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For many generations the area now known as Olympia was a favorite shellfish gathering site for Coastal Salish tribes, including the Nisqually, Duwamish and Squaxin.
In 1850, the town of Olympia was platted by the first american settler, Edmund Sylvester. The Maine native laid out a New England style community with a town square, tree lined streets, land for schools, and a Masonic Hall.
The name of Olympia was selected by Isaac N. Ebey, a local resident, in honor of the majestic Olympic mountains visible to the north on a clear day.
With an economic engine fueled to a great extent by state government activity, Olympia - the Capital City of Washington State - enjoys the benefits of a stable work force, engaged and educated community, and well-supported school system.
Mild winters and pleasantly warm summers make the Olympia area an ideal place for outdoor recreation. In Olympia, you can "get out of town" without even leaving the city. Public trails lead to saltwater beaches where native americans once met for potlatches, through woods thick with big-leaf maples and towering Douglas firs. Salmon return to Budd Inlet each fall and run the ladder under the 5th Avenue Bridge.
Olympia's strategic geographic location along Interstate 5 at the gateway to the Olympic Penisula, puts one within two hours or less of regional recreational attractions - from hiking and skiing in the mountains to beachcombing along ocean shores.
Banner picture: Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation employees participate in wellness day activities by kayaking on Capitol Lake in downtown Olympia.
Photo courtesy: Jonathon Turlove, Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department.