Bigelow House

Daniel R. Bigelow claimed and was granted 160 acres under the Oregon Donation Land Law.  The property included a spring which remains flowing on the property.  Daniel and his wife established the “Bigelow Orchard” and raised a variety of crops and livestock, according to early agricultural census records.  The property had a variety of outbuildings but only one remains. The Bigelows exhibited produce at local fairs and were mentioned in early newspaper articles about their crops.  In later life Ann Elizabeth with her family were noted for the “show place” at their home which included naturalized daffodils and tulips, dahlias and especially roses.  Ann Elizabeth exhibited the prize-wining roses at the local Rose Carnival. Many of the featured photos show the family in the garden, especially during the height of the blooming season and their enjoyment of the property.

Daffodil Path/ Three Women, Bigelow House

Ann Elizabeth Bigelow in garden

Two unidentified women with Ann Elizabeth Bigelow in front garden.

Two views: Unidentified woman and man with Bigelow House roses.

Two views of Bigelow Yard: Top: Ann Elizabeth Bigelow seated with unidentified woman. Bottom: Unidentified woman with daffodils.

Unidentified woman with Ann Elizabeth Bigelow with garden of tulips and daffodils.

Bigelow House Garden and Family ca. 1904. Pictured L-R: Unknown, Unknown, Ruth Bigelow Wright; Ann ElizabethBigelow, Margaret Bigelow

Bigelow House from garden looking west across Budd Inlet

Digitization and posting of these images from the Bigelow House Collection funded through the Pendleton & Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation.

©Bigelow House Museum Collections,  Copyright Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. No commercial use of images permitted. Contact olyhistory@gmail.com for rights information

The Bigelow House, listed on local, state and national registers of historic places, was built by 1860 and is a fine example of the Carpenter Gothic style.  The house, which was restored in the 1990s, retains the signature elements of the style on the exterior.  The house interior features authentic furnishings and artwork as well as the records of the long residence of the Bigelow family.  Focused on the territorial period of Washington, the house includes elements the continued residency of the family to 2005.  The house is open to the public for docent guided tours.  The photographs in this collection, on this and other pages, show both the interior and exterior of the house and grounds over the years.

Bigelow House—West Side

South view of Bigelow House

Daffodil Path/ Three Women, Bigelow House

View of West side of the Bigelow House showing garden (Image reversed?), about 1910

Ann Elizabeth Bigelow outside Bigelow House near sw porch with unidentified child.

See also Bigelow House in Where Are We? feature; The Story of the Bigelow House

Digitization and posting of these images from the Bigelow House Collection funded through the Pendleton & Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation.

©Bigelow House Museum Collections,  Copyright Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. No commercial use of images permitted. Contact olyhistory@gmail.com for rights information