Vibert Jeffers photograph, 1937, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives
When the state acquired the Old State Capitol Building in 1902, it was apparent that downtown accommodations were inadequate to house all of the legislators, lobbyists and others during legislative session. After much delay, the five-story Hotel Olympian was built in 1918 directly to the north of Sylvester Park. It was said that more business was transacted in the spacious lobby of the hotel than in the Capitol Building itself. Photograph selected and captioned by Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. For more information, visit olympiahistory.org.