Location: Northwest corner Adams and 5th Religious institutions First Methodist, around 1903, First United Methodist Church of Olympia Former site of First Methodist today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Another example of a “paved Paradise” in downtown Olympia. The congregation of the First Methodist Episcopal church outgrew its first building just north of here in the early 1890s…
Location: 1006 4th Ave NE mid-Century modern Metropolitan Life Insurance Building 1960s, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation files Metropolitan Life Insurance Building (Crain’s Office Supply) today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This small Miesian style building was designed in 1958 by architect Kenneth Ripley and served as the Olympia office of Metropolitan Life until…
Location: 616 Milas St NE Meyer-Chitty House 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Meyer-Chitty House today (2014), photo by Deborah Ross Perched atop a bluff in East Olympia, overlooking Budd Inlet, the Meyer House is a well-preserved Craftsman style bungalow. It was built in the early 1920s by Henry and Millie Meyer. It was later owned by Fred Chitty, a…
Location: 1136 East Bay Drive NE National Register, State Register, Local Register, Women’s History, Diversity: Germans Meyer House ca. 1910, photo courtesy of Olympia Mansion Meyer-Riddle House today (2010), photo by Deborah Ross The Meyer Riddle House was built in 1904 by Victor Meyer, a German immigrant who moved to Olympia in the late 19th…
Location: 2061 East Bay Drive NE Local register George G Mills/Kent House 1955, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives George G Mills/Kent House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This elegant English Revival home, on the east shore of Budd Inlet, was built in 1920 with a design by Seattle architects Thomas and Totty. Owners…
Location: 414 Franklin St SE Religious Institutions Sticklin Undertakers around 1914, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Sticklin Undertakers/Mills and Mills building today (2012), photo by Matt Kennelly This building on Franklin Street is one of the oldest mortuaries in Olympia, built about 1900. At the time of the photograph at above left, taken…
Location: 1528 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Diversity: Scandinavians Minor House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Minor House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Like its next-door neighbor, the Harmon House, the Minor House, built in 1922, is one of several homes that were ordered by catalogue from…
Location: 435 Rogers St NW Local register Mitchell House 1939, Thurston County Assessor Photo, Washington State Archives Mitchell House today (2010), photo by Deb Ross This house, built by Dr. David Mitchell and his wife in about 1892, was among the first wave of fine houses built in the Woodruff subdivision when Samuel Woodruff…
Location: 3811 Pifer Rd SE Local register; Women’s History Moore House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Moore House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross John and Olivia Moore built this unusual stucco bungalow in 1927. At the time, the location on Pifer Road was far in the outskirts of Olympia, past the Cloverfield farm. John…
Location: 401 17th Ave SW Women’s History; local register; South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District Janet Moore House, 1957, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Janet Moore House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Janet Moore was one of the most prominent women in Olympia’s early history. Daughter of Philip D. Moore, himself a well-known…
Location: 110 26th Ave SW South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District Morris House, 1936, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Morris House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross This imposing colonial revival home was owned by two unrelated families named Morris. Justice George Morris built the large home, with its impressive landscaping, 1909 to 1918, and…
Location: 101 Capitol Way N Local Register, State Register, National Register, National Historic District, Diversity: Jewish heritage The Toklas and Kaufman building (now Mottman Building) around 1891 charcoal-enhanced photograph from Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue of 1891, scanned at Washington State Library The Mottman Building today (2012) Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross Most would agree that the…
Location: 200 Union Ave SE Women’s History, Schools, Popular culture; State register (Central School building) Central School, around 1882, photo from State Library Photograph Collection, Digital Archives Mowell House today (2012), photo by Matthew Kennelly In the 1850s a school was erected at the corner of Union and Washington at this location, serving for a…
Location: Northeast corner of Jefferson and Thurston The National Wood Pipe factory on fire in 1909 photograph from Digital Archives As the former location of the pipe factory appears today (2011), the home of the Hands on Children’s Museum Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross With the importance of water and water supply to the residents and…
Location: 513 Capitol Way S Downtown Olympia National District, Diversity: African-Americans Waughop Residence about 1875, Image courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Neuffer Building today (2012), Photo by Deb Ross In early years the west side of Main Street (Capitol Way) south of Fifth Avenue directly overlooked the Deschutes Estuary (Capitol Lake). (See the Bird’s Eye…
Location: 1625 Water St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Neuffer House 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Neuffer House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross This large bungalow near Capitol Campus was built in 1909 by Paul Neuffer, a German-born jeweler who owned Neuffer‘s jewelry store downtown (see also the Paul and Catherine Neuffer…
Location: 510 O’Farrell St SE Local register A vintage photograph has not been located; if you have one to share, please contact us Paul and Catherine Neuffer house today (2013) photo by Deb Ross This home, built about 1922, was one of the first residences built in the new Wildwood subdivision, which was…
Location: 116 5th Avenue Downtown National Historic District Proffitt’s Department Store, 1970, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives New Caldonia building today (2017) photograph by Deb Ross According to its owner, the building now called the New Caldonia building was the site of the Caledonia Hotel in the 1870s. By 1914 it was the home…
Location: 1264 State St NE Newcomb House, 1937, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Newcomb House today (2010), photo by Deborah Ross The Newcomb House was built about 1890 and was the residence of Dr. Newcomb, who arrived in Olympia about the same time. It sits on an elevated position above State…
Location: 721 Columbia St SW Transportation, mid-Century Northern Pacific Railroad depot around 1914, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Northern Pacific Depot today (2012), photo by Matt Kennelly The first Northern Pacific depot, pictured at above left, was built in about 1891, the year that the Northern Pacific railroad reached downtown Olympia (see also…
Location: 501 Capitol Way SE Downtown National Historical District, Wohleb, mid-Century; Diversity: African-Americans Odd Fellows Building around 1900 Photo from Digital Archives Rexall Drug Building today (2012) Photo courtesy of Deb Ross The Odd Fellows Hall, built at the southwest corner of 5th and Capitol Way in 1888, was an important addition to downtown Olympia and was…
Location: 301 Maple Park SE South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Ogden House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Ogden House today (2014), Photo courtesy of Deb Ross In the early part of the 20th Century, Maple Park was one of the more socially desirable locations in Olympia. Gracious and large homes flanked the park, which was planted…
Location: 108 State Ave NW Local Register, State Register, National Historic Downtown District, Women’s History, Transportation Tilley Stable, date unknown, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives Old City Hall today (2012), Photo by Matthew Kennelly According to historian Bernice Sapp, the first non-Indigenous American occupation of this site was Moses Rice Tilley’s Overland Stage stable.…
Location: 600 Washington Street Southeast National Register, State Register, Local Register, National Historical District; Women’s History As it appeared in late 1800s Photo from Digital Archives As it appears today (2012) Photo courtesy of Deb Ross The Old State Capitol Building, currently the home of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, was initially built…
Location: 1110 Capitol Way S Local, state and national registers; Wohleb; Diversity: Native American rights; Transportation Milroy House, 1872, State Library Collection, Digital Archives Old Thurston County Courthouse-Capitol Way today (2012), photo by Matt Kennelly The building known as the Old Thurston County Courthouse, at the corner of 11th and Capitol Way, was the third…
