Located on the southernmost point of Puget Sound, the Olympia area was occupied by the Coastal Salish Indians for many generations before American settlers established a town site there in 1846. First the provisional territorial capital in 1853, incorporated as a town in 1859, it then became the permanent state capital when Washington attained statehood in 1889. The town was named for the majestic Olympic Mountains, visible on a clear day. The town's history and landmarks, including the capitol building, the waterfront, the downtown businesses, and the Olympia brewery, as well as the surrounding areas, were all visually documented by the picture postcard, which gained widespread popularity at the beginning of the 20th century.
