Olympia, the capital of Washington

Choosing Olympia

When Washington Territory was organized in 1853, its first governor, Isaac Stevens, chose Olympia as the capital that November, and the first territorial legislature met there in 1854.

Attempts to move

Olympia’s hold was not secure at first. Bills to move the capital were introduced in 1859, 1860 and 1861. The 1861 act, which would have moved it to Vancouver, actually passed, but the territorial supreme court voided it because of a drafting error.

The voters decide

When Washington became a state in 1889, its constitution kept Olympia as the temporary seat of government and left the permanent choice to the voters. In the election of October 1, 1889, Olympia led with 25,490 votes but did not have a majority. In the runoff on November 4, 1890, it won decisively, with 37,413 votes to 7,722 for Ellensburg and 6,276 for North Yakima, and became the permanent capital.

The Legislative Building

The New York architects Walter Wilder and Harry White won a design competition for the Capitol in 1911. Construction began in 1922, and the Legislative Building opened as the seat of government in 1928. Its 287-foot dome is described by the state as the tallest masonry dome in North America and one of the tallest in the world. The building houses the Legislature along with the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and treasurer.

Earthquakes have shaped its history. Major seismic upgrades followed the earthquakes of 1949 and 1965, and after the 2001 Nisqually earthquake a three-year, $120 million rehabilitation and repair project was completed in 2004, adding 144 solar panels on the fifth-floor roof.

Visiting

Free guided tours of about 50 minutes run most days and include the Rotunda, the State Reception Room and the legislative galleries. See the Capitol Campus tour page for times.