Location: 1113 Legion Way SE Wohleb; Schools; Women’s History Washington School, probably 1930s, Merle Junk photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives Avanti High School building today (2013), photograph by Deborah Ross The Washington School building was erected in 1924 to replace the first Washington School nearby, now the site of the Armory Building Creative…
Location: 2422 Washington St SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Dan O’Leary House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Dan O’Leary House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This Colonial revival style home was designed by architect Frank Stanton, for a time a partner with Joseph Wohleb. It was built in about 1928 for…
Location: 118 18th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood John O’Leary House, 1938, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives John O’Leary House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This colonial revival style house was designed by local architect Frank Stanton for his brother-in-law, Doctor John O’Leary (see also Dan O’Leary House). It was…
The Olympia Avenue Historic District was created by resolution of the Heritage Commission, approved by the Olympia City Council. Link below for the Staff report describing the District. Several of the homes are individually listed in Where are We?, best found by consulting the Interactive Map. Olympia Avenue Historic District Staff Report PCTV/TCTV video on Olympia…
Location: Block bounded by Capitol, A, Washington, and B Women’s history; Popular culture; Transportation Olympia Canning Company, processing pears, 1948, Jeffers Photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Harbor Heights building, photo courtesy Harbor Heights As various fill operations extended available land north from State Avenue in the early 20th century, industrial development moved in…
Location: 802 Olympia Ave. Schools, Women’s History Olympia Collegiate Institute about 1885, photograph from Digital Archives site today (2012) Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The Puget Sound Wesleyan Institute was founded by Daniel Bigelow and other local Methodists in the 1850s, and for a short time was located at 200 Union Avenue, the current site of…
Location: 421 Capitol Way S Downtown National Historic District; mid-Century modern Centennial Parade, 1950, with Funk-Volland Building in background, Merle Junk Photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives Olympia Federal Savings Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Olympia Federal Savings and Loan building was an important modern contribution to Olympia’s downtown core. The…
Location: 109 Capitol Way N Local register; Olympia Downtown National Historic District; Diversity:Chinese heritage Olympia Hardware Co. 1914, Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Olympia Hardware Company building today (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly The Olympia Hardware Building, erected in 1884, is one of the oldest existing commercial buildings in the city. It…
Location: Capitol Campus Schools; located in Washington State Capitol Campus National Historic District First William Winlock Miller High School, ca. 1917, State Library Photograph Collection Sunken Garden today (2013) photo by Deb Ross Olympia School District was providing high school level classes to Olympia’s youth as early as the 1880s, but in the early…
Location: 1125 Washington St SE Schools, mid-Century modern Olympia High School on Capitol Way, 1920s, State Library Collection, Digital Archives Highway and Licensing Building now (2012), photo by Matt Kennelly The institution formally known as William Winlock Miller High School has existed at three locations. The second location, featured here, was built in 1919, on…
Location: 525 Columbia St SW Diversity: Jewish heritage; Women’s History; Wohleb Olympia Junk Co. 1914, Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Olympia Junk Co building today (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly The building that stands at the northwest corner of Legion and Columbia was built in 1925 to house the Olympia Junk Company.…
Location: 2112 Capitol Way S Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Munson House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Munson House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Munson House was built in 1924 by the Munson family. Fred G. Munson was a member of a prominent Olympia pioneer family (see Munson store). He owned a drug…
Location: 525 Cherry St. SE (at corner of Legion Way) Popular Culture, Diversity: Jewish History, Women’s History, Schools, Wohleb Olympia Knitting Mills photograph from City of Olympia Women’s Walking Tour Olympia Knitting Mills building today (2024) Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The Olympia Knitting Mills began its life in downtown Olympia, founded by Seattle businessman…
Location: 426 Fourth Ave E Olympia Lumber and Mercantile, about 1910, State Library Collection, Digital Archives Site today (2014) Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross At one time much of east Fourth Avenue was lined with wooden buildings like the Olympia Lumber and Mercantile building shown at above left. These gradually gave way to masonry structures so that the only…
Location: 520 4th Ave E Transportation, Wohleb Capital Chevrolet, 1942, Jeffers Photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives Olympia Motors Building now (2012), photo by Deb Ross The Olympia Motors Building is a flamboyant celebration of America’s love affair with the automobile. Built in 1923 and designed by local architect Joseph Wohleb, the ornate Gothic…
Location: 422 Capitol Way S Downtown National Historic District, State Register, National Register, Wohleb Main Street (Capitol Way) and 5th, looking north, around 1874 , Stereograph (left half) courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Olympia National Bank building today (2012), Photo from Wikimedia commons The block bound by Main Street (now Capitol Way), 4th Avenue, Washington Street,…
Location: 212 4th Ave W National Downtown Historic District; Diversity: Gay and Lesbian History Cafe Intermezzo, 1970s, Carole Street LaFond website Olympia News Office building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross The blocks extending down Fourth Avenue west of Capitol Way have always been the home to small but important commercial enterprises. The building…
Location: 320 4th Ave W Diversity: Japanese, Native Americans; Wohleb Olympia Oyster Company around 1924, photograph courtesy Washington State Historical Society Oyster House in 2012, photo by Deb Ross The oyster industry has been important in Olympia since early days. Originally harvested and sold primarily by Native Americans, the industry became of larger economic…
Location: 120 Capitol Way N State Register, National Downtown District, Wohleb Press room of the Daily Olympian 1910, photo courtesy of the Washington State Historical Society Olympia Press Building today (2012), photo by Matthew Kennelly The Olympia Press Building (also known as Old Olympian Building), at the corner of Capitol and State, was one in…
Location: 620 Franklin St SE National, State and Local Register; Women’s History ; Wohleb; Religious Communities Olympia Public Library, undated, postcard from Moody Collection Olympia Public Library building today (2012), photograph by Deb Ross According to the inventory listing for this building, the collection that eventually became the Olympia Public Library was begun…
Location: 401 Columbia St NW Wohleb, Transportation Olympia Sand and Gravel building, 1930, from DAHP inventory Olympia Sand and Gravel office building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross As the land base of Olympia grew to the north with each succeeding dredge and fill operation, commercial businesses expanded into the new territory…
Location: 113 Thurston St NE mid-Century modern No vintage photographs of this building have been scanned. If you have one to share, please contact us. Olympia Steam Plant building today (2013), photo by Deb Ross In the heyday of industrial activity in the Port area, the Olympia Steam Heating Company took steam generated at the…
Location: 625 Columbia St SW Diversity: Jewish heritage Olympia Supply, 1987, Courtesy of Olympia Supply Olympia Supply now (2012), photo by Matt Kennelly The Olympia Supply Company is the successor name to Olympia Junk, which was originally located one block to the north of this location. The business is still associated with the Bean family…
Location: Percival Landing Transportation; Local Register Olympia Tug & Barge Co, Robert Esterly photo, ca. 1914, courtesy Washington State Historical Society Site of Olympia Tug & Barge at Percival Landing today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Arthur Weston founded the Olympia Tug & Barge Co in the early 20th century and in 1908 commissioned the Sand Man, which was used…
Location: 201 Simmons St NW Transportation Olympia Yacht Club 1972, cropped from image of Ralph’s Thriftway and Yacht Club, Port of Olympia collection, Southwest Regional Archives Olympia Yacht Club today (2012), photograph by Deb Ross The Olympia Yacht Club was founded in 1889 and obtained moorings at the present location just east of the…
