Washington State Capitol Reviews

Toured the Capital building with a group and enjoyed the tour guides and their history, talk and knowledge. We just happened to arrive when they were having the graduation for the State Patrol Cadets. Was impressed with the pomp and drills.
We even had a tour of the landscaping also. Our guide, Brett, was very knowledgeable about plants, history and was very enjoyable to walk around the grounds with. Loved the Catalpa Tree. Quite the job to keep it all pretty.

Location - landmark in Olympia
Parking - there is parking available along the street as well as there is paid visitors' parking.
There is a free guided tour of about an hour which covers the history of the campus, architecture of the building and information about legislature of WA state. There is a small souvenir/gift shop.
The garden around the capitol building are expansive and well maintained.

This is a Capitol that is classically understated yet really impresses. It is more about the architecture and less about the decorative elements. I also liked that the two chambers looked like they were there to do business. I took the free tour and got good info on how Washington State politics works. Thumbs up!

We took a tour of the State Capitol Building. We joined a tour with a guide but you can also pick up a brochure and tour on your own. There was no charge for the tour. It was very interesting to observe the history and facts about the building. The guide was very knowledgeable about the building and Washington history. You will end the tour in the Capitol Gift Shop (per Washington law). It's a nice gift shop with friendly personnel.

The history of washington state is fairly recent but what the Capitol building lacks in historical vale, is more than made up for by the sheer grandeur of its marble building. My cousin and I used to play around the grounds when we were kids and in the building and I remember it as huge but not imposing. 60 years later, same impression. It is nearly as large as the national capitol and the setting rivals that of any state capitol I have visited over the years...about 30 at last count. Make the trip to Olympia, it is so very worth your time and trouble.

Beautiful landscaping and architecture! I highly recommend walking or driving around to see all the unique buildings 😄

We frequently stop diuring decent weather to stroll around the campus and enjoy the view of South Puget Sound from the perch next to the capital building in Olympia.

I have a knack for visiting state capitols, most of the time capitols are in the middle of nowhere by design with city charter limitations granted by the states. This one was a beauty, perhaps worth driving out to see if you have a rental car in Seattle and certainly worth while if driving up from CA or Oregon as it is on the way.

We enjoyed visiting the tourist information and the capitol tour including climbing the 100 something staries to the golden statue

we had a great time touring the capital. The tour guide had a lot of information about the history of the capital and current events. The gift shop was also well stocked and had a lot of great things. beautiful place to visit.

This is the most beautiful capitol I have ever seen in the US. The floor and most of the walls are covered with beautiful marbles. There are free tours which are very interesting and educational. Unlike California, there is no need to pass through security checks in order to enter the building.

Outside, the garden is full of beautiful flowers and is a must-see.

My husband and I took a Sunday afternoon tour at the Capital. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and we had a good time and learned a lot. The interior is beautiful with all types of marble, Tiffany lights, original furniture, and intricate designs. We ended up in the gift shop where there was a very friendly young lady working. I would highly recommend this tour.

The structure is stunning and the details or the decor are amazing. The hour long, free tour with one of the guides is well worth your time. The guides take you into areas that unguided visitors don't have access to. The dome in the Washington State capitol building is the fourth tallest in THE WORLD. The marble walls, floors and pillars are from different countries from all over the world. The various significant patterns in the carpets each have stories. The traditions of the doors into the chambers each have their own significance The stories about the statues at the entry are well worth your time. And the light fixtures by Tiffany are a privilege to see. Take the time to share this with your friends and family.

We make it a point to see the Capitol building whenever we are in a state Capitol city. This building is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful in the country. In fact, I would give is a SOLID five stars if it weren't for the grounds. The Capitol grounds should be an embarrassment to the state and especially for whatever agency is charged with their maintenance. Dead grass, dead plants, and weeds abound. As spectacular as the building is, the grounds are just as dreadful.

I thought this was interesting while in Olympia. Can't say I've been to many places out there where historic buildings like what we saw here looked this beautiful!

The guided tour is about and hour and it was wonderful. We've toured Austin and Sacramento, but this tour was phenomenal. If you are fortunate to get a tour by Docent Mark Greene you are in for a treat, although I imagine they are all great. The building itself is magnificent and you really deserve to see what a magnificent capitol building we have in this state. Walk around yourself if you absolutely can't do the tour. There are three places you can't self-tour and they are totally worth it, not to mention the tidbits of incredible information that the tour provides! You might tour for the benefit of your kids but you will get a ton out of it yourself personally. America has a consent-of-the-governed system: this is one place to take an easy baby step to learn and actually enjoy it.

