Looking Back’s theme for 2026 is Downtown by the Decades. In 1979, civic organizations and the City retained a national organization known as R/UDAT to come up with a vision for the revitalization of downtown Olympia. One recommendation was to make downtown streets more attractive and pedestrian-friendly. In 1981, Governor John Spellman cut the ribbon dedicating the “Fifth Avenue Demonstration Project,” which added pedestrian crossings, benches, and trees to the landscape.
Olympia Planning Commission archives, Washington State Archives