Tumwater Artesian Brewfest
The Olympia Tumwater Foundation will be there!!!
Guided Tumwater History Walking Tours at Tumwater Falls Park: The new season has begun
Are you ready for a historic adventure? The Olympia Tumwater Foundation’s “Heritage Builders” program invites you to a free guided walk through history with local historian and Public History Manager, Don Trosper. The 2016 weekly tours are offered every Thursday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 now through September 15. You’ll begin at the Falls Park…
DetailsIN CASE OF NUCLEAR ATTACK, DRINK THIS BEER
In its November 1961 company newsletter, the Olympia Brewing Company reacted to the threat of nuclear war by volunteering its plant and facilities to the Civilian Defense program, “should this area be subject to bombing. In the event of any attack, providing, of course, that the plant is not seriously damaged, we believe that with…
DetailsOur Congressman Loves Local History
The “Heritage Builders” program of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation had a special treat on Friday, July 1st, as we hosted 10th District Congressman Denny Heck for a guided history tour of Tumwater’s Schmidt House. During his visit with his aide David Bremer, he was not only led through all three floors of the home of…
DetailsMildred Parker, Last Grandchild of Olympia Brewing Founder Leopold F. Schmidt, Dies at 103
A recent donation from the estate of a New Jersey resident has intrigued our archives staff.
In 1912, a daughter was born to Leopold F. Schmidt Jr. (son of Leopold Sr., founder of the Olympia brewery) and his wife, Louise Barksdale Schmidt. The daughter was named Mildred Virginia Schmidt, and she grew up in the family home in Olympia. Mildred died recently at the age of 103, and a box of photos from her estate arrived at our office. We’ll use several of those photos to illustrate Mildred’s life,
DetailsEntertaining Videos on Tumwater History
In a cooperative effort with the City of Tumwater, the Olympia Tumwater Foundation’s local history program partnered with Thurston Community Television (TCTV) to produce twenty, three minute videos focusing on Tumwater’s rich history.
Local historian and author, Don Trosper, hosts these short videos featuring music, historic photos, and compelling details about names you may hear and see around Tumwater today, like George Bush, Michael T. Simmons, the Crosby family, and more. Don says, “There is more than enough material to produce many more of these utilizing the rich resources of the foundation archives at the Schmidt House and the City of Tumwater files from Henderson House. It is great fun and will hopefully be helpful to students in history classes, local area residents and visitors from outside our local area.”
Click on the underlined links below to enjoy Don’s folksy interpretation of Tumwater’s past:
The History of the West Begins in the East
The Founders of Tumwater and their trip over the Oregon Trail. Why make such a trip?
Roses are peaking at the Centennial Garden
Modern ever-blooming roses, while flowering throughout summer, tend to exhibit several cyclic seasonal peaks when most or all of the rose bushes are blooming at the same time. These peaks generally occur in early summer (June), mid-summer (mid- to late-July), and autumn (September-October). These are the most spectacular times to visit the Centennial Rose Garden.
DetailsRoman roses now blooming in the Centennial Rose Garden at the Schmidt House
Did you know that over 2,000 years ago the Romans grew and loved roses as much as we do today? These Roman roses were far different from those popular now – there were no “Hybrid Teas” or “Floribundas” during those ancient times; they were to arise literally thousands of years later in Europe. Roman roses were largely “species” or wild roses. But nonetheless they were delicate, lovely and exquisitely fragrant.
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