Location: 911 4th Ave E Religion, Popular Culture Foursquare Congregation, 1941, Vibert Jeffers photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Capital City Studios today (2009), photo courtesy Jason Scragz, posted…
Location: Fourth Avenue Bridge Transportation Fourth Avenue bridge with drawspan open, ca. 1899, Ed Echtle collection, Olympia Historical Society Fourth Avenue…
Location: 2804 Orange St. mid-Century modern; Diversity: Racial covenants Fox House, 1946, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Fox House today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross Frederick Schmidt and his…
Location: 1431 Legion Way SE Local register; Religious institutions Free Methodist church, 1961, courtesy Washington State Historical Society Free Methodist Church building today (2013) photograph by Deb Ross The Free…
Location: 221 20th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Judge French House 1948, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Judge French House today (2013), photo by Marisa…
Location: 1418 and 1428 4th Ave E Fuller House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Fuller House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross William Fuller worked in a variety of trades in the…
Location: 1202 Olympia Ave NE National, State and Local Register, Olympia Avenue Local Historical District, Women’s History Funk House in 1939, Thurston County Assessor, State Archives Funk House today (2010),…
Location: 325 Plymouth St NW Schools Garfield School in 1919 (original location), State Library Photograph Collection, Digital Archives Garfield School today (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly According to Olympia School…
Location: 125 17th St SE Local Register, South Capitol National Historic District George House, 1940s, courtesy Washington State Historical Society George House today (2010) photograph by Deb Ross …
President’s Message: Merger With Bigelow House Association In the Works, by Mark Foutch (Re)Discover Bigelow House! by Ed Echtle, President of Bigelow House Preservation Association Upcoming Changes on the Board: Thanks…
Ed Echtle, President of Bigelow House Preservation Association As those familiar with local history know, the Bigelow House Museum on Olympia’s east side is the oldest surviving home in town.…
Ralph Blankenship not only personifies Olympia history in his family connections to several pioneer families, he has worked tirelessly to preserve and promote local history by serving on the OHS…
Mark Foutch The boards of the Olympia Historical Society and the Bigelow House Preservation Association have been discussing a merger of our two organizations. Our boards, and others in the…
Watch for more information in bulletins concerning docent volunteer opportunities, ticket sales, and other details. The annual tour of historic homes is by now a cherished tradition, kicking off the…
David Goularte [this article originally appeared in the Fall 2013 Olympia Historical Society Quarterly bulletin and has been updated by the author in 2023, 2024, and 2025] The [Egbert-Ingham]…
Deb Ross On a weekly basis, Members Lanny Weaver and Deb Ross catalogue the State Capital Museum collection now housed at the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) in Tacoma. This…
Mark Foutch For the remainder of 2002, the Olympia Historical Society continued the process of “standing up” its permanent organization while performing its mission and responding to opportunities. Members elected…
Location: 600 Capitol Way N National Register, Wohleb, mid-Century modern Georgia Pacific building in 1950s, photo from DAHP Georgia Pacific building today photograph from DAHP The plywood industry was an essential…
Location: 1017 Capitol Way S Local register, Women’s History Jessie Gibbons and daughter Catherine, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Gibbons House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross This large…
Location: 331 Rogers St NW Local register Gilbert House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Gilbert House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross This is another example of the modest but attractive…
Location: 727 West Bay Drive NW State Register Giles House, 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Giles House today (2010), photo by Deborah Ross The Charles…
Location: 514 Quince St NE Local Register; Religious communities Glass House, 1970, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Glass House today (2014), photo by Deborah Ross The Glass House near the…
Location: 1601-1603 Capitol Way S Wohleb; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Glidden Duplex, 1938, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Glidden Duplex today (2015), photograph by Deborah Ross Demonstrating once again the amazing…
Location: 523 Central St SE Glidden House-523 Central, 1970, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Glidden House-523 Central today (2013), photograph by Deborah Ross The house at 523 Central Avenue…
Location: Southwest corner Adams and 5th Religious institutions, Women’s history; Diversity: Scandinavians Gloria Dei Lutheran, 1949, Courtesy of Gloria Dei Lutheran church Former site of Gloria Dei Lutheran today (2013), photo by…
