Olympia

Olympia has been the capital of the State of Washington since 1853. Twelve acres of captivating grounds make for a campus blending history and beauty with centerpieces like the Old Capitol Building and the Legislative Building. The first was built in 1892, the second in 1928. Area museums add to Olympia’s historical charm. Some noteworthy ones are Bigelow House, Lord Museum, Handerson House and Crosby House (originally the home of singer Bing Crosby’s grandparents).Nearby Lacey is proud of Lacey Museum. It’s also home to St. Martin’s University, formerly a Catholic school and monastery.

Both Olympia and Lacey have experienced considerable growth. Olympia has over 43,000 residents while Lacey follows with 33,000. A third town closely associated with them, Tumwater, has 12,950 citizens.

Around 1000 artists and about 100 art organizations call Olympia home. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts lures the world’s finest artists here. Olympia has a chamber orchestra and a symphony orchestra. At The Sidedoor Studio aspiring artists can recieve hands-on instruction. Art lovers enjoy the State of the Arts Gallery, Arthouse Designs and Van Tuinen Art.

Some Olympia parks with visitor appeal are Heritage Park Fountain, Percival Landing Waterfront Park, Priest Point Park and Sylvester Park. Tumwater Falls and its historic park are not far away.

Olympia features a wide variety of specialty shops and a mind-boggling number of good restaurants. Casinos are popular in Olympia, Lacy and nearby Rochester and Shelton. Lodging choices include campgrounds and marinas since Olympia finds Puget Sound at its door.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy in this charming city that can serve as a base for visiting other interesting small towns and cities in Southwestern Washington.

Thank you Shirley Dever for the information!