Location: 509 4th Ave E Popular culture, Transportation, Women Olympia Opera House, 1895-1910, State Library Collection accessed via Digital Archives Olympian Automotive building today (2012), photo by Matthew Kennelly The Olympia Opera House (or Olympia Theater) was built in 1890 by Washington Standard publisher John Miller Murphy and featured the latest developments in theater…
Location: 203 18th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District; Wohleb Otis House, 1939, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Otis House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Otis House, built in 1914, was an early commission for Joseph Wohleb. In these early years of his work in Olympia he was…
Location: 105 Olympic Way NW Local register Overhulse House 1939, Thurston County Assessor Photo, Washington State Archives Overhulse House today (2010), photo by Deb Ross Built on a fine location overlooking Olympia, the Overhulse House just across the Fourth Avenue bridge in West Olympia was in the second wave of construction on the Woodruff…
Location: 406 Capitol Way SE Downtown National Historical District, Women’s History Munson Millinery in 1870s or 1880s, photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Archibald Sisters (Pacific Building) today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The block of Capitol Way (originally Main Street) between 4th and 5th Avenues was one of the most important commercial blocks…
Location: 202 Capitol Way N, parking lot south of 222 Capitol Way N Women’s History; Diversity: African-Americans Pacific House late 19th century, Public Domain image from Blackpast.org website Site of Pacific House (parking lot) today, with Rebecca Howard mural (2013), photo by Deb Ross In very…
Location: 217-223 5th Ave SE Women’s History; Transportation Pacific Tel and Tel Building, ca. 1929, Vibert Jeffers Photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Thurston First Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The building at above left was erected by the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Company in around 1908. The company operated here until it…
Location: 428 Rogers St NW local register, Rogers Street Historic District Paine House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Paine House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Paine House is one of five homes on Rogers Street Northwest that were built about the same time by Tumwater Lumber Mills (TLM). TLM was founded by the…
Location: 1623 Sylvester St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District; Wohleb Parker House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Parker House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The attractive Craftsman style Parker House, built in 1920, is an example of architect Joseph Wohleb’s versatility. Wohleb also designed the next door Colonial style McCully House, built about…
Location: 1617 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Parker/Mills House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Parker/Mills House today (2013), photo by Matt Kennelly The Parker/Mills House is a handsome and early example of the Craftsman style that became increasingly popular in Olympia in the early decades of the twentieth century. It…
Location: 1518 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Parr House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Parr House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross This sturdy Foursquare style house was built around 1893 and originally sat at the location of the Temple of Justice. It was moved several blocks when the Temple became the…
Location: 401 18th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Parrott/McIntosh House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Parrott/McIntosh House today (2013), photo by Matt Kennelly This is a beautifully restored pioneer style home located in the South Capitol Neighborhood. Thurston County inventory records contain two strikingly different accounts of its dates and owners. According…
Location: 3303 Fairfield Rd SE local register Partlow House, 1956, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Partlow House today (2013), Photo by Deb Ross The Partlow House was built in 1928, and originally located at 1026 Columbia St, near Union Ave. Kenneth Partlow I was in the second generation of the Partlow family, who arrived…
Location: 1239 8th Ave SE Local Register, State Register, National Register Patnude House, 1893, Image from Washington State Archives. State Library Photograph Collection. Patnude House today (2011), Photo by Deb Ross Charles Patnude was born in Quebec and came to Olympia in the 1880s. He was a builder by trade, responsible in whole or part for…
Location: 926 Bethel St NE Local register Patterson House, 1958, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Patterson House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Patterson home was built in about 1926. It is an attractive, well-maintained Craftsman style home in the “Workingman’s Hill” neighborhood of northeast Olympia. Mr. Patterson was a well driller by…
Location: 1026 State Ave NE Local register Pattison-Davis House, 1937, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Pattison-Davis House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Jane Wyllie Pattison and James Pattison crossed on the Oregon Trail, arriving in Thurston County in the late 1840s. They settled first on Chambers Prairie, where Pattison Lake took their name. Some…
Location: 110 Capitol Way N Diversity: Chinese heritage; National Downtown Historic District Pekin Cafe, 1914, photo by Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Site of Pekin Cafe today (2012), photo by Deb Ross Chinese cooks were present in Olympia from very early days. Often they were staff at private residences (the…
Location: 510 Columbia SW Downtown National Historic District; Transportation Penney’s Annex Building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Penney’s Annex Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This building on Columbia Street was erected before 1914, and originally served as an automobile garage (see link below). For several years it was an annex store for…
Location: 811 4th Ave W Women’s History; Religious Institutions Percival House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Percival House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Queen Anne style home known variously as the Percival House and the Partlow House was built in 1892 on a lot above the Percival Mansion, overlooking the mouth of the…
Location: 405 Columbia St NW Transportation, Local register, Popular Culture Percival Wharf 1914, by Robert Esterly, photo from Digital Archives, State Library Collection Percival Landing now (2012), photo by Matthew Kennelly When Olympia was first settled by Americans, the primary access to the town was by boat, as roads were mostly impassable. Yet boat access…
Location: 190 Olympic Way NW (west end of 5th Avenue Bridge) Percival Mansion around 1891, Edward Lange drawing from Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue 1891, Washington State Library Location today (2012), Photo courtesy of Deb Ross The Percival Mansion is one of the more recognizable structures in early Olympia images. It was built by Benjamin Harned in 1874,…
Location: 1516 4th Ave E Local register; Religious institutions Peters House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Peters House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Peters House is a relatively early example of craftsman style bungalows in Olympia. It was constructed in about 1909 by lumberman Joseph Peters. The home also served for a time…
Location: 224 17th Ave SE Local register, South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Phillips House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Phillips House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This comfortable Craftsman style home is from the Tumwater Lumber Mills catalogue and dates from 1922. Its massive round porch columns give the home a neo-Colonial flavor.…
Location: between Boulevard Bridge and 15th Street, on Boulevard Road Transportation, Schools, Popular Culture Piety Hill School 1903 photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Boulevard Bridge today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The area between 15th Street and the crossing of the Olympia Woodland Trail (former railroad tracks) was known as Piety Hill, for…
Location: 1622 Pine Ave NE Local register Pinehurst Cottage, 1970, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Pinehurst Cottage today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Pinehurst Cottage is a charming example of a local craftsman’s take on the Craftsman style of architecture. It was built in 1924 by Tony Ross, a Yugoslavian immigrant who worked at the…
Location: 712 Legion Way SE Advertisement in Olympia High School’s 1932 annual, Olympix Plum Street substation today (2015), photo by Deb Ross This unique structure was built in 1927 by Puget Sound Power and Light Company (now Puget Sound Energy). It is in a charming French eclectic design and is designed to hide a substation. A…