Location: 1515 Harrison Ave NW Religious institutions; mid-Century modern Gloria Dei Lutheran in 1961, before addition, courtesy Washington State Historical Society Gloria Dei Lutheran Church today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross The Gloria Dei…
Location: 212 Rogers St NW Goddard House, 1966, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Goddard House today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross Built in 1905, the Goddard House is one of the older…
Location: 403 Capitol Way S Downtown National Historic District, Diversity: Jewish Heritage, Mid-century McKenny Block around 1891, Drawing by Edward Lange from Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue 1891, Washington State Library Goldberg’s Building…
Location: 909 Capitol Way SE Transportation; mid-Century modern Golden Gavel Motel, 1960s, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Golden Gavel Motel building today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross The Golden Gavel Motel building was…
Location: 421 4th Ave E Wohleb; Transportation; Religious institutions United Presbyterian Church, undated, courtesy of Westminster Presbyterian Goodyear tire building (2013), photo by Deb Ross United Presbyterian Church, now Westminster Presbyterian…
Location: 208 20th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Goss House 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Goss House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel An…
Location: 213 4th Ave E Downtown National Historic District, Wohleb, Transportation 4th Avenue looking east, mid 1940s, with Gottfeld’s halfway down on right, Private Postcard Collection Gottfeld’s Building today (2012)…
Location: 621 Capitol Way S mid-Century modern, Religious institutions Governor House, about 1890 Photograph from Digital Archives Governor Hotel today – Pride Weekend (2012), Photo by Deborah Ross As the capital…
Location: Capitol Campus Women’s History, Diversity: Chinese Governor’s Mansion 1955, photo from Digital Archives Governor’s Mansion today (2010), photo from Governor’s Mansion Foundation Text and page researched and written in…
Location: 107 7th Ave SE Transportation; Diversity: Jewish heritage; National Downtown Historic District Parade for dead Spanish-American war soldiers, 1900, with Harris house in background, photo courtesy of Washington State…
Location: 1027 4th Ave E Grimm Brothers brickyard, ca. 1880, State Library Collection Le May Market building now (2013) photograph by Deb Ross Brickyards existed in and around Olympia…
Location: 1120 5th Ave SW Grugan House in 1938, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Grugan House today (2010), photo by Deb Ross This well proportioned and…
Location: 1114-1116 8th Ave SE Popular culture Gruhlke House in 1991, poster for Olympia punk rock compilation album, courtesy City of Olympia Gruhlke House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross…
Location: 902 Olympia Ave NE Local register, Olympia Avenue Local Historic District Guyot House 1965, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Guyot House today(2014), photo by Deb Ross The Guyot House…
Location: 502 4th Ave E Local register; Women’s history; Religious institutions Hale Block, 1914, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Hale Block today (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly Pamela (or…
Location: 902 Tullis St NE National, State, and Local registers, Women’s History Hale House 1939, Thurston County Assessor Photo, Washington State Archives Hale House today (2010), photo by Deb…
Location: 3008 Lorne St SE Local register Hamley House, 1941, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Hamley House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Hamley House was built in 1940…
Location: 1417-1419 Columbia St SW Women’s History Louise Hanson Duplex (White House Press Building), 1969, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Louise Hanson Duplex today (2015), photo by Deb Ross Louise Hanson,…
Location: 1607 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District; Wohleb; Diversity: Scandinavians Ole C Hanson House, 1937, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Ole C Hanson House…
Location: 728 4th Ave E Transportation Harbst Service Station building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Harbst Service Station today (2015), photo by Deb Ross In 1916, at the dawn…
Location: 407 Columbia St SW Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb; Diversity: African Americans; Transportation Olympia Fire Co. No. 2, 1891, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Harbst Tire Building today…
Location: 1532 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Diversity: Scandinavians Harmon House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Harmon House today (2013), photo by Marisa…
Location: 1603 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Harmony House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Harmony House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel Kitty-corner…
