History of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation
Our History
The 1950s: the Beginning
The Olympia Tumwater Foundation (OTF) was established in 1950 by the Schmidt family as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity. OTF’s first major project was constructing a replica of the Tivoli Fountain on the Capitol Campus. A substantial amount of money for this project was contributed by the employees of the Olympia Brewing Company.
The 1960s: Brewery Park is Established
In 1962, OTF built Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls (then Tumwater Falls Park) for the public to enjoy. In 1967, the first scholarship was awarded to a high school senior, starting our decades-long Education Program.
The 1980s-2000s: a Change of Ownership
In 1983, when the brewery was sold to the Pabst Brewing Company, the Schmidt House was donated to OTF. Since 2003, we have been the stewards of the Olympia Brewing Company corporate archives and the Schmidt family papers, which are kept at the Schmidt House.
2023: Our Mission Today Honors Our Past
We take pride in honoring what the Olympia Brewery and Schmidt family did for our community. Today, OTF: maintains Brewery Park as a relaxing and restorative natural area; offers the beautiful Schmidt House grounds for weddings, events, and history research; and provides financial opportunities for high school seniors and local educators.