"Olympia, Washington. The State Capitol buildings may be seen at right center. Mt. Rainier stands as a sentinel in the distance."

1969? The present day WSDOT building looks like it is still being put together. Plus the Capitol Park Apts. have not been torn down yet.

On the left, Budd Inlet ends at the "Isthmus," while the northern portion of the Fetid Lake of Doom takes center stage. The steam plant, otherwise known in Century 21 as the caiman wintering area, can be seen on the shore at the right, conveniently next to the railroad tracks for regional distribution. Now that the season is warming up they should be back out any day.

Here are some views of the Capitol group for your viewing pleasure.

This first one is captioned "Washington State Capitol Olympia, Washington. Olympia is the Capital city of the only state in the Union named after a President of the United States. Washington is proud of its heritage of hospitality, handed down to it by early pioneers. From the Palouse to Puget Sound and from the mouth of the Columbia River to the Pend Oreille - - Washingtonians welcome thier guests from all corners of the globe."

Note the House office building in the back is under construction.

In this photo car, the caption is on the front and kind of hard to read: STATE CAPITOL OLYMPIA, WA 'VI' A 208.

The Vi in this case is Vibert Jeffers, the source of many images of old time Oly.

Here's a linen style card, made from a Jeffers photo. The captions are easy to read. Note the lack of monuments and how small the trees are.

The caption on the back: "The capitol is of modified Roman-Doric architecture. Exterior, Washington sandstone. Interior of capitol: marble from Germany, Italy, France, Alaska. Standing on a braod knoll, an "acroplis," the group dominates Olympia and the countryside." Published by Lesnick News Agency, Olympia, Wash.

Most of my old Oly postcards are of the Capitol. Here's the old one and it's not really the view I wanted but the cancel on the back showing this went to Miss Griswold in Oakville via Train 9's Railway Post Office (RPO) on February 12, 1907.

"Washington State Capitol, Olympia, Washington. Aerial view of State Buildings showing Capitol Lake, Puget Sound & Olympic Mt. Range in background."

OK, so the Olympics don't actually show up in this photo, but they would if they were not cropped out. At least on a clear day.  Also, we would see the Mothball Fleet. Note the log boom past the 4th Ave. Bridge!

When this image is enlarged, the Capitol Center Building appears to be in the final phases of construction, dating this photo to the late summer of 1965.

Last week at Nisqually, the cottonwoods were leafing out, and their sweet fragrance was in the air. I hope you get to check 'em out for yourself!

Here's a slideshow:

Nisqually March 2013

"Olympia and Mt. Rainier, Washington. Capitol Lake and Olympia Municipal Park close to metropolitan shopping center -- complete swimming and playground facilities for all to enjoy. Mt. Rainier, eternal guardian, sixty miles in the background."

The Capitol Center Building can be seen on the left edge, but the old Hotel Governor is gone and the Fetid Lake of Doom still has quite a bit of industry around it. I'll take a guess this photo was taken 1966-1968.

The April 2013 issue of Works in Progress newspaper is on stands now. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Please look for a copy at your favorite location. It's also available on the internet: www.olywip.org

"Washington State Capitol from Freeway. An impressive view of the State Capitol greets motorists on Interstate 5, near the city of Olympia. This modern, divided highway rolls down a long grade and skirts a lake which mirrors the dome of Washington's Capitol. The Capitol, patterned after the nation's home in Washington, D.C., is just a minute from the freeway."

"Washington State Capitol, Olympia, Washington. Aerial view of State Buildings showing Mount Rainier in the background."

The old Oly High School is gone, but Capitol Park Apartments remain. Meanwhile two big state buildings, the Dept. of Highways and the Employment Security Dept., have jumped across Capitol Way. Blocks and blocks of fine old homes have yet to be demolished as the Cap Campus expands. I place this around 1966-1969. The Fetid Lake of Doom, as usual, provides a hint of menace in the corner.

Magnolia Flower, April 2013, Olympia WA

In other news, today was the opening day of the Farmers Market, and it was packed with people.