Faces of Olympia, Bay 1, Learn More Faces of Olympia, Bay 2, Learn More Faces of Olympia, Bay 3, Learn More

faces of olympia

AHA is excited to sponsor Faces of Olympia. Our history and culture are best told through individual stories from the people who make up, and have made up, our diverse city. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, AHA wants to emphasize that it is “We the People” that we celebrate!

This exhibition is composed of 36 images installed in the historic 1912 City Hall/Fire Station, located at 108 State Ave. NW, in downtown Olympia. The images hang in the windows of the east facing firehouse doors. These individuals can also be seen below and their stories of can be read by following the links at the top and bottom of this page. Additional residents of the Olympia area are featured in a slide show at the bottom of this page.

Click on images to enlarge.

exhibit images, bay 1

Read more about the people pictured in Bay 1 here.

Margaret McKenny

William “Billy” Frank, Jr.

Andrea Wilbur-Sigo

Annie Charley Brenner

Roger Easton

Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart (Esther Pariseau)

Elizabeth Ayer

Tom Anderson

Ann Elizabeth White and Daniel R. Bigelow

Barbara Harriston O’Neill

Sam Fun Locke

Amanda Smith

Read more about people pictured in Bay 2 here.

exhibit images, bay 2

Dr. Robert Peck

Toy Kay

Emma Page

Woman's Club of Olympia

Pet Parade 1967

Edward Lange

Thurston County Fire Association Queen candidates, 1960

Cora Pinson

Ernest Mallory

Quiemuth

Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Anne Zlotnik & Percy Bean

William Greenwood

Read more about people pictured in Bay 3 here.

exhibit images, bay 3

Jim Allen Rambo

Ida B. (Mitchell) Smith

Dr. Thelma Jackson

Mary Olney Brown

Margaret Howard

Nikki McClure

Chief Leschi

Vietnamese refugees posing with Fern Powers

Harold Rambo & Ramona L'Heureux

Eliza Boone Prine at Olympia Knitting Mills

Charlene Krise

John Grace

other fACES OF OLYMPIA

Abbie Howard Hunt Stuart (1840-1902), founder and first president of the Woman’s Club of Olympia. Woman’s Club of Olympia

Colonel Bruce Crandall, Medal of Honor Recipient. Steve Bloom/The Olympian

Carole Lee Rambo visits Santa Claus, downtown Olympia store. Rambo Family Collection

Winnifred Castle Olsen ( 1916-2011), educator, historian and civic volunteer. Olsen Family

Sara Genevra (Mrs. H. S.) Lake (1844-1921), Olympia spiritualist and suffragist. First Spiritual Temple

Frank M. Kenney (1876-1951), who coined “It’s the Water” for the Olympia Brewery relaxing in the woods. Copyright Michael M. Wood

Jolene Bishoprick Unsoeld (1931-2021), citizen activist, legislator and member of Congress. U.S. House of Representatives Collection

Gil Carbone (1929-2023), Olympia City Council Member in the 1980s and early 1990s. Carol Carbone

Members of The Woman's Club of Washington promoting products made in Washington by wearing outfits to advertise the products, 1920s. Woman’s Club of Olympia

James Mars (d. 1891), Olympia Black business owner with wife Mary of “Our Place” restaurant. Photograph from 1891 Souvenir Edition of the Olympia Tribune

Marie Cameron (d. 2015), League of Women Voters leader and Thurston Regional Planning Staff. Rita R. Robison

Olympia Brewery Oldtimers Dinner, 1959. Courtesy of the Schmidt House archives, Olympia Tumwater Foundation

Holly Gadbaw Olympia Mayor and Council Member in the 1980s to 2000s. Rita R. Robison

Ernest Mallory (1891-1951) was elected Olympia Mayor in the 1940s. Copyright Michael M. Wood

Gladys Dawson Buroker (1914-2002), pioneer Olympia woman aviator. Buroker Family

Joyce Simmons Cheeka (1901-1974), Activist, Linguist and Rememberer of the Squaxin Island Tribe. Squaxin Island Museum Library and Research Center.

Ernest Mallory (1891-1951) was elected Olympia Mayor in the 1940s. Copyright Michael M. Wood

Nettie Doone Chiang James (1876-1914) is shown with two of her children. She was born in China and married Ah Toone James (1851-1929) in Olympia in 1890. Private Collection

Frank M. Kenney, (1876-1951) ca. 1899, soon to be Secretary of the Olympia Brewing Company. Copyright Michael M. Wood

Frank M. Kenney, (1876-1951), Secretary of the Olympia Brewing Company. Copyright Michael M. Wood

Marj Pierson Yung (1935-2016), elected as the first woman Thurston County Commissioner in 1974, led the commission in modernizing county government. Rita R. Robison

Frank J. Kenney (1911-1970), United States Secret Service, delivering the United Nations Charter from its signing in San Francisco to Washington DC. Copyright Michael M. Wood

Frank J. Kenney (1911-1970) United States Secret Service. Copyright Michael M. Wood

W. H. "Harold" Rambo Logging truck. Rambo Family Collection

Past Presidents of the Woman's Club of Olympia. Woman’s Club of Olympia

Bill Daley (1943-2023) served on the Olympia City Council and as Mayor in the 1980s. Devon Connor-Green

Carole Lee Rambo getting perm in Mrs. Lee's Beauty Shop, 4th Street, Olympia. Rambo Family Collection

At Percival Landing. V. C. Drake

Thomas Kenney and family, Woodland Hotel. Copyright Michael M. Wood

Holly Gadbaw Olympia Mayor and Council Member in the 1980s to 2000s. Rita R. Robison

Billy Frank Jr. (1931-2014) at a river. Steve Robinson

Sue Lean historian and member of the League of Women Voters. Rita R. Robison

Ramona L'Heureux Rambo (1910-1998) worked at the Daylight Bakery downtown Olympia. Rambo Family Collection

Billy Frank Jr. (1931-2014) Gravesite. Steve Robinson

Festus Campbell, (d. 1910), Olympia Horticulturist. First Baptist Church, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Doug Mah served 10 years on the Olympia City Council and was Mayor from 2007-2011. Online image.

Faces of Olympia was made possible by Inspire Olympia, the Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum, and donors to Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance.

Faces of Olympia, Bay 1, Learn More Faces of Olympia, Bay 2, Learn More Faces of Olympia, Bay 3, Learn More