THURSTON COUNTY, WASHINGTON

Thurston County, established in January 1852 by the Oregon Territorial Council, holds a pivotal place in Washington State's history. Named after Samuel R. Thurston, its county seat, Olympia, became the first permanent American settlement north of the Columbia River near Tumwater Falls in 1845. This area was home to Indigenous peoples, including the Nisqually and Squaxin tribes, for thousands of years. From its early reliance on the timber industry to its current role as the state capital, Thurston County's journey is a vital part of the Pacific Northwest story, richly documented in its historical photographs.