Location: 518 Capitol Way Southeast Local Register, Downtown Olympia National Historical District, Diversity: Jewish Heritage; Transportation Harris Dry Goods Building interior, 1943, Vibert Jeffers photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State…
Location: 121 24th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Hart-Dawley House 1940, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Hart-Dawley House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This…
Location: 416 Carlyon Ave SE Wohleb Hartung House 1941, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Hartung House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross Dr. Frank Hartung commissioned Joseph Wohleb in 1939 to…
Location: 503 Puget St NE Women’s History, Popular Culture Henderson House, 1950, photo from Thurston County Assessor, State Archives Henderson House now (2010), photo by Deborah Ross This…
Location: 221 5th Ave SW mid-Century modern; Religious institutions Site of organization of First Presbyterian Church, photograph by Asahel Curtis, date unknown, United Churches of Olympia Heritage Bank today…
Location: 315 4th Ave W Diversity: Immigrants Little Hollywood, 1950, after its partial demolition, Olympia Fire Department Collection, Digital Archives Heritage Fountain now (2010), photo from City of Olympia Before…
Location: 522 Capitol Way S Local register; Downtown National Historic District; Women’s History Main Street with Carroll House, 1876 (detail), courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Hibberd & Cole Building today…
Location: 1200 Terrace Lane SW Local Register No vintage photograph for this home has been located. If you have one to share, please contact us Highmiller House today (2014), photograph by…
Location: 2604 Capitol Way S Local register, South Capitol National Historic District Hinkle House 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Hinkle House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross This…
Location: 503 Foote St SW Local register Holbrook House 1966, Thurston County Assessor Photo, Washington State Archives Holbrook House today (2016), photo by Ron Barnhart Built in 1892,…
Location: 314 Legion Way SE Hollocraft House 1964, Thurston County Assessor Photo, Washington State Archives Hollocraft House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Foursquare-style Hollocraft home was built in 1907…
Location: 1404 28th Ave SE local register, Wohleb, mid-Century modern Hosking House, 1940, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Hosking House today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross Frederick Schmidt and…
Location: 116 Legion Way SE Downtown National Historical District, Women’s History Hotel Olympian by Jeffers, 1954. Susan Parish Photograph Collections, Washington State Archives Hotel Olympian today (2012), Photo courtesy of Matthew…
Location: East Bay Drive, across from Meyer-Riddle House Diversity: African-Americans Detail from Whitham and Page map, 1890, Washington State Archives View of Howard Point from East Bay Drive…
Location: 413 Quince St NE Local register Howell House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Howell House today (2013), photo by Matt Kennelly The Howell House on Quince Street is an…
Location: 119 17th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Hubbard House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Hubbard House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross This…
Location: 1923 Division St NW Local register Huesing House, 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Huesing House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross In 1892 Samuel Woodruff, member of an…
Mark Foutch A lot has been happening this Spring, and it feels like we’re really getting traction toward a number of the Society’s goals. A few examples: Our absolutely outstanding…
President’s Column – Summer 2013 Mark Foutch Temple Beth Hatfiloh is 75! Anne Kilgannon and Beth Dubey Have an Historic Summer Stay-Cation Anne Kilgannon Origins of Olympia Historical Society, Chapter…
Anne Kilgannon We’d been talking about doing a field trip for years, so last year on my birthday my friend picked me up on a beautiful sunny day and we…
Anne Kilgannon, with thanks to Beth Dubey for background information. Louis Bettman arrived in Olympia and set up a general merchandise store in 1853. Within a year, two other establishments with…
Anne Kilgannon As President Mark Foutch reports above, the Olympia Historical Society is actively pursuing its mission and goals, and invites our members and readers of this newsletter to join…
Mark Foutch The first two chapters of this history described the Society’s early organizing efforts beginning in 2001, leading to formalizing the organization and its incorporation in February 2002.…
On a weekly basis, Members Lanny Weaver and Deb Ross catalogue the State Capital Museum collection now housed at the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) in Tacoma. This project is…
Location: 1204 4th Ave E Hurley House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Hurley House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This handsome Foursquare style home was built in 1911…
