Tacoma & South Puget Sound
Tumwater, Washington
City
Brewery town at the Deschutes falls
Tumwater sits south of Olympia at the Deschutes River falls, known as the site of the first American settlement north of the Columbia and the old Olympia Brewing Company.
History & Local Character
The Schmidt family opened the Olympia Brewing Company at Tumwater Falls in 1896, and the brewery defined the town for a century.
Housing & Real Estate
Older homes near the falls, new suburbs and apartments along Capitol Boulevard.
Restaurants & Shopping
Breweries, cafes and family restaurants cluster along Capitol Boulevard.
Schools & Education
Tumwater School District serves the city.
Parks & Recreation
Tumwater Falls Park, the Chehalis Western Trail and Brewery Park anchor recreation.
Transportation & Accessibility
I-5 runs through Tumwater; Intercity Transit connects to Olympia and Lacey.
Local Businesses
Breweries, restaurants, light industry and businesses reusing the old brewery site.
No businesses are listed in Tumwater yet. Add your business to be the first.
Nearby Attractions
- Tumwater Falls Park
- Olympia Brewery site
- Chehalis Western Trail
- Nisqually refuge
Advantages & Considerations
Advantages
- Affordable compared with Olympia
- Historic brewery district
- Freeway access
Considerations
- Limited walkable downtown
- Warehouse and industrial areas
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Olympia beer brewed?
Olympia Beer was brewed at the Tumwater falls site from 1896 until the brewery closed in 2003.