Here's our September Newsletter!

September 2023

Happenings

The last month was full of exciting developments at the Olympia Tumwater Foundation! Read on to learn more.

Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls

The Salmon Are Here

It's time to come see the peak of the salmon run at Brewery Park! We're seeing some truly large fish swimming below the foot bridges and up the fish ladder. Make sure to check out the viewing windows at the Tumwater Falls Hatchery next to the main parking lot!

Patrons of the Park: Ellie

One of this month's park patrons is Ellie, a 5 year old Leonberger! Ellie enjoys walks around Brewery Park with her parents. Her beautiful furry coat keeps her nice and warm even in the cool morning mist.

Patrons of the Park: Zoe

Another one of this month's park patrons is Zoe, a very social 6 month old Newfoundland. Zoe enjoys hanging out with her human best friends, and meeting other Park goers!

Patrolling the Park

We received a visit from a couple bike-riding policemen this week in Brewery Park! These brave officers were doing their daily patrol of the area and decided to take a detour through our lovely trails. Pictured is Sgt. Josh Valek of the Washington State Patrol.

Park Improvements: A New Gazebo

In an effort to beautify Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls and conduct fundraising,

the Olympia Tumwater Foundation is constructing a new cedar gazebo to house a

payment kiosk allowing visitors to quickly swipe their cards and make a donation.

All proceeds will go towards maintenance of the park. The gazebo will also hold

informational signage and other materials to interest visitors.

Left photo: The main support beams of the gazebo have been assembled thanks to Graydon Holden (left) and our maintenance manager, Jose Guzman (right). Right photo: the roof's structural supports have been added, and soon will have lovely cedar shingles!

A special thank you to FORMA construction's Graydon Holden who volunteered his time and expertise to assist our maintenance manager, Jose Guzman, in the construction of this beautiful building!

Park Improvements:

Donation Signs

We have added donation signs around Brewery Park to encourage patrons to donate the the park's maintenance fund. They are discreetly placed, and feature 8 lovely photos of the park's scenery. A quick scan with a phone camera of the QR code on each sign takes users right to our website's donation page. See if you can find all 8 signs next time you visit the park!

The Schmidt House

Our November history talk is titled "A Confluence of Conservation: A History of the Nisqually Delta and the US Fish and Wildlife Service"

Schmidt House History Talks Are Here Again

History talks return to the Schmidt House! After a long closure due to COVID and a construction project, we’re pleased to announce that monthly History Talks are back! Join us each month for a free hour-long talk on social or natural history, each presented by a recognized expert. All talks will be at noon on a specified Thursday. First come, first seated until capacity is reached. Read more about upcoming History Talk topics and more on our blog.

Article written and provided by Karen Johnson, Schmidt House Curator.

Find the rest of the article on our website!

Learn more

Events

Tumwater Falls Otter Poster (left, Olympia Brewery Poster (middle), and Tumwater Falls Poster (right). All are available for sale on our website, and in-person in our office at Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls.

The OTF Gift Shop is Open

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation is excited to announce the opening of our gift shop! We have posters for sale in Brewery Park's office building, and online on our website! We were lucky to be able to work with Paul Lanquist, a talented artist from Oregon who did many of the National Parks' poster artwork! Soon we will be selling hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags as well. All proceeds from these items goes right back to Brewery Park's maintenance and improvement.

Photo of Falls Fest 2022 goers, courtesy of the City of Tumwater.

Falls Fest is Almost Here

Is Saturday, September 30th marked in your calendar? Don't miss out on this incredible event! Join us from 10am-4pm at Brewery Park to celebrate the beautiful Tumwater Falls and their importance in our community and its history. There will be whimsical decorations, talented artists and vendors, salmon talks, face painting and children's activities, a real-life mermaid, and more at this year's Falls Fest.

Learn more

From The Curator

The first Tumwater fire truck, a 1928 REO Speedwagon, housed at Olympia Firehouse 5 in Rochester. See more photos in the OBEE calendar!

OBEE 2024 Calendar

Each year, the O Bee Credit Union produces and publishes thousands of calendars, offered free to O Bee members and the general public. For 2024, we photographed inflatable Olympia Beer bottles and cans (much larger than life-size!) at various scenic spots around Thurston County. Be sure to pick up your copy at an O Bee branch, at the Brewery Park office, or at the Schmidt House. Calendars should be available starting in mid-October.

Don't forget to check out our new website!

Visit our Website

110 Deschutes Parkway SW, Tumwater, WA 98501 • +1 (360) 943-2550

https://olytumfoundation.org/