Location: 1309 Bigelow Ave NE Local register Hursey House, 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Hursey House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel The Hursey House is a small…
Location: 302 Sid Snyder Ave SW Washington State Capitol National Historic District Insurance Building, 1920s, State Library Photograph Collection, Digital Archives Insurance Building today (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly The…
Location: 2732 Capitol Boulevard S Local register Israel House, 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Israel House today (2013), photo by Matt Kennelly The George Israel House on Capitol Way is…
Location: 208 West Bay Dr NW Transportation Iverson House at far right, 1903, detail from Edward Lange drawing, Olympia, the Capital on Puget Sound, Washington, Library of Congress collection Iverson House today…
Location: 1314-1316 Conger St NW mid-Century modern Jacob duplex, about 1959, Thurston County Assessor Jacob duplex today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross When it was erected in 1959, this represented an unusual design…
Location: 1675 Marine Drive NE mid-Century modern Jacaranda Restaurant about 1983, City of Olympia Planning Department, Washington State Archives Anthony’s Hearthfire today (2020), courtesy Anthony’s For the 1962…
Location: 1303 4th Ave E James House, 1937, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives James House today (2010), photo by Deborah Ross The Edwin James House was…
Location: 500 Washington St SE Local, State and National Registers, Downtown National Historic District, Wohleb Jeffers Building around 1914, photograph by Joe Jeffers, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Jeffers Building…
Location: 218 19th St SW South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Hugh Jeffers House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Hugh Jeffers House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Hugh Jeffers House is one…
Location: 2109 East Bay Drive NE Local register?, Wohleb Joseph Jeffers House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Joseph Jeffers House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross Joseph Jeffers arrived in Olympia as an infant…
Location: 114-118 Jefferson St NE National Register, State Register, Local Register, Women’s History Jefferson Apartments, 1964, Thurston County Assessor’s photograph from Southwest Regional Archives Jefferson Apartments today (2011), photo by…
Location: 205 Maple Park Ave South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Jewett House, 1947, Thurston County Assessor’s photograph from Southwest Regional Archives Jewett House today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross In the early…
Location: 700 4th Ave E Johnson Building 1965, Thurston County Assessor’s photograph from Southwest Regional Archives Johnson Building today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross The Johnson Building was erected some time between 1920…
Location: 915 Legion Way SE Local register Jones House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Jones House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross This well-preserved Pioneer style home was likely built…
Location: 909 Glass Ave NE Local Register Kaler House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor’s photograph from Southwest Regional Archives Kaler House today (2011), photo by Deborah Ross The Kaler House is…
Location: 220 Union Ave SE Local register, Women’s History, Religious Institutions YWCA (Kearney House) 1961, courtesy Washington State Historical Society Kearney House now, photo by YWCA of Olympia This fine…
Location: 501 4th Ave E Local register Kelley Building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Kelley Building today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Kelley building was erected…
Location: 430 Percival St NW Local register Kelly House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Kelly House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Kelly House is one of several homes on Percival and…
by Edward Echtle The Olympia area presents numerous opportunities to learn about the people and places of our past. In rural areas, many historic places survive relatively unchanged from the…
Location: 2155 East Bay Drive NE mid-Century modern Earl and Adele Kent complex, 1946, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Earl and Adele Kent complex today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross The Earl…
Location: 2009 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Kevin House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Kevin House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel The…
Location: 203 20th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Kevin/Cammarano House (1938), Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Kevin/Cammarano House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel This…
Location: 1700 Marine Drive NE mid-Century modern; Wohleb; National Register (accepted Oct 2024) KGY Building, 1960s, KGY Archives KGY Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The KGY Building is one of…
