photo by gusto

Washington’s capital is at Budd Inlet at the southern end of Puget Sound. The city of 39,000 is named for the Olympic Mountains. Olympia was the capital of Washington Territory until statehood in 1889, when it became the seat of state government. It is also an important commercial center and port. Wood products, processed foods, and mobile homes are produced here.

The city is the starting point for a loop drive around the Olympic Peninsula along US-101 (Olympic Highway). Popular sites are the Capitol Campus and the State Capital Museum.

Olympia is located at the junction of I-5 and US-101, about 65 miles south of Seattle and 115 miles north of Portland, Oregon. There is bus service along I-5 and rail service to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Eugene, Oregon, and long-distance service to Los Angeles and Chicago.