Capitol is closed due to COVID-no opening date set. You can visit the grounds and the lake area around the capitol but you can't get into the building

I took a guided tour of the Capitol. The tour guide was knowledgeable a provided great context on the building's history furnishings and Washington's status as the 42nd state. The guide also provided an overview of the state governments role in the building. If you are trying to visit all 50 state capitols this capitol has one of the better gift shops.

This is one of the most beautiful state capitals in the country! Not only is the rotunda building designed after the one in Washington DC, but the marble inside is awe inspiring! Take a walking tour of the campus and visit the memorials and statues, then make your way to the Law Enforcement Memorial overlooking Capital Lake and Budd Inlet. Bring your camera - that is a view you will want to capture. When you are finished touring, be sure to stop in at the gift shop. They have the largest variety of Washington -themed gifts, edibles, crafts, memorabilia, books and postcards than are available anywhere in Olympia. You won't be sorry. When you book your tour, be sure to come on a Wednesday and then you can also book a free tour of the Governor's Mansion (closed in August). The Mansion was built in 1909 and has spectacular furnishings, murals and many crystal chandeliers. They also have gifts and other mansion souvenir items for purchase that are not available at the Capital Gift Shop. A highly recommended way to spend a day in Olympia! After your tour, walk down to Wagner's on Capital Way for coffee and bakery treats!

How relaxing it was to walk the grounds and tour the buildings of the capital. The massive scale of the building's make you feel so small. The detail and artistry is amazing. Don't forget to visit the Old Capital building while there. You'll get to see some of the damage from the 1903 earthquake that almost distroyed the building. I loved them both.

Gorgeous gem in the heart of the city. Do the free tour, it's fun, even the kids said so (be sure to rub Washington's nose)! Walk the grounds, enjoy the sun! Sculptures, memorials and a fountain. Well-worth the trip.

Take the tour - they're on the hour through most of the main working day. The guide was phenomenal - he had worked there for 40 years and knew everything, including how to make it entertaining for a teenage boy. Good gift shop.

Beautiful State Capitol Building with beautiful architecture and paintings. Legislature was not in session while we were there but their chambers were great. Would recommend visiting during the summer months to enjoy the view from the top of the front stairs.

There are free tours given hourly on the hour. If you come here on weekends, the visitor parking lots are free as well, making this a good place to visit on a weekend.

There are stairs to climb on this tour, though you can ride the elevator if you need it.

The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and you get to visit the main areas, plus both chambers of the legislature. The interior is much prettier than I expected, with marbles throughout, and fancy chandeliers. At end of tour, there is even a gift shop for you to buy a few trinkets.

very informative free tours are provided by volunteers. very interesting facts about the architecture, origin of the marble used, look into both houses. Everyone visiting us will leave with having this tour under their belts. LOL.

This is one of the most beautiful State Capitols so don’t miss an opportunity to visit. In the spring and summer it’s even more beautiful when the fliers are in bloom and the fountain is running. If you have time take a tour to better understand the history. The House and Senate chambers are stunning. You will also be able to visit the Governor’s reception area as well as the Treasure’s and Secretary of State’s. The campus statutes and grounds provide great opportunities for good photos.

Wonderful tour of the legislative building of the capital. We had adults, teens and a young child in our group and everyone enjoyed the tour. Learned a lot about how the House and Senate were set up. P,us the building g is beautiful and fascinating with lots of history.

I try to check out the capitol buildings if I am close to one on my travels. This one was impressive. Great little tour. Walk the grounds and check out the memorials too. We were surprised by a deer roaming the grounds.

We found the guided tour to be excellent. The volunteer guide was very knowledgeable about the history and materials used in the building. He pointed out the Tiffany Chandlers and the sources for the marble and granite that was used. He also related how the legislative process worked. We also recommend that you visit the Secretary of State's office to read the stories of how WW-II affected people from the state.

Capitol is a great place to take out of town visitors. Make time to find out when tours are available if you want an educational experience. The marble is amazing.

The marble work alone is worth the trip. We wander the lovely campus of the state capitol building and found the grounds well maintained and charming. Inside there is some historical information and the architecture is amazing. The gift shop is a delight with everything Washington. All very tasteful and excellent selections.