Location: 512 4th Ave E Kincy Hardware building after the 1949 earthquake, William P. Conser photograph, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Kincy Hardware building today (2013), photo by Matt Kennelly The…
Location: 101 Olympic Way SW Local register Klaumbush House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Klaumbush House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross This well-maintained early Craftsman style home…
Location: 166 Washington St NE Knox Hotel and Apartments, 1914, photo by Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Location today (2012), photo by Deb Ross Another example of…
Location: 407 Olympic Way SW Women’s History Kornmesser House 1966, Southwest Regional Archives, Thurston County Assessor Kornmesser House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Kornmesser Home sits on the…
Location: 1102 Legion Way SE Kuhns House 1970, Southwest Regional Archives, Thurston County Assessor Kuhns House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross This distinctive house at the corner of Eastside Street…
Location: 1910 Water St SW Local register, South Capitol National District No vintage scanned image is available. If you have one, or would like to sponsor the scanning of…
Location: 2711 Adams St SE Women’s History; Wohleb; Local Register Lackey Duplex, 1947, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Lackey Duplex today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross In the early 1940s, Lillian Lackey,…
Location: 1205 West Bay Drive NW State Register Lane House, 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Lane House today (2010), photo by Deborah Ross The George…
Location: 424 Rogers St NW local register, Rogers Street Historic District Lassen House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Lassen House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Lassen House is…
Location: 1010 Rogers St SW Local Register La Villa-Meeker House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives La Villa-Meeker House today (2014), photograph by Deb Ross Erected between 1930 and 1935, La…
Location: 403 Maple Park Ave SE South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Lea House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Lea House today (2014), photograph by Deb Ross In the early…
Location: 118 19th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Elizabeth and Ralph Lee House, ca. 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Elizabeth and Ralph Lee House today…
Location: Legion Way between Plum and Central Local registered site Tree in front of Washington School, probably 1930s, detail from Merle Junk photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives Legion Way…
Location: 1021 8th Ave SE City of Olympia landmark tree The Leitgeb children in front of the tree, 1955, courtesy of the Leitgeb family …
Location: 434 Percival St NW Local register Le May House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Le May House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Le May House, built…
Location: 603 Governor Stevens Ave SE Le May/Hedges House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Le May/Hedges House today (2015), photo by Shanna Stevenson Ernest and Mildred Le May built…
Location: 822 Governor Stevens Ave SE Le May/Leonardson House, 1940, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Le May/Hedges House today (2015), photo by Shanna Stevenson The Le May/Leonardson House, built in…
Location: 1023 Capitol Way S Le May Meat Market, around 1940, Southwest Regional Archives Daughters of the Pioneers collection Le May Meat Market building today, photograph by Deborah Ross (2015) In…
Location: 217 Columbia St NW Transportation; Diversity: Native American history P.J. O’Brien Blacksmith Shop around 1900, photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Canoe Journey Mural on side of Les…
Location: 2405 Old Oregon Trail SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood H.L. Lewis House, 1938, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives H.L. Lewis House today (2013), photo by…
Location: 212 4th Ave E Downtown National Historic District Fourth Avenue looking west, Yeager Home on right, about 1874, left side of a stereograph, courtesy Washington State Historical Society Liberty…
Location: 918 San Francisco St NE Local register Lilly House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Lilly House today (2013) photo by Deb Ross At the crest of San Francisco…
Location: 213 21st Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic District; Wohleb; Women’s History; Schools Lincoln School, 1925-1935, State Archives, Susan Parish…
Location: 2621 Capitol Way S Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Women’s History Lo Ma Villa 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Lo Ma Villa today (2014), photo…
Location: 211 21st Ave SW National, State and Local registers; South Capitol National Historic District; Wohleb; Women’s History Lord Mansion 1938, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Lord Mansion today…
Location: 1627 Dickinson St NW Lowry House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Lowry House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Lowry House was constructed in about 1890. At the…