Location: 2508 Washington St SE Local register, South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Porak/Lee House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Porak/Lee House today (2014), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross Built in 1927, the Porak/Lee House is very similar to many homes built by Tumwater Lumber Mills in this South Capitol Neighborhood, although its exact model has…
Location: 1803 Capitol Way S Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Porter House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Porter House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Porter House on Capitol Way, was built around 1903 by Nathan Porter, who was an early pioneer photographer, teacher, territorial auditor, and clerk. It was also occupied…
Location: 314 Washington St NE Wohleb Post Store building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Post Store building today (2015), photo by Deb Ross This building has been described as one of the best examples of commercial architecture at the north end of downtown Olympia. Erected in 1928, its utilitarian design by Joseph Wohleb is another example of the…
Location: 418 Rogers St NW local register, Rogers Street Historic District Potts House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Potts House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Potts House is one of five homes on Rogers Street Northwest that were built about the same time by Tumwater Lumber Mills (TLM). TLM was founded by the…
Location: 1502 Columbia St SW South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Women’s History Preston House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Preston House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Josephine Corliss Preston House was erected in 1907, a well-preserved Craftsman style house in the South Capitol Neighborhood, very close to Capitol Campus. The house is associated with Josephine…
Location: 420 Lybarger St SE Local register Purdue House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Purdue House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This modest, well-preserved home in Olympia’s east side was built about 1922. It was owned for several years by Archie and Eva Purdue. Archie worked in the veneer mills downtown, and Eva…
Location: 1512 State St NE Diversity: Scandinavians Quist House, 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Quist House today (2010), photo by Deborah Ross The Quist House was built about 1908 and is a well preserved example of the pleasant Craftsman style working person’s home that was common in Olympia around the turn of…
Location: 311 4th Ave E Local register; Popular culture Rabeck Music Store (in next block to the east), Piano Trade Magazine, 1915 Rabeck Music Store building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Ammon T. Rabeck arrived in Olympia in 1888, and after working in the mills for several years, opened up a small organ store at the…
Location: 1908 4th Ave E mid-Century modern Ralph’s Thriftway, 1958, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives Ralph’s Thriftway today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Ralph’s Thriftway opened at its present location between Fourth and State Avenues in 1956. It was a showcase for the very latest in grocery stores. It was also one of the largest stores…
Location: 1130 East Bay Drive NE Raymond House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Raymond House today (2015) photograph by Deb Ross Perched on a bluff overlooking Budd Inlet, the Raymond House was built in 1922 by George Raymond, a contractor, to serve as his own residence. The stucco facade of this bungalow is relatively unusual for…
Location: 423 Washington St SE Downtown National Historic District, Popular Culture Ray Theatre, 1914, Robert Esterly photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Timberland Bank building today (2012) photograph from Timberland Bank website In about 1914, the Zabel family, who owned several theaters downtown, built the Ray Theatre here, pictured at above left, at the corner…
Location: 113 4th Ave W National Downtown Historic District, Diversity: Jewish heritage, Women’s History, Popular Culture, Transportation Cohen’s confectionary, photo courtesy of Washington State Historical Society New Moon Cafe (Red Top Taxi building) today (2012) photograph by Deb Ross Annie and Barney Cohen operated the confectionary/pool hall at this location in the early 20th…
Location: 1207 Olympia Ave NE Olympia Avenue Local Historic District Reder House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Reder House today (2010), photo by Deborah Ross This house, built in 1894, is at the eastern end of Olympia Avenue, formerly Second Avenue. Its comfortable, relatively unostentatious style, is consistent with…
Location: 219 17th Ave. SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Redpath House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Redpath House today (2013) photo by Deb Ross Described as one of the finest homes in Olympia, this house was built by Nathaniel and Lucy Maynard Redpath around 1907. Dr. Redpath was a descendant of…
Location: 520 Washington St SE National Downtown Historic District, Local Register, Women’s History, Transportation As it appeared in about 1935 Vibert Jeffers. Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives. As the Reed Building appears today (2012), Photo courtesy of Deb Ross The Reed Block/Thompson Apartments building was built in 1891 and named after its builder, local attorney,…
Location: 212 Legion Way SE National Downtown Historic District We have not located a vintage photograph of this building.If you have one to share, please contact us. Reed Building Annex today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross This small, one-story building is adjacent to the Reed Building, on Legion Way. It was erected in 1946 and…
Location: 1112 Olympia Ave NE Local register, Olympia Avenue Historical District Reinhart House 1981, Thurston County Assessor’s photograph from Southwest Regional Archives Reinhart House today (2012), photo by Deborah Ross Captain Caleb S. Reinhart (nickname “Cap”) was a son of Olympia pioneers Stephen Reinhart and Sarah Cock. He built this home in 1891, next door…
Location: 116 21st Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic District; mid-Century modern Revell House, 1940, State Archives, Thurston County Assessor Revell House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel Built in 1940, the Revell House has a strikingly mid-Century modern feel to it, consistent with the status of its original owner, who was a treasurer of the cooperative Olympia…
Location: 301-309 4th Avenue E Local register, Popular Culture; Diversity: African-Americans Rex Theater, 1914, photo by Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Rex building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross The Rex Building was erected around 1911, and is so named because the Rex Theater occupied the first floor. Although the theater…
Location: 606 Central NE Robbins House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Robbins House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Robbins House is an excellent and well preserved example of the Pioneer style that is common in the Bigelow Highlands of Olympia’s East Side. The Robbins family arrived here in about 1880, and several…
Location: 907 Olympia Ave NE Local register, Olympia Avenue Local Historic Neighborhood Robbins-Mallett House, 1965, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Robbins-Mallett House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This fine early Craftsman-style home was built in 1915 by Edwin J. Robbins, member of an early Olympia family. Robbins built several homes in Olympia’s east side, soon…
Location: 119 Washington St NE Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb; mid-Century modern; popular culture Rockway-Leland Building, around 1941, courtesy Michael Houser Rockway-Leland Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Rockway-Leland Building was constructed in phases, and is really two buildings. The “ell” on the north side (to the right in the photographs above) was built…
The Rogers Street Historic District was created by resolution of the Heritage Commission, approved by the Olympia City Council. This small district was created to showcase a few of the Tumwater Lumber Mills homes along this and nearby streets. Link below for the Staff report describing the District. Several of the homes are individually listed…
Location: 1220 4th Ave E Women’s history Romanousky House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Romanousky House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross This attractive and well-maintained Tudor Revival house on 4th Avenue east was built by Annastazie (Anna) Romanousky, or Romanowsky. She was an immigrant from Czechoslovakia who arrived here in 1922. She operated…
Location: 1705 Capitol Way S Local register; South Capitol National Historic District No historic photograph has been located; if you have one we can scan, please contact us Ross House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Ross House was built in 1892 for Hugh Ross, a downtown drugstore owner, who had businesses in the…