Touring this grand building is really a nice thing to do even on a rainy day. Everybody is friendly and helpful

An excellent place to wander and enjoy not only the scenery from the bluff, but also the architecture of the buildings. Inside get to marvel at the dome and art work. You may see the Governor if you’re lucky. The grounds are beautiful especially in n spring and stop by the Veterans memorial. A great trip to make especially with kids and G Kids. Very educational.

A must see in Olympia, beautiful grounds, somber war memorials and the grandeur of large stone buildings. Free tours but feel free to wander on your own.

This is a must see to learn a little about the State of Washington and see a spectacular building. Our tour guide was Dick and he was informative and fun.

Do not miss if you have never been. Whether a local Washingtonian or a foreign visitor it is impressive and open every day.

If there's a State Capitol building set on a more attractive piece of land, I must say, I haven't come across it yet. Washington State's sits high atop a hill offering a meandering hike full of gentle switchbacks, and interlacing beautiful gardens full of native species. Nearby, Capitol Lake sits glittering in the sun, home to hundreds of birds and other animals. And the building itself is truly an architectural wonder. Like Salt Lake City's capitol, Washington State's is patterned off the nation's capitol building, with it's huge domed ceiling and single spire. Full of polished marble and historical artifacts, it's a trip you can make for the history, or the natural beauty surrounding it and the hike. Combine them, and you have a fun, fascinating afternoon.

We would have loved to do the guided tour but didn't have time. We walked around the grounds and looked at the memorials and then walked through the magnificent capital building. Beautiful architecture and meticulously maintained premises, even the bathrooms were immaculate.

On our recent trip to Seattle we were able to check one more state capitol off our list, the Washington State Capitol in Olympia! I have seriously lost count, but it was really nice to mark this one off our list :) Even though the capitol building isn’t in Seattle, it was only an hour and ½ away, so we made a day trip out of it. After looking at some of the memorials on the grounds and taking pictures, we made it inside the capitol in time to take a tour. Neither of us knew much about the Washington State Capitol, which I have to say is embarrassing as I had lived in Seattle for a couple of years in the late 80’s. Anyway, we also found out that the dome is 287 feet high, making it the tallest self-supporting masonry dome in the United States, and fourth tallest in the world. The building itself has a rectangular footprint and is constructed of brick and concrete and faced on the exterior with limestone quarried from Wilkeson, Washington. The structure consists of four floors with the dome at the center that again reaches a height of 287 feet on the exterior and 175 feet from the floor. We had a great tour guide who loved the capitol and made sure we could feel the pride and passion of those who worked there. It is something we are glad we were able to see while in the area. Read more about the capitol and our visit on my travel blog post.

We ventured to Olympia on an early Saturday morning train ride there, mostly to see the capitol. After a walk through the building, following the signs, we found the sign-in for the tour. Our tour guide, a former legislator or legislative aide, had retired and was now giving tours. He was very patient, informative, and obviously loves and is very good at his job. There were a fair amount of stairs to climb, but there was a lot to see and take in, from the legislative changes to the special events area to, at that time of year, the huge Christmas tree.

After the tour, we visited the gift shop that we had spotted on the way in, and while not usually a fan of these places, this one was interesting in the variety of items they had, many not at touristy prices. Following that, it was a sunny, though cold, December day, so we walked the grounds, using a well-marked map and finding many points of interest among the well-cared for and predominantly flat grounds.

It was definitely a worthwhile experience, and getting there early and off season were definitely plusses...so was the sunny day!

I toured the building and the grounds on my own on a weekday. Not many people visiting the Capital at that time. No business being conducted. Very impressive building. Beautiful grounds with bountiful Cherry Blossoms in bloom and a Vietnam War Memorial garden. Pay for parking close by.

We took a look at the Washington State Capitol since were passing through Olympia. We could not find parking anywhere nearby. The campus for the Capitol and other governmental building are located on a hill away from the center of town. The whole area with its monumental buildings and open grassy areas is reminiscent of Washington D.C. It is built in a neoclassical style with many columns and a dome. I have seen several Capitol buildings and they all have domes.

