Washington State University founded

Legislative Founding. Following Washington's statehood in November 1889, the state legislature moved to claim a land-grant college. On March 28, 1890, they passed House Bill 90, establishing the Agricultural College, Experiment Station and School of Science of the State of Washington. This legislation created the institutional framework for what would become Washington State University, though it did not immediately specify the physical location for the college.

Site Selection. The choice of location involved an examination of bidding towns, including Yakima and other towns in the Palouse region. On April 18, 1891, a site selection commission appointed by Washington's governor chose Pullman. This decision placed the new land-grant college in a city that had been incorporated in 1888 with a population of about 250–300 people, situated in southeastern Washington.

Opening and Early Operations. The institution opened to 59 students in Pullman on January 13, 1892, under the name Washington Agricultural College and School of Science. It offered three major courses of study: agriculture, engineering, and domestic science. Lilley served as president of the college and director of the Washington Agricultural Experiment Station during the 1891–1892 period, overseeing the initial operations of the newly established land-grant institution.