Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum

08/23/2026

Looking Back’s theme for 2026 is Downtown by the Decades. On September 15, 1967, an era came to an end with the closing of the iconic Mottman’s Mercantile department store, located at 4th and Capitol. Shown here, in a photo taken shortly before, is the ground floor of the store, looking down from the balcony where George Mottman presided until he was well into his 80s. The building still exists. The August issue of the Thurston County Historical Journal includes an article about Geoge Mottmand and the Mottman Mercantile.

08/20/2026

Looking forward to seeing the Parthia in person!

08/17/2026

Anyone recognize this place? It’s from the Bigelow family photograph collection and appears to be a copy of an older photo.

08/16/2026

Looking Back’s theme for 2026 is Downtown by the Decades. The China Clipper, now the Clipper Cafe, is an iconic establishment in downtown Olympia. In this photograph from 1963, owner CY Wong is at work in the restaurant’s kitchen. The Clipper was one of the businesses destroyed in the Great Train Wreck of 1959, but was rebuilt within a year and continued to be a popular source of Chinese cuisine. Photograph selected and captioned by Deborah Ross on behalf of the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. For more information see olympiahistory.org. Daily Olympian photo, 1963

08/14/2026

Raise the Roof for Parthia

Parthia is moving, but the work isn’t finished.

On August 18, the historic 1906 tugboat Parthia will make an important move to her new permanent home next to the Olympia Farmers Market.

It’s a major milestone in a remarkable preservation effort, but getting Parthia into place is only part of the job.

Funding is still needed to build the protective roof that will shelter Parthia from the weather and help preserve her for generations to come.

The move gets Parthia home.
Your support helps Raise the Roof.

Help us complete the next critical phase of this project by making a contribution today.

Support the Raise the Roof campaign at MaritimeOly.org.

08/13/2026

08/13/2026

Please join us this Friday for the festivities! We’ll be celebrating the cultural and ecological restoration of the Deschutes Estuary with songs, dances, food, and a variety of vendors.

It will be a wonderful opportunity to come together, celebrate, and enjoy the day. There will be plenty to see, hear, and experience, and it’s sure to be a lot of fun.

I hope to see you there!

08/11/2026

The Bigelow House Museum is open for tours every Sunday from 1:00-4:00 pm. We are also open by appointment for a slightly higher admission fee of $10 adult, $7 senior or student. Email [email protected] or send us a Facebook message to arrange a tour at your convenience. We would love to see you!

08/09/2026

🎬🌟 OURstory in the Park Presents: Cinema in the Park 🌟🎬

📍 Rebecca Howard Park | Olympia, Washington
911 Adams st SE, Olympia, WA 98501

Join for an unforgettable evening of film, conversation, and community at Rebecca Howard Park.

📅 Saturday, August 15
🕕 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

The Wiz - starring Diana Ross and Micheal Jackson
📍 Rebecca Howard Park | Olympia, Washington

Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, family, and friends as we gather under the Olympia evening sky to celebrate Black stories, culture, and community through the power of film.

Cinema in the Park is more than a movie night—Remember those Drive- in Movie Nights???. This is an opportunity to come together, reflect, learn, dance and celebrate the stories that shape our communities. Before the feature presentation, enjoy music, community connection, opportunities to engage with neighbors and win prizes for best Wiz costume .

This event is part of OUR story in the Park: Black Arts, Heritage, and Community, a series that activates Rebecca Howard Park through arts, storytelling, history, and cultural experiences inspired by the legacy of Black pioneer Rebecca Howard.

✨ Admission is FREE and everyone is welcome.

Bring:
🎥 Lawn chairs or blankets
🍿 Your favorite movie snacks or picnic dinner
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family and friends
❤️ A spirit of community and Your Best Custome

Together, we are creating a space where stories are shared, history is honored, and community comes together in joy.

📲 Follow for updates, film announcements, and event details:
Instagram • Facebook • Threads: .community

Please Like • Follow • Share and help spread the word throughout Thurston County!

OURstory in the park
Your Blackness is Welcome.
We Were Here Before the State.

08/09/2026

Looking Back’s theme for 2026 is Downtown by the Decades. Shown here in a photo from 1962 is a new Mercury Comet station wagon at Kearns Motor, located on Cherry Street. The name reflected the fascination with the space race. The showroom demonstrated the versatility of the wagon, with camping gear and sleeping bags on display. Image selected and captioned by Deborah Ross on behalf of the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum, https://olympiahistory.org.