Olympia, WA

About Olympia

• • Kurt Cobain, of Nirvana fame, briefly lived in Olympia during the band's early years.
• • Riot grrrl, a feminist punk subculture, originated in Olympia in the early 1990s.
• • Designated as Washington's capital in 1853, it gained importance as a political hub.
• • Percival Landing Park sits atop pilings from a former lumber mill.
• • The 1949 Olympia earthquake caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.
• • Named for the Olympic Mountains, Olympia was incorporated in 1859.
• • With around 55,000 residents, it's smaller than many other state capitals.
• • At 92 feet, the elevation provides scenic views of the Puget Sound.
• • Government and healthcare are major employment sectors in the city.
• • It feels like a quirky, artistic haven with a strong sense of community.
• • The Seattle Seahawks, approximately 60 miles away, won Super Bowl XLVIII.
• • Olympia High School's boys basketball team won the state championship in 2017.
• • Glacial till and outwash deposits from the Vashon Glaciation cover much of the Olympia area.
• • The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, with its diverse habitats, lies southeast of Olympia.
• • The Deschutes River flows through the heart of Olympia, emptying into Puget Sound.
• • Harbor seals frequently haul out on docks and rocky areas in Budd Inlet.
• • Bigleaf maples, known for their large leaves, are common throughout the surrounding forests.
• • The Squaxin Island Tribe has inhabited the Puget Sound region, including present-day Olympia, for millennia.
• • In 1949, an earthquake damaged many buildings in Olympia, leading to stricter building codes.
• • The Washington State Capitol Building, with its iconic dome, was completed in 1928.
• • Interstate 5, a major north-south route, runs directly through Olympia.

Artists From Olympia

Songs About Olympia

Nearby Places