The Foundation’s latest noon talk, a history of the Olympia Brewing Company, was presented on March 15 by Foundation assistant curator Megan Ockerman to another capacity crowd at the Schmidt House. Megan earned her Master’s degree from WSU in 2017 with her thesis on the Olympia Brewing Company history. That was the basis for her…
Celebrate the art of beer! From November 4 through December 9, the Olympia Tumwater Foundation presents an art show featuring over 50 original advertising artworks produced for the Olympia Brewing Company during the 1930s through 1950s. The paintings, averaging about 18” x 34”, were intended to be translated into billboards and had to be bold,…
Steins, Vines & Grinds: Washington’s Story of Beer, Wine & Coffee The latest exhibit at the Washington State History Museum, Steins, Vines & Grinds, explores the history of three libations that continue to be wildly popular in the Evergreen State. Discover how the passion of beverage industry leaders connected with the unique climate and geography…
Grant will help preserve historic Olympia Beer advertising artwork BY LISA PEMBERTON – January 21, 2017 lpemberton@theolympian.com Nearly 300 pieces of artwork used to design billboards and advertising campaigns for the Olympia Brewing Co., will be preserved, thanks to a $5,000 Thurston County Historic Commission grant. The paintings, photographs and advertising concepts were…
As part of of a 2016 grant received from the Thurston County Heritage Grant Program, the Olympia Tumwater Foundation has published a 50 image sample of the Olympia Brewing Company and the founding Schmidt Family. More images will be available after a website update in early 2017. Please see link below. Click here to see…
In 1913, the USS Maryland, a US Navy Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser, visited Seward, Alaska as part of her survey mission in the Northern Pacific. On July 13, Maryland’s sailors and band paraded down Main Street. In this photo they are shown marching past The Commerce saloon and restaurant, which proudly featured Olympia beer. Town residents—and…
In June 1896, Scientific American magazine published an article titled “The New Double-Deck-Turret Battleship Kearsarge.” The article described the dimensions and armaments of a new class of U.S. battleships, and included an artist’s rendering and a deck plan of the ship. Peter G. Schmidt, just sixteen at the time, was intrigued by the new…
WSU grad student Megan Ockerman holds original advertising artwork from the Olympia Brewing Company. Finding a thesis subject for a master’s degree in History can be a daunting task. Professors prefer subjects that are interesting, previously unresearched, yet with plenty of research material available, and open to new interpretations. Olympia resident Megan Ockerman, who already…
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…