Welcome to Washington's Capital

Olympia is the capital city of Washington State, sitting at the southern tip of Puget Sound where freshwater meets the ocean! With about 55,000 people, Olympia is surrounded by incredible natural beauty - you can see the snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier to the southeast and the Olympic Mountains to the northwest. It's like living in a postcard!

The Magnificent Capitol

The Washington State Capitol building has one of the tallest masonry domes in North America - it's 287 feet tall! That's about as tall as a 28-story building! The dome weighs 33 million pounds, and inside hangs a spectacular 5-ton chandelier made by Tiffany Studios with 444 light bulbs. When it needs cleaning, someone has to ride up in a special basket to reach it!

The Capitol Campus is like a beautiful park with cherry trees that bloom in spring, creating a pink wonderland. The buildings are designed in a style called neoclassical, which means they look like ancient Greek and Roman temples. School groups visit every day to learn how Washington's government works and see where important decisions are made.

Living on Puget Sound

Olympia sits right where the Deschutes River flows into Budd Inlet, part of the amazing Puget Sound. This is where freshwater from the mountains meets saltwater from the Pacific Ocean, creating a special environment called an estuary. More than 275 species of birds migrate through here, including great blue herons, bald eagles, and thousands of ducks!

The waterfront has a mile-long boardwalk called Percival Landing where families walk, bike, and watch boats in the marina. During low tide, you can see starfish, crabs, and sea anemones in the tide pools! The famous Olympia oysters, which are tiny but super tasty, have been harvested here for thousands of years by Native American tribes.

Between Two Natural Wonders

From Olympia, you can see Mount Rainier, the tallest mountain in Washington at 14,411 feet! It's an active volcano covered with glaciers and snow year-round. On clear days, the mountain looks like it's floating in the sky. Mount Rainier National Park is just a two-hour drive away, where you can hike through wildflower meadows and see glaciers up close!

To the west are the Olympic Mountains, home to Olympic National Park - the only rainforest in the continental United States! The park has everything from snowy mountain peaks to ancient forests where trees grow 300 feet tall, to wild Pacific beaches where you might see gray whales swimming by. Some parts of the Olympic rainforest get 12 feet of rain per year!

A City of Music and Art

Olympia might be small, but it has a huge music scene! In the 1990s, Olympia helped create new types of music called grunge and riot grrrl. Famous bands like Nirvana played in Olympia's small clubs before they became world-famous. The city still has lots of live music venues where new bands play every night.

The Evergreen State College in Olympia is known for its creative programs and beautiful forested campus. Students there don't get traditional grades - instead, they work on big projects and get written evaluations. The college has its own organic farm and even a beach on Puget Sound where marine biology students study sea life!

Life in Olympia Today

Today's Olympia is a mix of government workers, artists, students, and outdoor enthusiasts. The downtown farmers market is one of the best in the state, where you can buy fresh vegetables, flowers, and crafts made by local artists. The city has more coffee shops per person than almost anywhere else - people in Olympia love their coffee!

Olympia is serious about protecting the environment. The city uses renewable energy, has lots of bike paths, and works hard to keep Puget Sound clean for the salmon, orcas, and other wildlife. Every year, thousands of volunteers help clean up beaches and plant trees to keep Olympia green and beautiful.

Amazing Olympia Facts