Location: 423 Olympic Way SW Local register; Wohleb Roys House in 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Roys House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Hartman Roys was a supervisor at the Port of Olympia and, around 1939, commissioned architect Joseph Wohleb to build this home overlooking the Deschutes Estuary and on out Budd Inlet to the port.…
Location: 901 Olympia Ave NE Local register, Olympia Avenue Historic District, Women’s history Ruddell House 1965, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Ruddell House today (2012), photo by Matt Kennelly The Ruddell House at the corner of Olympia Avenue and Pear Street is the southern anchor of the influence of the matriarchal White family in this…
Location: 2613 Capitol Way S Local Register, South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Frederick W. and Elsa Schmidt House, 1946, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Frederick W. and Elsa Schmidt House today (2017), photo by Deborah Ross Frederick W. and Elsa Schmidt arrived home after their honeymoon and immediately began searching for a home site. Schmidt was…
Location: 2932 Maringo Rd SE mid-Century modern; State Historic Register; Wohleb Trueman Schmidt House, 1950, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Trueman Schmidt House today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross The Trueman and Virginia Schmidt house in the Governor Stevens neighborhood is one of several in Southeast Olympia designed by the Wohleb firm, and also one…
Location: 2600 East Bay Dr NE Local register, Religious institutions, Diversity: Native Americans Dock, Priest Point Park, early 20th century, Olympia Historical Society Collection Squaxin Park (Priest Point Park) today (2012) photograph by Deborah Ross Originally a Native American settlement, the area just north of Olympia was settled by Europeans in 1848, when a French…
Location: 114 20th Ave SE Religious institutions; mid-Century modern; South Capitol National Historic District St. John’s Episcopal, 1961, courtesy Washington State Historical Society St. John’s Episcopal Church today (2015), photo by Deborah Ross The St. John’s Episcopal Church building on 20th Avenue, in the South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood, is the third building associated with this congregation (see…
Location: west side of Columbia St. between 10th and 9th Avenues Religious communities St. Michael Parish, around 1890, from centennial booklet, 1976 Site today, photograph by Deborah Ross (2017) St. Michael Parish had three structures on the west side of Columbia St. between 10th and 9th Avenues, between 1879 and 1965. The parish was created in 1875,…
Location: 1701 4th Ave E National and Local registers; Heritage Tree program Gunstone House, 1940s. Gunstone family collection, courtesy Tina Roose. Gunstone House and Tree today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This Craftsman style home was built in 1925 for Richard and Lydia Stoecker. Recent researches by the owner confirm that it is a Tumwater…
Location: 222 Capitol Way N Diversity: Chinese; Transportation Gold Bar Restaurant about 1900, photograph by W.A. Van Epps, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Thorp Motors building today (south end) (2014), photo by Deb Ross As can be seen from the long name for this site, it plays a rich and important role in Olympia’s…
Location: 222 Capitol Way N Transportation; Local Register New England Hotel in background, 1913, , courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Thorp Motors building today (portion) (2014), photo by Deb Ross In the early days of American settlement of Olympia, all commercial establishments were located north of 3rd Avenue (now State Street), to take advantage…
Location: 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW midCentury modern No vintage photograph for the complex has been located. Location today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Officially opened in June 1978, this courthouse stands on what was historically “Mottman Hill.” The multi-building design features contributions from three local architectural firms—Building 1, designed by Falter-Masini Architects; Building 2, designed…
Location: 1005 Olympia Ave NE Local, State and National Registers, Olympia Avenue Local Historic District Rudkin House, photo by Adah Dye about 1936, courtesy State Capital Museum Collection, Washington State Historical Society Rudkin House today (2010), photo by Deb Ross One of the largest and most imposing of the beautiful homes on Olympia Avenue,…
Location: 1513 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Music Studio, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Music Studio today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel An early and excellent example of the Craftsman style bungalow typical of the South Capitol neighborhood, the Music Studio was built around 1914. It received its…
Location: 507 Capitol Way S Downtown National Historic District Safeway Building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Safeway Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This building was erected in 1929, with Phillips and Newell as contractors. Its tiled roof and fixed awnings blend well into the overall look of downtown Olympia. The building…
Location: 1617 Capitol Way S South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Women’s History Mustard House, 1936, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Mustard House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Mustard House on Capitol Way in the South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood is one of the most prominent homes in the neighborhood. Designed in the Queen Anne style, it…
Location: 419 Central St SE Local register Sanderson House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Sanderson House today (2013), photograph by Deborah Ross John Sanderson, a native of Nova Scotia, arrived in Olympia in the 1880s. He built this home around 1914 and he and his wife Annie lived here for many years. It…
Location: Swantown Marina (currently in dry dock) National, State and Local Registers, Transportation Sand Man, 1930s, from Tug Sand Man website Sand Man today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The tug Sand Man is a beloved emblem of the once-robust maritime industry in Olympia. It was built in 1908 and originally hauled…
Location: 208 Percival Street NW Local Register Sandberg House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Sandberg House today (2024), photo by Deb Ross The Sandberg house was built in 1923 for John O. Sandberg and Ella Marie (Olson) Sandberg. John Sandberg, born in 1875 in Sweden, immigrated to the United…
Location: 1315 Eskridge Blvd SE Wohleb Frank T. Schmidt House 1941, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Frank Schmidt House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Frank Schmidt House was built in 1939, across the street from Frank’s brother Frederick Schmidt’s home on Orange Street, in a section of Olympia that was being developed by…
Location: 2614 Capitol Way S Local register No vintage photograph has been located; if you have one to share, please contact us Leopold Schmidt, Jr. House today (2013) photo by Deb Ross One of several homes owned by the Schmidt family, this Foursquare style home was built around 1909 by Olympia Brewing Company owner Leopold…
Location: 703 Governor Stevens SE Local register Robert and Jeannette Schmidt House, 1940, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Robert and Jeannette Schmidt House today (2014) photo by Deb Ross The Robert and Jeannette Schmidt house is one of several in this area associated with the Schmidt family, founders and owners of the Tumwater Brewery (see Frederick Schmidt…
Location: 1307 Brawne Street NW Local register Schnably-Buckner House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Schnably-Buckner House today (2010) photograph courtesy of Luke Howard The Schnably-Buckner House was built around 1885. Although some records date it as late as 1903, early historian Adah Dye believed it was built before the turn of the 20th century,…
Location: 600 Franklin St SE Religious communities; Downtown National Historic District; mid-Century modern First Presbyterian Church and manse, Franklin Street around 1891, Olympia Tribune Souvenir Edition, Washington State Library Sears Building in 2003, photograph by Ed Echtle (2003) The First Presbyterian Church was the first church in Olympia, and the first Presbyterian church north of…
Location: 210 5th Ave SW mid-Century modern Seattle First National Building 1960s, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Seattle First National (Bank of America) Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Seattle First National Bank Building in downtown Olympia is similar to a building erected in the Denny neighborhood in Seattle for the…
Location: 1403 Garfield St. NW Local Register; mid-Century Modern; Religious Institutions; Schools Second Church of Christ, Scientist building 1950, Merle Junk photograph, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives Second Church of Christ, Scientist building (Mariah Arts) today (2014), photograph by Deb Ross The Second Church of Christ, Scientist congregation was formed in the 1930s and met in various…
