Moody Collection

Society and Museum Board Member Dwight Moody has generously agreed to allow us to share some of his extensive postcard collection on our website. These represent rarely-seen images of Olympia and add to our understanding of our history and heritage. Many will be also linked on our Where Are We? and Who Are We? pages. Click on the image to see a larger view.

Chalet Priest Point Park

Carnegie Library;

William Billings home

William Billings home

Bailey Motel

Bailey Motel

Capital Way looking north pre earthquake

YMCA

Woodmen of the World Parade on 4th front of Bettman Block

Westside Mill log boom

West Olympia with NP Depot and 4th Ave Bridge

Washington looking north with Liberty Theatre

View from Old State Capitol looking north

Temple of Justice after facing

Tate Henry Rogers store interior

Sylvester Park pond with Old State Capitol

Sloan Shipyard Port of Olympia

Providence Academy

OysterHouseDining Interior

Olympia Oyster House

Olympia Oyster House

Oyster House at night

Olympia High School first location with Territorial Capitol

Olympia from West Side Little Hollywood

Pacific Lutheran Seminary (Olympia Collegiate Institute)

Pacific Lutheran Seminary (Olympia Collegiate Institute)

Northern Pacific depot with water tower

Log booms Westside Mill dup

Log Boom Olympia

Kneeland Hotel

Kneeland Hotel

Hotel Olympian Dining Room dup

Downtown from Old State Capitol colorized

Deschutes Estuary with log boom

City Hall Plum Street dup

Acme Theater

Acme Theater

4th Ave with Opera House and Rabeck Store

4th ave looking west from top of Opera House

4th and Capitol looking south with post

4th and Capitol looking east post earthquake pre rehab of Chambers Block

William Billings home

William Billings home

YMCA (2)

1900 The Olympia Hotel Cabinet Card

Legislative Building repair – William Conser – 6/8/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. William B. Conser was a photographer for the Olympian who captured many events and people, including an historic series that documented the destruction caused by the 1949 earthquake. Shown here is the elaborate scaffolding and tramway erected to repair the lantern…
June 8, 2025
William Conser – 6/1/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. The 1935 Olympia High School yearbook notes that William P. Conser, pictured here, was involved with journalism as early as high school. He became a photographer for the Olympian and captured many events and people, including an historic series that documented…
June 1, 2025
State Patrol by Merle Junk – 5/25/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. Merle Junk, a product of the Olympia school system, turned to photography early in his life. He was prolific and well-respected. He captured images of legislators, local events, and places, often for promotional purposes. This image from 1950, possibly a promotional…
May 25, 2025