September 2024

Happenings

Falls Fest 2024 Was a Blast

We had a great time celebrating autumn in Tumwater Falls with you all at the third annual Falls Fest! Thank you to all of the wonderful vendors, artists, musicians, and of course, thousands of attendees who came to Brewery Park for this event. As always, we greatly enjoyed collaborating with the City of Tumwater Parks and Recreation Department to host the festival, and hope to see you all again next year!

The Salmon Run in Brewery Park Comes to a Close

What started as a slow year for our (mostly) Chinook visitors has turned into a great turnout in Brewery Park! We saw many incredible fish swim up the river in the past few weeks and will miss seeing them until next year. We now say goodbye to these fishy travelers as they are down to the last few stragglers making their way up to the pens. The best time to see the run is usually the last week of September, with the first appearance of the fish around the end of August, and the last weeks of the run in mid-October.

Fall Colors Have Arrived

Calling all photographers and autumn enthusiasts! The trees in Tumwater Falls are turning stunning shades of amber, yellow, and red. Come take a walk in the park to see these gorgeous leaves before they all drop!

A Visit From the Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation

John Dodge, retired environmental journalist and OTF board member, engages with members of the Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation at the base of Tumwater Falls, sharing insights on the Deschutes Estuary project and its vision for ecological restoration.

November History Talk

Monthly History Talks at the Schmidt House are back for autumn 2024! Join us in Tumwater at noon on the first Thursday of each month for an hour-long history talk. We’ll feature captivating programs on social history or natural history, each presented by a recognized expert.



November 7: Maps, Maps, and More Maps

Jewell Dunn, of the Washington State Archives, will present an overview of maps available at the State Archives and State Library, including timber cruises, plat maps, school districts, fire districts, and political maps, among others. Although most of these maps were made for very specific purposes, today’s genealogists find a lot of useful information on them. Jewell has worked at the State Archives for 9 years, and is well-versed in genealogical and historical research.

Attendance is free. Doors open at 11:30 AM. First come, first seated until room capacity is reached.

The Schmidt House is located at 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater.

Schmidt Family Beer Was Brewed in Salem?

Frank T. Schmidt operated the Salem Brewery from 1933 to 1936, when he lost an arm in an industrial accident and returned to Tumwater. For those few years, though, he produced Schmidt's Salem Beer under this label (and similar labels with a white or black bear). 

Want to see more photos like this?

Explore the history of the Tumwater area through vintage photos! In 2020, OTF was awarded a grant from the Thurston County Historic Commission. This grant allowed OTF to digitize over 4,400 images from its collection. We are still actively adding more photos so make sure to check back regularly!

Karen Johnson, Schmidt House Curator.