Seven years in the making, the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum is now open! This museum is the first dedicated to the arts, culture and history of Olympia. The Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance (OlyAHA) was formed in 2018 with the goal of opening a museum to preserve our area’s rich history. Admission is free, though donations to keep it going are gratefully accepted.
“Olympia has long been known for our history, creativity and diversity,” said Tom Henderson, president of the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance. “This museum honors that legacy while offering a space for the community to come together, share new ideas and celebrate the creative energy that defines our city.”
Building an Olympia Museum
The Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance worked tirelessly for seven years to bring the museum to life, beginning with the establishment of partnerships with organizations that aligned with their mission. “’Alliance’ is in our name for a reason,” says Cheryl Selby, Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance board president. “We feel that we’re stronger by joining together with other complimentary organizations.”
While they waited for the City of Olympia to approve their proposal to lease a historic building, they created mini-exhibits around town and in the windows of the building they were hoping would eventually be their home. And of course, like it did for so many, COVID stalled their plans.
On the other side of the pandemic, the City moved forward with their requests for proposals for the empty building in the spring of 2023. “We of course submitted a strong proposal, but once again, that process was stalled by the City,” shares Cheryl. “It was at that point our board decided to move ahead with a smaller space to use as a proof of concept, so we could show the City that we had the capacity to program a much larger space.”
OlyAHA also decided to add a visitor center to its museum plans. “It’s been well received,” shares Cheryl. “Olympia has neither an art and history museum nor a visitor center and we thought that needed to be changed!”
Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum Focuses on Area History, Community
Opened June 2025, its mission, according to Cheryl is: “To create a museum that will be a destination and gathering place for learning about, reflecting on, and becoming inspired by Olympia’s uniquely rich arts, cultures and history. To establish a sustainable infrastructure that will ensure the collection, preservation and dissemination of cultural resources important to the ongoing legacy of Olympia.”
Exhibits in the 1,200-square-foot museum will rotate quarterly. The Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance does not collect its own exhibits, but instead partners with other organizations to curate their collections. Currently, they partner with the Olympia Historical Society archives, managed by Susan Goff, and the private collections of Dwight Moody. “We’re working on a special maritime-themed exhibit to premiere during the Olympia Harbor Days festival this Labor Day weekend,” adds Cheryl.
The exhibits reflect the museum’s mission to celebrate the area’s rich and diverse history, something that was missing from the Olympia area. “We’re one of the few – if not the only – state capital that doesn’t have a history museum, let alone one that tells the story of its community through art, cultures and history,” says Cheryl. “Please note that we use the word ‘cultures’ intentionally. Culture can sound off-putting for some people. Plus, we wanted to focus on the abundance of cultures that make Olympia unique.”
But the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum is not just a place for people to come and look at old things. Part of its mission is to be a community gathering place – something they are currently working on developing. “We just hired our first employee and we’re excited to begin offering more programming to activate the space after hours,” shares Cheryl. “From our opening day, we’ve solicited feedback from our patrons on what exhibits and programs they’d like to see as we grow.”
Go visit the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum and the Olympia Visitor Center. Learn about the place you call home and if you have ideas for programs or exhibits, let the OlyAHA know. As a volunteer-driven project, they are always looking for people to get involved. For more information, visit the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum website, where you can donate, become a member, volunteer, find hours of operation and more.