Location: 420 Carlyon St SE Local register Lucas House, 1953, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Lucas House today (2018), photo by City of Olympia This home in the Carlyon neighborhood is…
President’s Message Spring 2013 Mark Foutch Olympia in Minor League Baseball Emmett O’Connell Origins of the Olympia Historical Society, Chapter 2 Mark Foutch Deb and Lanny’s Excellent Adventure Deborah Ross…
By Mark Derricott, former editor of the OHS Newsletter I recently re-read a couple of my favorite books: The Histories by Herodotus and Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov.Aside from realizing that I was much…
On a weekly basis, Members Lanny Weaver and Deb Ross catalogue the State Capital Museum collection now housed at the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) in Tacoma. This project is…
By Mark Foutch, President Incorporation, Bylaws and Progress (If the exploratory and organizational meetings of 2001 could be considered “conception” and “birth,” then early in 2002 the Olympia Historical Society…
By Emmett O’Connell In 1903 John P. Fink, a newspaper man and promoter, had an idea for a baseball league. Fink seemed to be a jack-of-all-trades sort of promoter in…
By Mark Foutch, President It was ‘Standing Room Only” thanks especially to John Dodge’s great write-up in The Olympian, as we started off the year January 26 with a great…
Location: 222 19th Ave SW Local Register, South Capitol National Historic District Talcott House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Talcott House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross This…
Location: 1056 Boundary St SE Local register Lybarger House, 1973, courtesy of Mark Foutch Lybarger House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Lybarger House was built about 1887…
Location: 320 17th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Mallery House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Mallery House today (2013) photo by Deb Ross Naming a…
The Where are We? feature of the Olympia Historical Society website allows you to find out more about important historical buildings and locations in Olympia. Click on any of the…
Location: 1418 Oak Ave NE Local Register Mallory House in 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Mallory House today (2010), photo by Deb Ross This pleasing 1895…
Location: 1121 5th Ave SE Local register; Women’s History Manier House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Manier House today (2013) photo by Deb Ross This imposing Foursquare style home…
Location: 301 5th Ave E Popular culture Mann’s Seeds Building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Mann’s Seeds Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The utilitarian structure at the…
Location: 3132 Lorne St SE local register Manschreck House, 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Manschreck House today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross The Manschreck home was built in…
Location: Deschutes Parkway Women’s History The first women’s marathon trials, 1984, courtesy The Olympian Marathon Park today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Marathon Park, first created in 1970 out of fill that…
Location: 113-119 5th Ave SE Downtown National Historical District, Wohleb design; Women’s History Doane’s Oyster House around 1880, photograph from Digital Archives Martin Building today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross…
Location: 115 State Ave NE Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb James Martin Warehouse, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives James Martin Warehouse today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The James Martin…
Photographs The Society’s website maintains a small collection of photographs in our image bibliography. Many more photographs and links to photographs are available for viewing in our Where Are We?,…
You may print out, fill in and mail this membership form,…
Charlene’s birth tribe was her mother’s tribe the Colville Confederated Tribes until she relinquished to join her father’s tribe in 1975 after the Boldt Decision. It is from her mother’s…
Do you want to become more involved in Olympia’s history and heritage? There are many ways to do so, and we can help. Here are a few: Join the Olympia…
The following is a list of materials relating to Olympia area history that are available either on our website or elsewhere. Bibliography – listing of books, transcripts, and articles –…
Welcome to “Where Are We?”, a new feature of the Olympia Historical Society website that gives you information about buildings and sites in Olympia. Click here for more information about…
Articles Bibliography Chinese Olympia Image Bibliography Links to other helpful sites Transcriptions Where Are We? Articles Blankenship: Meet the Yantises and Blankenships Bret: Living with the Pioneers Derricott, Applied Historiography:…
Click here to download the membership form Mail Checks payable to “Olympia Historical Society” to: Olympia Historical Society PO Box 6064 Olympia, WA 98507-6064. Please include your name and contact…
