250th at the Schmidt House now in May

Shirley Stirling

Would you like to compare your “wingspan” to that of an eagle? Make a tri-corner hat and color? Learn about genealogy society and how they can help? Hear a band concert? See a roomful of quilts? Old-timey kitchen gear? Learn to clean a gravestone? See a historical philatelic display, flag history and more?

Over several days in May, the Olympia Tumwater Foundation is providing the historic Schmidt House as a venue, at no cost. The foundation is giving historic organizations a free venue and free admission for the public.

This celebration is a brainchild of Karen Johnson, curator of the historic Schmidt House. Karen focused on nonprofit groups without physical buildings and this writer helped organize the exhibit both through her work in the Daughters of the American Colonists (DAC) and a committee of several other organizations.

DAC sponsored — in the main display room — a series of display panels called “Moments that made us” developed by the Washington State Historical Society with cultural institutions across the western United States; a part of the official 250th America commemoration. The curated list, created out of dozens of options includes: Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, Consent of the Governed, Free and Independent States, American Revolution, Constitutional Crisis, Pacific NW Statehood and Self-Governance, Pacific NW Western Expansion, Women's Vote and Boston Tea Party.

Displays and participating groups include:

• Old-fashioned kitchen tools: Daughters of the American Revolution
• Patriotic-themed stamps and postal envelopes: Olympia Philatelic Society
• Early Olympia Fire Department history by Olympia Fire Fighters Local 468, the Washington State Society Daughters of the American Colonists and Olympia Fire Department
• Quilts of all eras: Tumwater Historical Association
• Genealogy: Olympia Genealogical Society
• Gravestone and cemetery cleaning.
• Flags and other patriotic history: Sons of the American Revolution
• Bald eagle ecology, USS Constitution: Olympia Tumwater Foundation

Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16: All exhibits from noon to 6 p.m. 

May 16: American Legion Band Concert from noon to 1 p.m. All Exhibits from noon to 6 p.m.

May 16: A special postal cancellation and pictorial covers; get your souvenirs!

Thursday, May 21, Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23: All exhibits from noon to 6 p.m.

May 23: American Legion Band Concert from noon to 1 p.m.

May 23-26: All exhibits from noon to 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 4: History talk by Sons of the American Revolution at noon.

Addtional information

Contact: Curator Karen Johnson, 360-890-2299, karen@olytumfoundation.org

Admission is free to the public and groups. Donations are accepted.

Note: Contact Karen about special sessions for school or other children’s groups. Limited slots are available.

Location: Schmidt House 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater, WA 98501