The Washington State Capitol has so much to offer anyone looking to absorb themselves or eager minds in some of the local history. It has the Capital aka Legislative Building which encompasses the government of Washington. You'll find chambers for the State Legislature and offices for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and the State Treasurer. You'll notice that it is part of a campus consisting of several buildings, which is not uncommon. The Washington Supreme Court, executive agencies and the Washington Governor's Mansion are some of the buildings that you will find are part of the capitol campus. On many days you will come across busses touring the Capital. Parking can be cumbersome at times when you don't want to pay to park. There are some transients in the area and not so much an issue till you venture out from the campus.

The downtown area is full of beggars, drug pushers and homeless. I don't even feel safe while driving.

I took my granddaughter to visit the Capitol for her first time. She was excited about meeting Senators, seeing their offices, learning about the WA Seal & viewing the legislative chamber. She especially enjoyed eating lunch in the Capitol lunch room!

The free tour starts every hour on the hour. It's worth taking for adults. About 45 minutes long. Kids would be ok with it if they are patient and/or interested in history. Actually I wouldn't recommend going without the tour. It was informative and much more interesting then just wandering around the building.

This is the smallest and most beautiful Capitol building I've visited. It's well worth seeing.

There is paid parking by the hour nearby. 4 hours is enough time to wander the grounds, take a tour, visit the buildings and gift shop if you move slow like me.

Most are pretty Utilitarian except the Legislative Building which houses the Governors office and the House and Senate. Architcture of the 1920's, plain but massive and distinctive. Equally or more interesting is the Temple of Justice across the street. This is the home of the State Supreme Court. At this time the Court reflects the progressive nature of the state. Check out the Tivoly Fountain on the grounds along Capital Way across from the Thurston County Museum (Worthwhile) Next to the Museum (on the South) was the old Olympia High School (long gone) Part of celebrating graduation was a box of detergent in the fountain! The penalty was a night in jail if all the cells were not occupied by inebriated loggers. At that time fully half the population worked in the woods or the mills. Today Olympia is a Statehouse town.

It was truly an interesting and worthwhile tour by Mr Jones. So knowledgeable and articulate. Highly recommend it!

We toured the building and found it fascinating. Marble everywhere, and all bronze and chandeliers are made by Tiffany and Co. Parking is a trick so make sure and find the 2 or 3 hour meters. Olympia is serious about overstaying your welcome in a parking spot. You may have to walk a bit but very worth it. Don't miss going here.

I’ve been going to visit for 60 years and it always impresses me! Spring is my favorite time of year!

The Governor's Ball was amazing this year. The vendors and displays from the many food providers was outstanding. Ice sculptures a variety of foods from fresh seafood to Asian masterpieces.
The entertainment was off the charts.
If you have the opportunity attend the Governor's Ball. It takes place every four years when we vote our Governor into office.

This is a large state capital that is easy to see. Or, you can go to their web site & there is an excellent virtual tour that you can take.

Folks don't think to visit the Capitol, however it is well worth the visit. The marble throughout and the history associated with the building makes the visit memorable.

So, we just popped into Olympia because we needed a rest stop break off the highway and man, is this little town impressive and this is one impressive building in this little town. Even though the population is not big, in the way of legislators of the past, they decided to build them selves and impressive state capitol building and this was it. Its well worth a stop on your way. We didn't do a tour, just wandered around on our own and worth the time out of the day.

We arrived shortly after 7am and had a wonderful introduction by Michelle of the visitor's office. She took us to the top floor and showed us many of the treasures of the building and then let us explore on our own. The staff in the Governor's office, the Lt, Governor's office, the Secretary of State's office and the Treasurer's office all took time with us. We even were shown the vault in the Treasurer's office. The building is exquisite with marble, fine furniture carpet and wood, , upholstered walls in the Governor's conference room, and Tiffany light fixtures including the 5 ton bronze chandelier in the rotunda, the largest ever built by the Tiffany Studios in New York.

A beautiful building and well worth the time to take the guided tour which lasts about 1 hour. Parking is easy in a lot next tot he visitors information office.

It needs cleaning, they don't upkeep the building appearance like they would in DC (same building materials)

We took the free Dash shuttle here to check out the buildings, because we love the architecture. Just beautiful buildings!

Beautiful building, interesting tour, the best part of Olympia and worth the drive from Seattle. We were there on Memorial day and were happily surprised that it was open and we could take a tour. While we were there they had a ceremony for Memorial Day and there was live music playing during our tour which was neat.