Thanks go to Ralph Blankenship for securing Gloria Dei Church for the general membership meeting, a pot luck dinner, held November 21. The gathering provided a great opportunity for several…
Click here to download the membership form Mail Checks payable to “Olympia Historical Society” to: Olympia Historical Society PO Box 6064 Olympia, WA 98507-6064. Please include your name and contact…
Greetings from the President, Many thanks to member Roger Easton for organizing yet another successful event honoring Olympia’s sesquicentennial year, this time at Priest Point Park on Saturday, August 22nd.…
Click here to download the membership form Mail Checks payable to “Olympia Historical Society” to: Olympia Historical Society PO Box 6064 Olympia, WA 98507-6064. Please include your name and contact…
Background: For many decades Olympia was content to depend on the State Capital Museum for its local history venue and a place to store many of its important historical assets. …
Tim Ransom, Vice President Interested in the history of where you live? Want to know more about the people who lived there first, the Native Americans, the pioneers and other…
Anne Kilgannon, Secretary In a new history column featured in the online news source ThurstonTalk.com, blogger Emmett O’Connell writes about a little known historic site in downtown Olympia. Now the…
President’s Message Fall 2012 Mark Foutch Olympia Historical Society at Canoe Journey Anne Kilgannon Origins of the Olympia Historical Society Mark Foutch New History Blogs That Inform and Inspire Anne…
Mark Foutch, President As you all know, one of our Olympia Historical Society’s most dedicated members, Roger Easton, died July 2 after a short illness. This was completely unexpected and…
Hello friends. As we are on "summer schedule," this will be your only bulletin for July, but it’s an important one! First, please join historical societies and commissions throughout Thurston…
Mark Foutch, President You might (or might not) have noticed that our first OHS newsletter of the year is later than usual. We’ve faced some organizational challenges but now we’re…
Our website has extensive materials and links on Olympia history, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to get started or how to find answers to specific questions. We suggest…
Related Sites Chinese and Asian American History Becoming American: The Chinese Experience The Chinese American Experience, 1857-1892 Historical Societies, Museums, and Exhibits: Wing Luke Museum, Seattle, WA The Mai Wah…
The dedication of the Olympia Chinatown Historical Marker took place May 22, 2004 at Heritage Park. Interpretive Marker located in Heritage Park, near the site of Olympia’s last Chinatown …
At Forest Memorial Gardens, 2501 Pacific Ave., Olympia Marker for Locke Mai Tuck Edward Echtle photo As late as the 1930s members of Olympia’s Chinese community still gathered at Forest…
Due to immigration restrictions it was prohibitively expensive and legally difficult for most Chinese men to bring a wife and family members to America. Nevertheless, a small but significant number of…
By the 1870s some of Olympia’s Chinese residents earned their keep as market gardeners. In fact, they were so efficient they effectively cornered the local produce market for some years. …
Restaurants were a pioneer business for Chinese immigrants. Many early Chinese found employment as cooks for affluent families, at lumber camps and in hotels and rooming houses and learned…
A number of Chinese owned laundries existed in Olympia over the years. As laundries required little start up capital, they were often the first business a recent Chinese immigrant could…
The International Chinese Business Directory of the World for the Year 1913 Over the years Olympia’s main Chinese quarters were located in three places. Available records show the earliest Chinatown…
Chinese railroad section hands at the Tenino Northern Pacific Railroad depot, early 1880s WSHS Image In the early 1870s construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad in western Washington brought…
by Edward Echtle This series of articles about the Chinese in Olympia was prepared by Edward Echtle, Olympia historian, for the Olympia Historical Society website. The Society is…
During the latter half of the 19th century, the Puget Sound region received an influx of settlers from around the world. Among them were immigrants from southeast China. Many came to…
AMENDED: DECEMBER 31, 2013, January 12, 2015, January 11, 2016, January 16, 2017, and January 20, 2018 Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum Article I. Purpose …
Written by Janet Partlow, a descendant of the Streets and Partlow families Ralph Raymond Streets was born in Brockville, Ontario (on the St. Lawrence seaway) in 1870. His father John…
President’s Message Mark Foutch Olympia’s African American Pioneers Ralph Munro Meet a Family:The Streets and Partlows Nancy Partlow Lanny’s and Deb’s Excellent Adventures in Tacoma Deb Ross Membership
Ralph Munro, Secretary of State 1980-2001 resident of Olympia since 1966 Secretary Munro offered following remarks at a First United Methodist Church in Olympia on January 29, 2012 in recognition…
