First Congregational Church in 1878

Throughout 2021 the Sunday Olympian’s Looking Back feature portrayed events and people from the Sylvester’s Window cityscape project. Religious communities have always played an important role in the life of our residents. First Congregational church, pictured here at its first location on 9^th and Capitol (out of view in the 1874 cityscape), was the fifth church to be organized in Olympia. The congregation still exists, part of the federated United Churches of Olympia. 

1878 photograph, courtesy Washington State Historical Society, catalog C1959.8.6

Text © Deborah Ross and The Olympian 2021