appeared on the territorial seal beneath the Goddess of Hope.
Today people still debate the exact English equivalent. Some translate Alki as into the future or hope for the future. All these translations share a common thread. The word expresses patient optimism.
Historical Background
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1851 - Denny Party Settles Alki Point
On November 13, 1851, the schooner Exact brought 24 settlers to Alki Point. Arthur Denny led this group from Illinois. They named their settlement New York after Charles Terry's hometown. Growth came slowly. Someone added the Chinook Jargon word Alki to the name. The settlement became New York-Alki, meaning roughly New York, someday.
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1853-1854 - Territorial Seal Design
Lieutenant J.K. Duncan of Governor Isaac Stevens' surveying expedition designed the Washington territorial seal around 1853. The seal featured a log cabin, wagon, forests, ships, and a growing city. At the center stood the Goddess of Hope with an anchor. She pointed at the word Alki at her feet. This marked the first official use of the motto.
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1889 - Statehood Without the Motto
Washington became the 42nd state on November 11, 1889. The new state adopted a different seal designed by jeweler Charles Talcott. His design featured George Washington's portrait from a silver dollar. The word Alki did not appear on the new state seal. The territorial motto was never transferred to official state documents.
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1923-Present - Continued Unofficial Status
Washington adopted its state flag on March 5, 1923. The flag displays the state seal on a green background. The motto Alki does not appear. The Legislature has never passed legislation to officially adopt any state motto. Washington remains unique among all 50 states. Despite this, Alki is widely recognized as the unofficial motto.
Where You See It Today
The motto Alki does not appear on Washington's current state seal or state flag. You will not find it on official government documents. The word lives on primarily in place names. Alki Point in West Seattle marks where the Denny Party first landed in 1851. A monument stands at the intersection of Alki Avenue and 63rd Avenue Southwest.
Reproductions of the old territorial seal sometimes appear in museums. These show the Goddess of Hope pointing to Alki. The Washington State Legislature website mentions the word when discussing territorial history. Some history books refer to it as Washington's unofficial motto. Residents interested in state history recognize the term.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 8
Washington is the only U.S. state that has never officially adopted a state motto through legislative action
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Official legislative documentation about Washington's territorial seal and the motto Alki. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Comprehensive reference about Washington's unofficial motto and state symbols. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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