Hi greengoose. I didn't apply to the PhD at UW, but I did study for my BA there. This included enrolling in some graduate coursework and getting to know a lot of the PhD students in the History Department, where I was also a student.
I'll never run out of positive things to say about the department and my professors there. If you tell me what you intend to focus on, I may be able to give you some specifics, provided I know your proposed advisors. Let me know!