Olympia is the capital of Washington State. It sits at the southern end of Puget Sound, and its Capitol campus is where the governor, the state legislature, and the state Supreme Court all operate. The campus rises on a bluff over Capitol Lake, with the Legislative Building and its 287-foot masonry dome as the visual anchor.
Why Olympia
Olympia was the territorial capital before Washington became a state in 1889, and the legislature kept it as the seat of government at statehood. A purpose-built capitol took decades to arrive. In 1893 the legislature created the State Capitol Commission to oversee construction on newly acquired land in Olympia, and the campus took shape over the first three decades of the twentieth century. The Legislative Building, completed in 1928, was the final anchor of the grounds.
The Legislative Building
The Legislative Building is the tallest building in North America with a masonry dome, standing 287 feet from the ground to the top of its lantern.1Washington State Capitol Campus. Legislative Building Stats The dome was assembled from more than 1,400 individual stones, with construction finishing on October 13, 1926, about two years before the building officially opened.2Washington State Capitol Campus. Legislative Building
The exterior uses sandstone quarried from Wilkeson in Pierce County, giving the Neoclassical building a uniform face well suited to the Pacific Northwest climate.1Washington State Capitol Campus. Legislative Building Stats Inside, marble comes from five different countries, and Tiffany chandeliers light the rotunda and corridors.2Washington State Capitol Campus. Legislative Building Under one roof: the Governor’s office, the chambers of the state House and Senate, and the offices of the Secretary of State and the Treasurer.
The Rest of the Campus
The Capitol campus extends well beyond the Legislative Building. Several buildings serve distinct branches of state government, all within walking distance.
Temple of Justice
Completed in 1920, the Temple of Justice is the oldest public building on the campus. It houses the nine-member Washington State Supreme Court, the state law library, and some administrative offices.
Governor’s Mansion
The Governor’s Mansion has been the official residence of Washington’s governor since 1909, making it the oldest building on the grounds overall.3Washington State Capitol Campus. Governor’s Mansion Tours Tours run on a limited schedule, typically September through December and during special events, and reservations are required.4Washington State Capitol Campus. Tours
Legislative Office Buildings
Day-to-day legislative work spills into two dedicated buildings. The John A. Cherberg Building holds offices and hearing rooms for the state Senate.5Washington State Capitol Campus. John A. Cherberg Building The John L. O’Brien Building is the primary office building for the state House of Representatives.6Washington State Capitol Campus. John L. O’Brien Building
Old Capitol Building and Pritchard Building
The Old Capitol Building sits in downtown Olympia overlooking Sylvester Park. It was originally the Thurston County Courthouse and served as the actual state capitol from 1905 until the Legislative Building opened in 1928. Today it houses the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.7Washington State Capitol Campus. Old Capitol Building The Joel M. Pritchard Building, home to the Washington State Library, was originally completed in 1958 and sparked the development of the East Capitol Campus.8Washington State Capitol Campus. Joel Pritchard Building
Memorials and Outdoor Spaces
The grounds work as an open-air park as much as a government center, with several memorials placed across the lawns and walkways.
- The Korean War Memorial features three bronze statues of soldiers huddled around a fire, alongside 22 flags representing the nations that joined the United States in the conflict.
- The Medal of Honor Memorial is a white granite obelisk set along a stone pathway.
- The Law Enforcement Memorial is a cement and granite structure honoring officers who died in the line of duty.
Guided memorial tours run about 60 minutes and are available Monday through Friday by reservation.4Washington State Capitol Campus. Tours
The Sunken Garden on the West Campus is one of the quieter highlights. Originally designed as a rose garden more than a century ago by the Olmsted Brothers landscape firm, it sits about four to five feet below the surrounding grounds. That depth creates a microclimate that can run 5 to 10 degrees hotter or cooler than the rest of campus depending on the season. The Department of Enterprise Services maintains formal rectangular beds of perennials and annuals there, with current efforts focused on increasing species diversity for climate resilience.9Washington State Capitol Campus. Artwork and Memorials
Visiting the Capitol
The Legislative Building offers guided tours daily, each about 50 minutes long. Reservations are recommended, and groups of 10 or more must reserve in advance. Self-guided tours are also available; pick up a brochure at the front desk, where several languages are offered. Some interior areas are only accessible on a guided tour.4Washington State Capitol Campus. Tours
Beyond the main building, the campus offers botanical tours (60 to 75 minutes, weekdays only) and school field trips with a civic education focus lasting about three hours. All specialty tours require a reservation.4Washington State Capitol Campus. Tours
During active legislative sessions, the House gallery on the fourth floor of the Legislative Building is open to the public, so you can watch representatives debate and vote in real time.10Washington State Legislature. Gallery Rules
Security and Prohibited Items
Expect a security screening when entering campus buildings. Firearms, drones, and barbecue grills are banned anywhere on campus. Inside buildings, you also cannot bring voice amplification devices, tripods, selfie sticks, signs mounted on sticks, personal furniture, or flower petals. Confetti and glitter are banned campus-wide.11Washington State Capitol Campus. Prohibited Items and Activities
Accessibility
All buildings on the campus have disabled parking, entrance ramps, and at least one door with wheelchair access. The Cherberg and O’Brien buildings both have accessible entrances and wheelchair seating areas in their committee rooms. The House and Senate each have designated ADA coordinators who handle access questions for legislative activities and facilities.12Washington State Legislature. Access to Legislative Buildings
Getting Involved
Washington provides several ways to engage with the legislative process directly. You can identify your state legislators using the District Finder tool on the legislature’s website, which matches your home address to your legislative district.13Washington State Legislature. District Finder From there, you can schedule meetings with your representatives when visiting the campus.
To testify during a committee hearing, sign up through the legislature’s online committee sign-in portal. Remote testimony has expanded in recent years, so you don’t necessarily need to be on campus to have your voice recorded in a hearing.14Washington State Legislature. Welcome to the Washington State Legislature
Organizing a rally or demonstration? Outdoor events with more than 75 attendees require a permit, as does any event that involves setup like canopies, stages, or chairs. Gatherings of fewer than 75 people with no setup can proceed without one.15Washington State Capitol Campus. Permits for Events