Join us in exploring, preserving and promoting Olympia’s history. We are a non-profit membership-based organization presenting the stories from our past to enrich the present and inform the future of Olympia. The Bigelow House Museum, owned and operated by the Society and Museum, is the oldest residence in Olympia, Washington, and one of the earliest still standing in the Pacific Northwest.
Anyone with an interest in local history and the visual arts will look forward to viewing the new exhibit “Our Town” opening at the Washington Center for Performing Arts on Monday January 23rd. The exhibit has been designed and produced by the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance (AHA) which is also host for the opening…
Yes, December marks the best time of year to join or to renew your membership with the Olympia Historical Society-Bigelow House Museum. You can mail-in your membership form and check for 2023. Or, if more convenient, you can pay on-line with your credit card or PayPal from the homepage by clicking on The Society &…
Looking for the perfect gift for family, friends, or…yourself? The popular history book Thurston County: Water, Woods & Prairies will delight anyone on your shopping list. Reprinted earlier this year with a new introduction, dedication, and updated text, a limited number of copies are still available to purchase by mail order from the Olympia Historical…
Throughout 2023 we’ll be exploring the origins of area place names. Ellis Cove in Squaxin Park is named for Isaac “Ike” Ellis, pictured here. Ellis was a logger, racetrack developer, and mayor of Olympia in territorial days. Photograph selected and captioned by Deborah Ross on behalf of the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum,…
Throughout 2023 we’ll be exploring the origins of area place names. In 1970, a park was created on Capitol Lake’s western shore by placing fill material next to an existing railroad berm in the north basin of the lake. The park earned its current name, Marathon Park, when the City of Olympia won the right…
Throughout 2023 we’ll be exploring the origins of area place names. Pictured here is the Kinney family of South Bay, one of the two families for which Sleater-Kinney Road was named (contrary to what some may believe, the street name came before the band!) The family consisted of Henry and his wife Martha, and children…
We have everything from photos and resident data to interactive maps to help you find the information you are looking for. Click on some of the more commonly used historical tools below or use the navigation at the top of the page to see all of categories.
Find out more about the people and places that have shaped our history
We have created interactive maps that will allow you to find out more information about important historic and heritage locations over time.
