Tumwater offers several distinct travel highlights: brewery history, historic homes, aviation, and scenery along the Deschutes River. Schmidt House and Crosby House represent different historical connections; the Olympic Flight Museum adds aviation history to the cultural offerings. Parks, trails, waterfalls, and golf broaden the range of activities. If you’re looking for accommodations in Tumwater, these distinctions can help you choose a destination that matches your interests.
Brewery History and Historic Homes
Schmidt House was built in 1904 for Leopold Schmidt, founder of the Olympia Brewing Company, and his wife, Johanna. It is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Tumwater Register of Historic Places, and is located in the Tumwater Historic District. The grounds and the Centennial Rose Garden are also part of the property.
Crosby House dates to around 1860. Nathaniel Crosby III built it after marrying Cordelia Jane Smith in August 1860. While Schmidt House has ties to brewery history, the story of Crosby House’s construction is linked to its builder’s marriage. Together, the two homes offer different historical perspectives on Tumwater.
Aviation as a Distinct Cultural Focus
The Olympic Flight Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and flying historic aircraft. It displays historic aircraft and aviation artifacts. Unlike the homes, its focus is aviation rather than architectural history. Tumwater’s cultural offerings thus range from historic homes to aircraft and related artifacts.
River Scenery and Trails
Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is a 15-acre private park along the final stretch of the Deschutes River. There, the river drops a total of 82 feet over three waterfalls. Salmon return each year to the Tumwater Falls Hatchery—a recurring natural feature alongside the park’s scenery.
Pioneer Park offers trails and access to the Deschutes River. In summer, rafting on the river from Pioneer Park is an activity for Tumwater residents. The river-related recreation therefore includes both trails and river access in the park, as well as summer rafting for the local community.
Golf and the Planned Trail Network
Tumwater Valley Golf Course offers 20 holes and multiple tee boxes for all skill levels. The facilities also include a 35,800-square-foot putting green and a 10-acre driving range. In addition to the course itself, the golf facilities include two differently named practice areas.
The Deschutes Valley Trail System is a planned or developing network intended to provide access to five public parks, the municipal golf course, the Deschutes River, and Capitol Lake. Its development status differs from the information about Pioneer Park, which offers trails and river access. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between existing recreational amenities and the broader, still-planned trail connection.
Discover more destinations: Lacey, Olympia, Rainier.
For the broader travel overview: Thurston County.
