Welcome to the Olympia Tumwater Foundation

What We Do

Founded in 1950, the non-profit Olympia Tumwater Foundation (OTF) honors both the history and future of Thurston County through its commitment to a wide range of community projects including student scholarships, historic preservation, and stewardship of Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls and the historic Schmidt House.

Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls

The most ambitious project undertaken by OTF was construction in 1962 of a 15-acre park along the falls of the Deschutes River. Today, it is a popular tourist destination with over 250,000 annual visitors!

Scholarships & Grants

Since awarding its first college scholarship in 1967, OTF has given more than $2.4 million in scholarships and grants and helped hundreds of students pursue undergraduate degrees.

The Schmidt House

Built by Olympia Brewing Co. founder Leopold Schmidt in 1904, the elegant Schmidt House contains the extensive Olympia Brewing Co. archives and history program offices. Take a guided tour with our Schmidt House curator, or rent the house for your event!

Support our programs

Created by the Olympia Brewing Company to conduct their philanthropic efforts, our organization aims to enrich our local community through a variety of programs. 

Latest Projects

The Tumwater Falls Video Series

Your support makes amazing projects, like this video series, possible!

In 2023, working in conjunction with the City of Tumwater through their LTAC funding program, we collaborated with local videography company RAPT to produce a series of promotional videos of Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls. These videos took hours of filming, editing, and production time.  We are incredibly excited to share them with you! We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Resources & Announcements

Newsletter

Read about the what we’ve been up to here at the foundation, and what’s coming next!

Summer at the Schmidt: August 9

Break out the pearls, pinstripes, and your best Rat Pack swagger—Summer at the Schmidt is bringing vintage glam to the garden on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the historic Schmidt House.

Hiring Now for a Project Manager!

At the Olympia Tumwater Foundation, we’re writing the next chapter in a legacy that blends natural beauty, historic preservation, education, and community inspiration. Our new Project Manager will play a central role in delivering high-impact initiatives that advance our mission — from invigorating Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls to expanding educational programs and engaging with the community. This individual will manage multiple projects, engage deeply with partners and stakeholders, and help us bring inspiring ideas to life!

 

Historic Photos of Tumwater

Explore the history of the Tumwater area through vintage photos. In 2020, OTF was awarded a grant from the Thurston County Historic Commission. This grant allowed OTF to digitize over 4,400 images from its collection. From time to time, more photos will be added to our website. Our expansive archives are in the process of being digitized. This means anyone curious about Tumwater’s past can browse through a catalogue of incredible photographs. 

Sign Up For Our Monthly E-Newsletter!

Receive news and stories from the Olympia Tumwater Foundation in your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Please select:

Request a Free Copy of Our Brochure!