Geographic

The Olympia Trolley System of Olympia Light and Power Company

Map of the Olympia Trolley System of the Olympia Light and Power company, excerpted from James Hannum, Gone But Not Forgotten: Abandoned Railroads of Thurston County. Reproduced by permission of James Hannum.

Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum Annual Membership Meeting
December 19, 2025
Preserving a Living Memorial to Our Veterans
November 8, 2-4pm, Madison Elementary School gym Mark your calendar for this free community event. We will learn about the history of the Legion Way trees from historian Jennifer Crooks,…
October 10, 2025
Equality Day at the Bigelow House August 24, 2025 from 1 to 4 pm
Visit the Bigelow House for a special event commemorating women’s voting rights. The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was certified in August 1920 empowering most women nationally to vote.…
August 11, 2025

Carlton Hotel – 4/12/26
Looking Back’s theme for 2026 is Downtown by the Decades. In 1902 Asahel Curtis and William Romans photographed several important buildings and locations in downtown Olympia. Pictured here is the…
April 13, 2026
Masonic Temple – 4/5/26
Looking Back’s theme for 2026 is Downtown by the Decades. In 1902, photographer A.D. Rogers took this photograph to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Olympia Lodge #1…
April 5, 2026
Paving Fourth Avenue – 3/29/26
Looking Back’s theme for 2026 is Downtown by the Decades. The early 20th century brought demands for better road surfaces for bicycles and early automobiles. In 1909 the city finally…
March 29, 2026