This is an ongoing series that reports on Lanny Weaver’s and Deb Ross’s weekly trips to the Research Center at the Washington State Historical Society to catalogue documents and photographs…
Location: 112 18th Ave SW Local register, South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood No vintage photograph has been located for this home. If you have one to share, please contact us.…
This feature of our website includes separate pages for historic locations and buildings throughout Olympia. Each location has side-by-side photographs, with brief descriptions of the history and importance of the…
In 1891, the Olympia Tribune published a souvenir issue, consisting of 22 bound pages that were printed and bound at the State Printing Office. The issue contained information on the…
by Richard Edwards Charles Chaenn was born in France in January 1839 to John Chaenn and Madelina Juliet. According to local oral tradition, he served in the French military before…
by Mary Zindt My brothers and I spent the summers doing farm chores. A hike to McAllister Springs was always included during summer vacation. It was about two miles from…
The previous two newsletters contained articles on the history of Capitol Lake, whose authors maintain divergent conclusions. As our newsletter policies maintain, the Olympia Historical Society welcomes submissions on any…
Mark Derricott, Editor Introduction Does Aristotle’s theory of the whole can become greater than the sum of its parts hold true if we apply it to our community? Can something…
Mark Derricott* The excellent recent piece about Capitol Lake by Mr. Allen Miller and a formidable rejoinder in this quarter’s newsletter by Mr. Emmett O’Connell reveals a rich dialogue about…
This article originally appeared on the Squaxin Island Tribe’s Natural Resource Department Weblog and was reprinted here as another view of the history of the development of Capitol Lake. The…
Ralph Blankenship In October of 1852 Sarah Y Yantis rode into Olympia with her father B.F. Yantis and 7 brothers and sisters in their covered wagon. They left from Saline…
Location: 105 8th Ave SE (corner 8th and Capitol) Local Register (site) Masonic Temple about 1902, Image from Digital Archives Location today (2012), Photo courtesy of Deb Ross When Edmund Sylvester laid…
Location: 1604 Water St SW Local register; South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District Maury House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Maury House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross…
Location: 223 19th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District McArdle House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives McArdle House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross This handsome Foursquare House,…
Location: 703 4th Ave E Transportation, Diversity: German heritage Vietzen home, with family members, courtesy State Capital Museum collection, Washington State Historical Society Courtyard Antiques mall at this location…
Location: 111 21st Ave SW Local register, National Register; South Capitol National Historic District; Wohleb Henry McCleary House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Henry McCleary House today (2013),…
Location: 101 Sherman St. NW Local register McCleary-Robinson House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives McCleary-Robinson House today (2013), photograph by Deb Ross This large home, overlooking the…
Location: 327 Sherman NW Schools McClelland House, 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, State Archives McClelland House now (2010), photo by Deborah Ross This attractive, unassuming Pioneer-style home…
Location: 121 19th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood McCoy/Trullinger House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives McCoy/Trullinger House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This Craftsman…
Location: 1702 4th Ave E Local register McCormick House 1956, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives McCormick House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The McCormick House on busy 4th Avenue…
Location: 1625 Sylvester St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Women’s History; Wohleb McCully House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives McCully House today (2014), photo by…
Location: 2215 Water St SW South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood W.B. McDonald House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives W.B. McDonald House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The W.B. McDonald House,…
Location: 414 Capitol Way S Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb H.B. McElroy Store Building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives H.B. McElroy Store Building today (2014), photo by…
Location: 702 Washington St SE Thornton McElroy home around 1873, photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society 702 Washington St. today, Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross Between Sylvester Park and the…
Location: 123 Cushing St. NW Local Register Joseph McIntyre home around 1900, photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society McIntyre home today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The McIntyre…
