Olympia, Washington

Washington’s State Capital City

With 46,000 people In Olympia and another 60,000 in Tumwater-Lacey district, the area consists of about 100,000 people. It is located west 3 hours from Leavenworth and 5 hours from Walla Walla.

Olympia is Washington’s state capital. Situated high on a knoll overlooking Capital Lake and Puget Sound, the Legislative Building can be seen from anywhere. One of the most magnificent state capital buildings in the nation, the dome rises 287 feet and is the tallest masonry dome in North America. The campus grounds include 50 beautifully landscaped acres, noted for its spectacular bulbs and annual plantings, large old trees including the governor’s house and six other buildings.

Olympia Washington ©TheDigitalTraveler.com

A visit to the Washington State Capitol Campus isn’t complete without a guided tour of the Legislative Building. These free, walking tours are offered daily and typically last about 50 minutes. You can also wander the campus and take in the memorials, gardens, and statues featured on the grounds.

Firth Tallest Masonry dome

The massive dome is the fifth tallest masonry dome on the planet, meaning that the rocks hold themselves in place without reinforcement. The list of the five tallest domes: St. Peter’s, Rome, 446 feet;
St. Paul’s, London, 355 feet;
Global Vipassana Pagoda, Mumbai, 315 feet;
Duomo, Florence, Italy, 295 feet;
Washington State Capitol, 287 feet.

The U.S. Capitol in Washington DC is 302 feet but is steel reinforced (not masonry).

Winged Victory World War 1 Memorial

Olympia Washington Winged Victory ©TheDigitalTraveler.com

The statue above is Winged Victory, a World War I Memorial completed in 1938 by Alonzo Victor Lewis consisting of four uniformed figures standing on a granite pedestal eclipsed by a fifth figure depicting the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The bronze inscription on the front: ” To the Memory of the Citizens of the State of Washington who lost their lives in the service of the United Sates during World War 1917-1918.”

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In 1853, after Olympia became the capital city of the Washington Territory, the city’s founder, Edmund Sylvester, gave the legislature 12 acres of land on a hill overlooking Capital Lake.

Biking Puget Sound: Nothing beats riding a bike on a sunny day, and this popular cycling guidebook has been lovingly updated with more fun than ever. As with the first edition, author Bill Thorness includes interesting sights, delicious break stops, and other novelties along the routes to make your outings more than just a sum of the miles ridden. Click here for more info.

The downtown has many historical buildings and shops to browse, lakes and parks throughout the city, restaurants along its wharf, fresh fish markets and a boardwalk to stroll.