News – Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum

Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum Seeks Applicants for the Roger Easton History Grant

September 18, 2023

The Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum will award a $2000 history grant along with a $500 teacher stipend in 2024, provided by funds from long-time Thurston County Teacher Roger Easton. Eligible applicants are K-12 teachers, student teachers, administrators, or classroom professionals in accredited schools in Thurston County.

The successful applicant will use grant funds for securing curriculum/classroom materials, training such as classes or conferences, developing curriculum materials or related purposes, or history programs or events. The projects or training must be related to Washington state history or the Northwest region. Extra consideration will be given to proposals which address the history of Thurston County. Projects should meet Washington State Standards for Social Studies.

Deadlines, application and other information are available here. Questions about the grant should be sent to olyhistory@gmail.com.

Summer Event–August 26, 2023

August 24, 2023

Join OHS & BHM Board Member Paul Parker for a tour of the Bigelow Neighorhood beginning at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Bigelow House. The 45-minute tour involves significant walking.

The Bigelow House is also hosting an Equality Day Commemoration on August 26, 2023 beginning at 11:30 am at the Bigelow House. August 26, 1920 was the day that the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution for women’s voting rights was signed into law. Costumed suffragists will be present along with the opportunity to register to vote, courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Thurston County.

We also will be remembering the 60th anniversary of the milestone March on Washington, a highlight of which was Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Visitors can also enjoy a brief “Suffrage Highlights Tour” inside the Bigelow House every 15 minutes from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Suggested donation is $5.00.

Summer Tour Event–August 26, 2023

July 20, 2023

Join OHS & BHM Board Member Paul Parker for a tour of the Bigelow Neighborhood beginning at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Bigelow House. The 45-minute tour involves significant walking.

Tour goers will return to the Bigelow House to enjoy a celebration of Equality Day—August 26, 1920 was the day that the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution for women’s voting rights was signed into law. Costumed suffragists will be present along with the opportunity to register to vote, courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Thurston County, to be followed by a brief Suffrage Highlights Tour inside the Bigelow House. Suggested donation is $5.00.

Bigelow House Museum Now Open for Tours

June 26, 2023

The updated and revitalized Bigelow House Museum will open for visitors starting June 4, 2023 on the first two Sundays of every month at 1, 2, and 3 pm. All tours will be limited to 10 people each and visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Admission is $5.00 for adults; $4.00 for seniors and students and $2.00 for children under 18 with a maximum of $15.00 per family. Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum members have free admission. Visitors will see all of the upstairs and downstairs of the house as well as new displays and decor.

Join us for an Evening with Dick Pust on June 29th at Harbor House

May 30, 2023

The Olympia Historical Society-Bigelow House Museum (OHS & BHM) invites all to enjoy a program by longtime KGY radio host and South Sound personality icon Dick Pust. He will present his program on Thursday evening, June 29th at 6:30 pm at the Harbor House on Percival Landing. Pust will share his memories, stories, and photographs, drawing from his recently published book AM 1240: Life at a Small Town Radio Station.

Seating at the Harbor House is limited to 25. Admission to the program is free but donations are encouraged to support the work of sharing and preserving local history by the OHS & BHM. For questions email us at olyhistory@gmail.com

HELP US SOLVE A LOCAL HISTORY MYSTERY: THE KGY TIRE PRANK OF 1973

May 29, 2023

Whodunit? The Olympia Historical Society-Bigelow House Museum (OHS-BHM) is seeking help to solve a 50 year-old local mystery of who pranked radio station KGY during the early morning hours of June 5, 1973?

Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum Seeks Applicants for the Roger Easton History Grant
The Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum will award a $2000 history grant along with a $500 teacher stipend in 2024, provided by funds from long-time Thurston County Teacher Roger Easton. Eligible applicants are K-12 teachers, student teachers, administrators, or classroom professionals in accredited schools in Thurston County. The successful applicant will use grant…
September 18, 2023
Summer Event–August 26, 2023
Join OHS & BHM Board Member Paul Parker for a tour of the Bigelow Neighorhood beginning at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Bigelow House. The 45-minute tour involves significant walking. The Bigelow House is also hosting an Equality Day Commemoration on August 26, 2023 beginning at 11:30 am at the Bigelow…
August 24, 2023
Summer Tour Event–August 26, 2023
July 20, 2023

Michael T. Simmons – 9/24/23
Throughout 2023 we’ll be exploring the origins of area place names. Simmons Street, in Olympia, is named for the Simmons family, early settlers in Thurston County. Michael and Elizabeth Kindred Simmons arrived in Thurston County in 1845, as part of the Simmons-Bush Party. Simmons and others had interests in mills on the Deschutes River in…
September 24, 2023
Clarence Martin – 9/17/23
Throughout 2023 we’ll be exploring the origins of area place names. Martin Way was named for Washington State Governor Clarence Martin, pictured here. He served from 1933 to 1941. Governor Martin was on hand when the road was dedicated in 1937; it became an important component of the Washington State segment of the Pacific Coast…
September 17, 2023
Lydia Hawk – 9/10/23
Throughout 2023 we’ll be exploring the origins of area place names. Hawks Prairie is named for early Lacey settlers John and Sarah Hawk and their children. Lydia Hawk Elementary School in Lacey is named for John and Sarah’s daughter, pictured here. Image selected and captioned by Deborah Ross on behalf of the Olympia Historical Society…
September 10, 2023