Tumwater Washington

While on the way home from Tacoma after seeing the amazing and wonderful Garth Brooks. I did some searching to see if there was anything to stop and see on the way back to Oregon. I came across an abandoned brewery in a town called Tumwater so I stopped by to check it out.

Some history on the town. Tumwater, known as the end of the Oregon Trail or Cowlitz Trail, is the oldest permanent American settlement on Puget Sound. It is located at the mouth of the Deschutes River where it cascades into Puget Sound at its most southerly point.

When the City was founded in 1845, it was named New Market. By 1863 the city was known as “Tumwater”, the Chinook jargon word for a waterfall.

Tumwater, known as “Washington’s First Community,” was the starting point for further American settlements at Olympia, Seattle, Whidbey Island, and other points on Puget Sound. It was from Puget Sound that the movement to divide Oregon grew, resulting in the creation of Washington Territory in 1853.

The City’s early growth and development were greatly influenced by the close proximity to the power generating falls of the Deschutes River, the nearby saltwater access for transportation and communication, and the abundance of timber in the area. The town developed on the lands around the mouth of the river and homes and sawmills sprang up along its banks above the original settlement.

On November 25, 1869, Tumwater was officially incorporated as a town.

So now a little history on the brewery. It is called the Old Brewhouse.

In 1895, a German brewmaster named Leopold Schmidt chose a site at the foot of the Tumwater Falls as the location for his new brewery. It had everything that he needed: access to saltwater shipping, electrical power produced by the falls, and most importantly, artesian springs of pure water that was perfect for brewing beer. In 1906 the Olympia Brewing Company, owned by Leopold Schmidt, constructed what is now called the “Old Brewhouse”. It is six stories tall and constructed of red brick, elegant arches, and a copper roof with Tenino sandstone trim.

The Old Brewhouse served as the proud centerpiece of the Schmidt family brewing operation until Prohibition. The Old Brewhouse has long been associated with the Olympia Brewery which was the Capital community’s largest private employer for a significant part of the past century. The importance of the structure was recognized in 1978 when the property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

When I was there to take pictures there was construction going on inside of the old building but I was unable to find any information on what exactly they are currently doing to it.

To top off the amazing brewery the city is very cool. along the Deschutes River there is a 15 acre nature park with trails and playgrounds it is really beautiful. At the first park there are a series of waterfalls. The main one being Tumwater falls. As you walk down the trail along the river you see more little falls on your way. There are thousands of different types of plants on the trail. It is really a beautiful sight to see.

If you are ever in the area, it is definitely worth the stop to check it out. Maybe an afternoon picnic.