We were on our way to Seattle for a few nights and wanted to stop for a break and found this great town in Washington state - OLYMPIA - and we went for a walk around the town and saw this building on a hill and went for the long walk to find it
It looked like Capitol building in Washington DC!!! but in was THE WASHINGTON STATE CAPITOL - building overlooking Capitol Lake the southern tip of Puget Sound.
This building is well worth a visit and tour which we did and really enjoyed so much history -a Magnificent state building - the brick & sandstone is beautiful - The granite steps and foundation pieces came from north of Seattle at Index
Well worth a stop
great tour guilds & family staff with lots of information
We did not know much about Olympia before this trip but well worth a stop at smaller towns along the way on a road trip

We stopped by the capitol to just look around and encountered a small tour in progress. We were welcomed to join the tour. The guide provided good and interesting commentary throughout the tour. I especially liked finding the dog in the marble. Great sense of humor and good information by a genial host. Take the time for this tour. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

They have guided tours daily which are nice but can be a little slow which is why we liked to tour it on our own. Yes that means you miss information but can read signs and go at your own pace.

Beautiful building, gorgeous chandeliers-all from Tiffanys-stunning. Our docent was very good, really enjoyed it. we were in the governors office as part of the tour. Well worth the time (parking is close and free)

Thought this would be a typical state building. We were wrong. We were given a very informative tour of the building. The guide told us the history of the building along with how the Washington state government works. The building is beautiful.. The world's largest collection of Tiffany light fixtures are in use in this building.

So far we've visited more than a half of US states, as well their Capitols. This one in Olympia, capital of WA state stands imo just after the main DC's.
You can reach it within an hour drive south of Seattle. There was plenty of parking around, however paying.
Exterior looks classic, just like the majority of US Capitols.
The interiors make this Capitol stand out. Terrific marble all over the edifice, some from US, some imported from Europe. Several majestic chandeliers made exclusively by Tiffany, as a kind lady at the front desk explained.
The free tour has just started and we didn't have time to wait for the next, so we toured the building ourselves.

Include Viet Nam, Korea, and WWII memorials. Capitol building and Supreme Court building( known as Temple of Justice) are quite beautiful if you are interested in that sort of thing.

On a whim I took visiting friends to the Capitol building. I had heard the grounds were nice and I thought it would be a nice way to pass a hour before our lunch gathering.
I was pleasantly surprised. The grounds were landscaped nicely. Fountains, monuments and space for the kiddos to really run.
Going up the steps to get in the building was breath taking for the adults and a game for the children. Inside was beautiful. A volunteer docent greeted us and offered us a free guided tour but we chose to just wander. The main hall with all it's marble was visually marvelous. The very large bust of Washington was the group favorite. The children were amazed at the size and that they could touch it. The adults enjoyed the selfie opportunities.

Full of monuments. Beautiful campus of government buildings. Docent led tour on the hour thru mid day hours. Nice lake and park on campus to walk.
Easy access, some free parking.
Only drawback is no place to eat within walking distance.

Stopped on way back to Portland. The bldgs were closed as it was a Sunday but the area is so beautiful. There is a lake at the bottom of the hill with a beautiful park around it. The architecture is amazing. The governor's mansion and the surrounding homes are Victorian. Expansive lawns make it a perfect place for a nice stroll.

This is what Olympia is about. Plan ahead and you can even tour The Governor's Mansion every Wednesday afternoon. The State Supreme Court is also a must. The gardens are beautifully kept and it will be a memorable experience.

This place is amazing during Christmas. Take a guided tour and visit the huge Christmas tree display in the main lobby. Great place for family holiday photos. The volunteers are wonderful. Nice place to visit and walk around the grounds as well. I like to visit on the weekends as it is less crowded and free parking.

I grew up in and around Olympia. Thurston County. We moved here in 1956. I used to be proud of our capitol's architecture, its cultural contributions, its importance... as time passed I noticed the old buildings being "revamped", removed and replaced by the blah 60's "architecture" then the plastic, slapped together 70's stuff and finally the more recent innovative, "nothing looks quite the same but it's dad-gummed expensive" renovations and creations. I'm a fan of the old style architecture that can still be found at the domed capitol building itself, the judicial building and the legislative building. The other stuff? nah... but the campus is still as beautiful as it used to be. The cherry trees blooming in the spring is a sight to see. A tour of the existing, original structures should be on anyone's to do list and the views, WOW! The views of the southernmost end of Puget Sound, of the Olympic Mountains, of Olympia, Capitol Lake, the mouth of the Deschutes River... Yeah. It's worth the visit but in my humble opinion it's not what it used to be. It's tumbled downward a bit over the past five plus decades. When you do go take your camera and take copious amounts of photos. Take a tour to the dome. Visit the monuments on the campus and reflect on their origins, their purpose. It's still a very humbling, grounding experience.

