Throughout 2021 the Sunday Olympian’s Looking Back feature portrayed events and people from the Sylvester’s Window cityscape project. The 1899 cityscape features the beautiful building that graces the east side of Sylvester Park. It was built in 1892 to serve as the Thurston County Courthouse. It was acquired by the State of Washington and served as the Legislative Building for a time, hence its denomination as the Old State Capitol building. It is now the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The clock tower shown in this photo burned in 1928; several turrets were lost in the 1949 earthquake.
Jeffers photograph, State Library collection, image AR-07809001-ph000339
Text © Deborah Ross and The Olympian 2021