Visiting Olympia Capital Building in Washington State, USA

Last updated on 12 August 2026

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It was a short, snappy visit to Olympia, Washington

After spending a full day in Seattle on a trip in 2019, we drove down to the state capital, Olympia, to pop in at a friend’s place. He graciously showed us around the centre of the town, and we were able to go into the stunning Olympia Washington Capitol Building, which was definitely a highlight.

It was a beautiful day, and we spent a few hours pottering around the town, wandering along the waterfront, and, of course, checking out the incredible Capitol building.

Olympia Washington Capitol Building

The chandelier in the State Capitol was made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. As in the jewellery people. As in the little blue box with a white ribbon. As in ‘Breakfast At’.

It was made in New York and then shipped to the other side of the country. Thanks to Wikipedia, I can tell you that ‘the 4,500 kg chandelier above the rotunda is suspended 15m above the floor by a 31m chain and measures 8m tall. It could fit a full-size Volkswagen Beetle if put in sideways and features life-size faces, human figures, and 202 lights.” Oh.my.gosh.

The other parts of this grand building include lamps and Roman fire pots, which were also made by Tiffany, and altogether they were Tiffany’s last large commission.

We got some lunch at a sweet cafe in town and had Sofie’s Scoops gelato to finish. While quieter than its nearby Seattle counterpart, Olympia still had a certain hustle and bustle to it, especially down by the waterfront, where a boardwalk runs along the docks.

It’s worth popping in for the morning or afternoon if you’re in the area.

Have you been to the Olympia Washington State Capitol? Or visited Olympia? Let me know in the comments!