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Events and Programs

Movies at the Mansion

Friday nights @ 9 PM—August

$2 suggested donation.
Bring a blanket and chair for a night at the movies at the third annual outdoor film series at historic Lord Mansion. The program begins with a short commentary on the history and importance of the film. Refreshments will be sold before and during the show. Coffee donated by Batdorf and Bronson. Shown in Coach House in case of rain. The doors open a half hour before the movie.

August 20:

North by Northwest

August 27:

Adam’s Rib

Supported by the City of Olympia Heritage Commission.
Sponsored by:
Odominus Investigative Solutions
Retired Northwest Pilots
Allen T. Miller Law Office


Women’s Equality Day

August 28 > 11 AM–3 PM

$2 suggested donation.
In celebration of Women’s Equality Day, the National Organization for Women (NOW) of Thurston County, in partnership with the Women’s History Consortium, present an afternoon of programs, children’s activities, presentations, re-enactments and refreshments. Guests are welcome and encouraged to wear period dress to celebrate this historic event as part of the 100th anniversary of Washington women winning the vote in 1910. Women’s Equality Day is August 26, and commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which enabled women’s full voting rights nationally in 1920.


Three Strange Tales of Old Olympia

September 20 @ NOON

$2 suggested donation. Coffee and tea served.
Drew Crooks, historian
Olympia’s history is full of interesting stories. Explore three strange tales of the Capital City in an illustrated presentation. Learn about the remarkable rise and fall of the Swiss Chalet at Priest Point Park, the unusual journey through space and time of a Native American house post, and the curious account of a pioneer song that became a modern advertising legend. Discover what lessons these fascinating stories have for us today.


Warship Under Sail; The USS Decatur in the Pacific Northwest

September 23 @ 7 PM

Warship Under Sail; The USS Decatur in the Pacific Northwest, Lorraine McConaghy's new book. (Lorraine McConaghy)

Lorraine McConaghy, Museum of History and Industry historian and author
In this illustrated presentation and book signing, McConaghy highlights the history of the USS Decatur through the logbooks, medical and punishment records, correspondence, personal journals, and drawings compiled in the years the ship served in the Pacific, from 1854 to 1859. McConaghy presents the ship, its officers, and its crew in a case study that illuminates the forces that shaped the antebellum Navy and American foreign policy at sea. McConaghy won the Society’s Robert Gray award in June. The Robert Gray award is the highest award bestowed by the Society, recognizing distinguished and long-term contributions to Pacific Northwest history through demonstrated excellence teaching, writing, research, historic preservation, and service to local historical societies. Co-sponsored by the Olympia Yacht Club.


Tall Timber: The Nikkei Experience in Washington’s Lumber Industry

September 27 @ NOON

$2 suggested donation. Coffee and tea served.
Jesse Clark McAbee, Morton Historic Train Depot project manager
Through vintage photographs, oral histories, ephemera and historical documents, “Tall Timber” highlights the story of thousands of Japanese immigrants who worked in Washington’s timber industry prior to World War II. Significant numbers of Japanese, who were dispossessed of both land and opportunity in Japan, immigrated to the Northwest to seek a new destiny. These Nikkei made important contributions to labor and economic growth in Washington, particularly in railroad construction and the lumber industry. Research sponsored by 4Culture.


Recurring Public Program: Memoir Writing Group

Tuesday afternoons > 1-3 PM
cost is $6 per class or 5 classes for $24

A weekly life-writing class led by author Delores Nelson

Beginning with a small but enthusiastic group of adults, the Memoir Writing Group at the State Capital Museum has been meeting regularly for nearly two years. The group explores the past through writing and assembling their memoirs. Lead by Delores Kelso Nelson, a writer and teacher in the Olympia area for over 15 years, the memoir class serves participants by igniting lost memories, supporting practicing memoir writers, and offering a chance to socialize.
More Information


Journey to Captain Cook's Alaska with David Nicandri

August 5-19, 2011

Join director David Nicandri in 2011 on a 14-day luxury Alaska cruise. During the trip, he'll host private discussions and share findings regarding his next research project: Captain Cook and the search for the Northwest Passage.

Crusing round-trip from Seattle on Holland America's ms Amsterdam. Ports of call: Seattle, WA; Inside Passage Scenic Cruising; Ketchikan, AK; Tracy Arm, AK; Skagway, AK; Sitka, AK; Anchorage, AK; Homer, AK; Kodiak, AK; Hubbard Glacier Crusing; Juneau, AK; Victoria, Canada.

Contact Kathleen Tansey at (253) 630-7755 or kathleen@travelcenter4u.com
for more information.

State Capital Museum and Outreach Center
211 SW 21st Avenue
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 753-2580
More contact info