Location: 2831 Orange St SE Local, State and National registers; Wohleb Frederick W Schmidt House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Frederick W Schmidt House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The elegant and distinctive English Revival style of the Frederick W. Schmidt House, built in 1937-1938, was conceived by…
Location: 203 E Fourth Ave. Downtown Olympia National Historical District Chambers and Swanton Meat Market photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Security Building today Photograph courtesy of “Murderbike” via Wikimedia commons Fourth Avenue has always been a hub of commercial activity. Several businesses have located at the southeast corner of Washington and Fourth, including the…
Location: 1606 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Diversity: Scandinavians Sekstrom-Paton House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Sekstrom-Paton House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel The Sekstrom-Paton House is one of several homes that were ordered by catalogue from the Tumwater Lumber Mills Ready Cut Homes. The company was…
Location: 220 Legion Way S Schools; Religious institutions Daily Olympian (formerly schoolhouse and courthouse) about 1900, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Selden’s Building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross The northwest corner of Legion and Franklin has one of the more complicated histories in Olympia. On this site stood the first schoolhouse…
Location: 618 Puget St NE Religious institutions; Local register; Women’s History; Wohleb; Diversity: African-Americans Seventh Day Adventist Building, ca. 1950s, used by permission of Olympia Christian School Seventh Day Adventist Building today, photo by Joe Mabel, used by permission Much of the information on this page is taken from Rebecca Christie’s book, Workingman’s Hill, published…
Location: 811 5th Ave SW Local register; Women’s History; Diversity: Gay and Lesbian History; Popular Culture Jocelyn Dohm and Jami Heinricher in Sherwood Press building, 1990s, courtesy Sherwood Press Sherwood Press today, courtesy Sherwood Press The Sherwood Press was founded in 1940 by Jocelyn Dohm, daughter of Edward Dohm. It began in the basement of…
Location: 606 13th Ave SE Local register Silsby House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Silsby House today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross The John and Josephine Silsby House on 13th Avenue just south of downtown Olympia, was built some time between 1887 and 1891, in what is termed a vernacular style. John A. Silsby was…
Location: 217 4th Ave E Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb Simenson Jeweler Building, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Simenson Jeweler Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Simenson (or Simonsen) Jeweler Building was erected in 1923 and remodeled by Joseph Wohleb in 1930. It was later the Bergstrom Sporting Goods store. The…
Location: 2317 Columbia St SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Women’s History Amanda Smith/Bowman House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Amanda Smith/Bowman House today (2013), photo by Marisa Merkel This English revival style home is a fairly rare example of a brick house, located in the South Capitol Neighborhood. It was…
Location: 1710 Eastside Street SE Several unscanned photographs of this house are stored at the Research Center of the Washington State Historical Society. To sponsor a scan, or submit your own vintage photograph, please contact us at olyhistory@gmail.com 1710 Eastside today (2012), photo by Deb Ross The house at 1710 Eastside Street was built…
Location: 114 4th Ave E National Downtown Historic District, Local register, Wohleb Oxford Saloon, 1914, photo by Robert Esterly, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society The Spar today (2012), photo by Deb Ross There has been a restaurant or saloon at this location in downtown Olympia since 1860. The current occupant,…
Location: 1018 Olympia Ave NE Local register; Olympia Ave Historic District Sparks House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Sparks House now (2013), photo by Deb Ross This charming Victorian-style cottage was built around 1912 by Charles Sparks and his wife Avis. Charles Sparks was listed as a city clerk. The house is on the local…
Location: 114 Cherry NE Wohleb, Transportation Spoon Auto Parts Building (State Ave frontage) 1965, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Spoon Auto parts building today (Cherry St frontage) (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Spoon Auto Parts building at the corner of State and Cherry has been associated with the automobile repair industry since it was built in 1923…
Location: 2601 Capitol Way S Local register; South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District: Speckart House, 1939, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Speckart House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The large Craftsman-style Speckart House was built about 1910 by Joseph Speckart, who worked at the Olympia Brewery (Joseph’s uncle by marriage was brewery founder Leopold…
Location: 303 17th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Wohleb Springer House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Springer House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Demonstrating his breadth of vision and architectural virtuosity, Joseph Wohleb designed the Colonial Revival style Springer House about 1917, around the same time he…
Location: end of Jefferson St., north of Hands on Museum Transportation Springer and White mill, Edward Lange, 1891 Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue, Washington State Library Site of Springer and White Mill today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Just north of the home of the Hands on Children’s Museum in the port area of Olympia is…
Location: 904 Washington St SE Local Register, Women’s History, Religious Institutions; Diversity: African-Americans St. John’s Episcopal Church in 1891, photograph from Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue, at State Library First Baptist Church today (2012) Photo by Deb Ross St. John’s Episcopal Church is one of the oldest congregations in Washington, first organized in 1854. For a number…
Location: 420 Sherman SW Women’s History, Schools St. Peter Hospital, about 1924, Providence Archives Capital House Apartments today (2012), photo by Matthew Kennelly St. Peter Hospital was founded in the late 1880s by the order of the Sisters of Providence as part of their mission to the Pacific Northwest. The first location of the hospital was…
Location: 2139 East Bay Drive NE Wohleb Stanton House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Stanton House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Stanton House, on East Bay Drive, was built in 1928 using a design by Joseph Wohleb. The home was owned by Frank Stanton, Wohleb’s partner (see John O’Leary and Dan O’Leary Houses…
Location: 415 Capitol Way N Transportation; Diversity: Jewish history Olympia Gas Company, Standard Oil Tank Farm, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Location today (2012), photo by Deb Ross In the earliest years of Olympia’s history, this part of Capitol Way was waterfront. Stores and maritime businesses lined both sides of the street. Jewish…
Location: 301 Capitol Way N Star Laundry Building 1960, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Star Laundry Building today(2014), photo by Deb Ross When Isaac I. Stevens was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to be the first Territorial Governor of Washington Territory, he chose to kill two birds with one stone by successfully bidding…
Location: 119 10th Ave SW mid-Century modern; Women’s history; Transportation No vintage photograph has been scanned either of the Hartsuck home or the State Parking garage. If you have one to share or would like to sponsor scanning of the photograph below, please contact us State Parking garage today(2014), photo by Deb Ross In the late…
Location: 1010 Franklin St SE National, State, and Local registers Steele House 1968, State Library, Digital Archives collection Steele House today (2012), photo by Matthew Kennelly The only remaining example of a pre-statehood residence in the core of Olympia, the Alden Hatch Steele House has been saved from demolition on at least one occasion and…
Location: 202 4th Ave E National Downtown Historic District; Wohleb; Popular culture; mid-Century modern Thurston County Courthouse-4th Avenue, 1905, postcard private collection State Theatre today (2003), photo by Ed Echtle The northeast corner of Fourth and Washington was once occupied by a wooden structure built in about 1853, at a time when the center of…
Location: 223 18th Ave SE Local register, Wohleb No vintage photo has been located for this home. If you have one to share, please contact us. Stentz House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross Demonstrating the astounding breadth of architect Joseph Wohleb’s vision and abilities, this gem of a Craftsman bungalow was built in…
Location: Capitol Campus, near 11th and Capitol located in Washington State Capitol National Historic District, but not identified individually Stevens Mansion in late 1800s or early 1900s, State Library Photograph collection Site of Stevens Mansion, photograph by Deb Ross (2012) When Isaac I. Stevens was appointed the first territorial governor of Washington Territory in…
Location: 300 24th Ave SE Educational institutions Olympia and Tacoma High Schools playing football at Stevens Field in 1929, Jeffers Photograph, Susan Parish Collection Washington State Archives Stevens Field today (2015) photograph by Deb Ross Olympia’s first ballfields were located at the current location of the Sunset Life Building near the border with Tumwater, extending eastwards towards the current…
Location: 312 17th Ave SE Local register, South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Diversity: Scandinavians Strom House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Strom House today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross This attractive Tudor style cottage was built in 1937 for Emil and Elna Strom. Emil was a Swede-Finn, and a member of the Olympia Veneer cooperative, where he worked until…
Location: 550 Capitol Way S National Downtown Historic District, Women’s History, Mid-century modern; Diversity: Japanese Stuart Block, 1891 Edward Lange drawing from Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue 1891, Washington State Library Stuart Place today (2012), Photo courtesy of Matthew Kennelly Robert and Abbie Howard Hunt Stuart built the commercial building shown at above left in the…
Location: 522 Franklin St SE Religious institutions Sunset Life Insurance Building 1964, image from Thurston County Assessor files, Washington State Archives Original Sunset Life Insurance Building today (2012), photo by Deb Ross What we now call the Sunset Life Insurance Building was constructed in about 1922 and originally used as a garage. It was built…
Location: 3138 Capitol Blvd SE Wohleb, Mid-Century Modern Velodrome at Carlyon Park, 1890-1900 Photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Sunset Life building today (2012) Photo from Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation The boundary between Olympia and Tumwater on Capitol Boulevard was not fully determined until well into the 20th century. Just before the…
Location: 118 8th St SE Sylvester Mansion 1860-1870 Photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Site of Sylvester Mansion today (2012)Photo courtesy of Deb Ross Edmund Sylvester co-founded the City of Olympia and platted its downtown in 1848. At first living in a log cabin, he began building his mansion in 1857, hiring local craftsman…
Location: 615 Washington St SE National Downtown Historic District, State Register, National Register, Local Register; Women’s History Sylvester Park 1895-1904 Photo from Digital Archives Sylvester Park today (2009) Photo Courtesy of Laura Killian When Olympia founder Edmund Sylvester founded and platted the city, he was careful to include plans that would re-create the New England…
Location: 601 Capitol Way S and 115 Legion Way SW Downtown National Historic District Talcott Apartments, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Talcott Apartments and Commercial Buildings today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Talcott Apartments and Commercial Buildings are a complex consisting of a two story brick building that faces Capitol Way at the corner…
Location: 606 Columbia St SW Downtown National Historic District Talcott Commercial Building-Columbia Street, 1964, Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Talcott Commercial Building-Columbia Street today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This is part of a complex of buildings erected over a period of several decades by the Talcott family near the intersection of Legion Way and…
Location: 208 18th Ave SW Local Register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood; Women’s history Tamblin/Meyer House from Tumwater Lumber Mills catalog, around 1924, City of Olympia Heritage Register Application Tamblin/Meyer House today (2021), City of Olympia Heritage Register Application The Tamblin/Meyer House, like many in the South Capitol neighborhood, was one of the Tumwater Lumber…
Location: 2003 Capitol Way S Local Register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood George and Addie Talcott House 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives George and Addie Talcott House today (2013), photograph by Deb Ross The Talcott family were early arrivals in Olympia and established Talcott jewelers downtown, an establishment that lasted over 100 years.…
Location: 420 Capitol Way S Local Register, National Downtown Historical District, Wohleb Talcott’s Jewelers, 1964, Thurston County Assessor’s photograph from Southwest Regional Archives Talcott’s building today (2011), photo by Deborah Ross Charles Talcott came west with his father in 1872 and immediately opened a small jewelry store, housed in a wooden building. His brothers Grant…
Location: 802 Jefferson St. SE Religious communities, Diversity: Jewish heritage, Popular culture Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 1985, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation K Records today (2013) photo by Deb Ross Jewish families began arriving in Olympia in 1853 or earlier, and have continued to play important roles in all aspects of Thurston County and Olympia…
Location: 415 12th Ave SW Washington State Capitol National Historic District; Diversity: African-Americans Temple of Justice, 1929, Susan Parish Photograph Collection, Digital Archives Temple of Justice today (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly The Temple of Justice was the first building to be constructed on Capitol Campus following the original Wilder and White plan. It was…
Location: 416 Sid Snyder Ave NW Washington State Capitol National Historic District Territorial Capitol at statehood, 1889, Photo from Digital Archives Legislative Building today (2012), Photo from Wikimedia Commons The first purpose-built legislative building was located at the far southern end of then-Main Street (now Capitol Way), at a location that now houses Capitol Campus. At the…
Location: 1601 Sylvester St SW South Capitol National Historic District Titus (Smith Troy) House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Titus (Smith Troy) House today (2015), Photo by Deb Ross The Titus House lies at the far northwest corner of the South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood, and adjacent to Capitol Campus. It has been characterized as the…
Location: 403 17th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol Neighborhood National Historic District Todd House, 1939, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Todd House today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Todd House was built by Charles and Jessie Smith Todd about 1912. Todd was a pastor of the Methodist Church. The house is an…
Location: 702 Boundary St SE Tracey House, 1939, Thurston County assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Tracey House today (2010), photo by Deb Ross The Tracey House is described in the City of Olympia’s inventory as “one of the most outstanding resources on the East Side.” It was built in about 1890, in an elaborate Queen Anne style. The…
Location: 105 Columbia St NW Downtown National Historic District; Wohleb? Transit-Columbia Building, 1984, City of Olympia Planning Department collection, Washington State Archives Transit-Columbia Bakery Building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The building is a well preserved and maintained example of early commercial architecture in downtown Olympia. It is not on the local register, but…
Location: 316 17th Ave SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District Treat House, 1938, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Treat House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Albert M. Treat, a well known early doctor, built this home in 1937. Many physicians built homes in the South Capitol neighborhood in the early 20th century,…
Location: 113 17th St SE Local register, South Capitol National Historic District Troy House, 1939, photo from Thurston County Assessor, Washington State Archives Troy House today (2010) photograph by Deb Ross This understated yet comfortable and elegant Queen Anne cottage was the home of Preston M. Troy, who graduated from the Olympia Collegiate Institute…
Location: 610 and 612 4th Ave E Transportation; Popular culture Tresner Auto and Anderson Auto buildings, 1965, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Tresner Auto and Anderson Auto buildings today (2015), photo by Deb Ross At the advent of the automobile age, state planners began to see the need for “good roads” (a term of art) to…
Location: 521 Capitol Way S Olympia Downtown Historical District, Diversity: Chinese heritage; mid-Century modern Peterfield Turpin house, 1891, Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue, Washington State Library Site today (2012), Photo by Deborah Ross In 1879, the Bird’s Eye View of Olympia (link below) shows that Town Square, now Sylvester Park, was almost entirely surrounded by residences. The…
Location: 601 4th Ave E mid-Century modern (Safeway Building) Union Block 1894, Image courtesy of Washington State Historical Society City Hall today (2012), Photo by Matthew Kennelly The two photographs above dramatically illustrate the transformation wrought by the succession of fills that have shaped Olympia over the years. This location is between Chestnut and Cherry Streets on…
Location: 407 4th Ave E Transportation Union Pacific Depot, 1925, courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Union Pacific Depot building today (2013), photo by Deb Ross The Union Pacific Depot building was built in 1916 when a 7 mile UP spur was brought to downtown Olympia. Although it carried some passengers, its primary cargo was bound for…
Location: Southwest corner 9th and Franklin Religious institutions, Popular culture Unitarian Church, 1891, drawing by Edward Lange, from Olympia Tribune Souvenir Issue, Washington State Library Parking lot of First Baptist (2013), photo by Deb Ross Yet another “paved Paradise” in downtown Olympia, this was once the site of the Unitarian Church. The church originally met in a…
Location: 110 Eleventh Ave SE Religious institutions United Churches of Olympia, around 1960, United Churches of Olympia collection United Churches of Olympia today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The United Churches of Olympia is a federated congregation of the First Congregational Church of Olympia and the First Presbyterian Church of Olympia. Both of these institutions are…
Location: 107 Capitol Way N Downtown National Historic District Van Epps Building, ca. 1895, Courtesy Washington State Historical Society Van Epps building today (2014), photo by Deb Ross Theodore C. Van Epps arrived in Olympia in 1870 and soon went into partnership with Samuel Woodruff and his stepfather A.J. Burr to run a stationery and…
Location: 124 Foote St. NW Local register Van Etten House 1957, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Van Etten House today (2013), photograph by Deb Ross The Van Etten, or Justice Clyde Jeffers, house, was built in 1938 in an unusual combination of French eclectic and English Revival styles. It was constructed by local builder…
Location: 321 17th Ave SE Local register; South Capitol National Historic Neighborhood Vance House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Vance House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross This English Revival style home was built around 1925 for Thomas and Gertrude Vance. Thomas Vance was an attorney, practicing in the same firm as Frank…
Location: 500 Capitol Way S Local Register, National Historic Downtown District, Wohleb Musgrove Shoe Store about 1917, Image courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Walker Building today (2012), Photo by Matthew Kennelly Built in 1917 on one of the most important corners in downtown Olympia, the Walker Building is typical of commercial structures that were being built…
Location: 317 4th Ave E Local Register; Popular culture Olympia Vocational Technical Institute, from South Puget Sound Community College website Ward Building today (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly The buildings leading eastward on Fourth Avenue from the core of downtown Olympia remained solidly retail-oriented up to the bridge to Swantown in the early 1900s. In 1928…
Location: 137 Sherman St NW Local register, Women’s history Samuel Ward House, 1970, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Samuel Ward House today (2009), photo by Deb Ross The Samuel Ward House was built by a member of the pioneer Ward family, who owned a lumber mill on the Deschutes River in Tumwater. The home was built…
Location: 432 Rogers St NW local register, Rogers Street Historic District Ward Levenhagen House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Ward Levenhagen House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Ward Levenhagen House is one of five homes on Rogers Street Northwest that were built about the same time by Tumwater Lumber Mills (TLM). TLM was…
Location: 1801 4th Ave E Warmoth House, 1966, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Warmoth House today (2015), photo by Deb Ross The Warmoth House was erected by George Warmoth, a railroad freight operator, in 1910. It is built in an interesting and unique combination of Prairie and Craftsman styles, earning it a place in Olympia’s inventory. It…
Location: 202 9th Ave SW Warnica and Warnica Building, 1966, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Warnica and Warnica Building today (2015), photo by Deb Ross This building was erected as a mortuary by A.O. Warnica and his son Earl, in 1923. The Warnicas arrived here in 1905. Except for the enclosing in of the diagonal porch…
Location: 512 Washington St SE Downtown National Historic District; Popular culture Liberty Theatre, ca. 1935, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives, photo by V. Jeffers Washington Center for the Performing Arts today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Liberty Theatre was erected about 1924 by the Reed-Ingham Company, which was owned by Thomas M. Reed and…
Location: 825 Capitol Way SE Schools, Religious Institutions, Women’s History; mid-Century modern Providence Academy, 1943. Jeffers, Susan Parish Photograph Collections, Washington State Archives Washington Mutual Building today (2014), Photo by Deb Ross The following text is excerpted from a history of Providence from their archives website, linked below. The Sisters of Providence established Providence St. Amable Academy, Olympia,…
Location: 221 Washington Street NE (corner of Olympia and Washington) The Washington Standard Building as it appeared around 1870 photograph from Digital Archives Site today (2011), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross John Miller Murphy, prolific, opinionated, long-lived editor of the Washington Standard, came to Olympia with his sister in 1851 and, having learned the printing trade…
Location: 520 Union Ave SE mid-Century modern First home of Washington State Employees Credit Union, 1968, Susan Parish Collection, Washington State Archives First home of Washington State Employees Credit Union today (now Secretary of State) (2012) photograph by Matt Kennelly The following description of this building is taken from Michael Houser’s submission to the “What Was…
Location: 415 15th Ave SW mid-Century modern; State and National registers Washington State Library (Joel Pritchard) Building, around 1959, Hugh Stratford Photograph, State Library Collection, Digital Archives State Library building today (2014), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The Joel Pritchard building was the first and only structure erected specifically to house the Washington State Library collection. It…
Location: 700 Capitol Way N Popular Culture, Diversity: Scandinavians Washington Veneer 1924-1930 photograph from Digital Archives Farmer’s Market today (2012), Photo courtesy of Matthew Kennelly With the completion of the Carlyon Fill in 1911, the port area of Olympia was able to accommodate dramatic industrial growth. The Olympia Veneer Company was founded in 1921 as a…
Location: near 1605 Eastside Street Pump Station, Olympia Waterworks, early 20th century watercolor by Edward Lange, City of Olympia Watershed Park with remnant of pumping facility today (2012), photo by Deb Ross According to the City of Olympia’s website, the vast majority of water in Olympia historically came from the Moxlie Creek Springs Basin,…
Location: 718 Governor Stevens Ave SE Local register Watkins House, 1939, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Watkins House today (2014), photo by Deb Ross In the early 1920s, Olof Anderson, one of the brothers who owned Tumwater Lumber Mills, platted this part of Olympia out of the original plat created by Kate Stevens Bates…
Location: 1102 State Ave NE Local register Weatherbie House, 1937, Thurston County Assessor’s files, Washington State Archives Southwest Region Weatherbie House now (2012), photo by Deborah Ross The George and Jessie Weatherbie house on State Avenue was built in 1925. It is an example of the bungalow style that was common in Olympia at the…
Location: 915 Capitol Way S local register; Wohleb; transportation Rear view of Weidner Auto Court, on 10th Avenue, 1965, Thurston County Assessor, Southwest Regional Archives Weidner Auto Court buildings today (2014), photo by Deb Ross The Pacific Highway in Washington State was designated in 1910, at the advent of the automobile age, to connect the cities of…
Location: 116 4th Ave W Downtown National Historic District, Diversity: Chinese Heritage; Wohleb Van Epps store in 1880s, photograph courtesy of Washington State Historical Society Great Cuisine of India and Ben Moore’s restaurant today (2012), Photograph courtesy of Deb Ross The first block west on Fourth Avenue has always been an important part of the downtown…
Location: 115 18th Ave. SW Local register; South Capitol National Historic District No vintage photograph is available of this home; if you have one to share please contact us (Thurston County assessor photograph appears to be different home) Welty House today (2013) photo by Deb Ross The Welty House was built around 1907 and is…
Location: 703 Rogers NW Religious communities, Schools West Side Chapel, 1961, courtesy Washington State Historical Society West Side chapel today (2012) , photograph by Deb Ross The West Side Chapel was founded in 1891, when West Olympia was growing rapidly. It was associated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a movement devoted to building…