The grounds and capitol buildings were beautiful. Enhanced by the fall foliage!!!

It was very interesting to view inside the building and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Awesome buildings dating back many many decades (sorry didn't do any research on the capital, just drove around). No traffic, no parking issues, many pictures taken on a rainy day.

First time as an adults for this Oregonian to visit the capital building in Washington.
There is so much to learn, from the one ton bronz doors to the Tiffany Chandeliers, how they came up with the idea for the state seal, were all that marble came from, ( there are 5 different kinds) and about the Senate chambers and House Chamber. The Rotunda is beautiful with a 5 ton Chandelier,that travelld west by train from New York.
They have a nice gift shop, ( look for book that tells about all 50 capital building in the US).
We ate at the capital deli and was happy with the homemade chicken noodle soup and their vegetables wrap was delicious, reasonable price and very nice staff too.
Great little outing, we toured with two sisters, one lived in Oregon and the other lived in upper part of Wash., and they met half way in between, it can be a day visit from Portland or Seattle and something to do on a cold wet or a hot sunny Day.
You will need to pay for parking, the grounds are beautiful with statues and a beautiful fountain.

The Capitol building in Washington State and the campus of government buildings that surround it; should be on everyone's list when they visit this area. The Capitol campus is located on the southern tip of Puget Sound. The Capitol building is considered one of the most magnificent state capitol building in our country. The dome is 287 ft to the top of the cupola and is the tallest masonry dome in North America. When you enter the building you encounter two bronze statues; replicas of those in Washington,D.C. The first is Marcus Whitman, a physician who brought settlers to Washington and the other is Mother Joseph who was responsible for the construction of many hospitals and social service institutions in the Northwest. The Rotunda area is spacious with the dome rising 175 ft from the floor. There is a 5 ton chandelier with 200 bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The state seal of Washington is in the center of the floor. The building is open to the public and if you are lucky you may be able to join a tour. But don't stop with the Capitol Building...the garden is magnificent as are the grounds. The building is open daily until 4:30 but if you want an official tour you need to call to reserve a time .

We took the free capitol tour and it was very worthwhile, learned a lot about the building and the history. The art and architecture is stunning. All the light fixtures were made by Louis C. Tiffany and really are amazing. The grounds are very nice with majestic trees and gardens. The only drawback was that the dome was blackish with mold, needs to be cleaned and maintained routinely.

Because Covid 19 precautions closed down the capitol tours, this visit was pretty much a dud. The best part was the reproduction of the Tivoli fountain in Denmark. Also nice were the lovely plantings on the capitol campus. The capitol architecture was nice to view, but overall, it's not worth the trouble while things are so shut down due to Covid.

We toured the Washington State Capitol on April 22 in Olympia, Washington. The capitol complex is easily walkable from the the visitors information center parking area. A few of the highlights of the capitol area are, the tiffany lights located in the Rotunda and in the State Reception room. Another rare antique in the State Reception room is a 1893 Bluthner grand piano donated by Dr. Hans Moldenhauer. Our tour guide mentioned that this grand piano is one of five left in the the world.

The building is very grand and stately, and the campus is very nice, but there is not much additional to see during a visit. The tour guide was knowledgeable but there wasn’t much to share other than the building and its construction. I was expecting more WA state government history.

An impressive campus site and a massive building. But the interior feels more like a basilica or huge mausoleum and this is not helped by the huge blocks of marble everywhere and the rather drab and dull Senate and House chambers.

Staff were pleasant and the tour was informative, though somewhat ponderous.

During the memorial day observances, the state of Washington holds a observation at the Olympia Veteran's Memorial Park; which allows for Vietnam, Korean and other war veteran's friends, family, and loved ones to visit beautiful statues, and other stone monuments honoring those men and women that have served our country proudly over many years, putting our security over their own sacrifice. I am proud to have been selected to sing the National Anthem two years in a row, and very humbled by the experience.

We enjoy visiting state capitols. Since we were spending the night in Olympia, we thought we'd visit the Capitol first thing on a Monday morning. The ONLY person we saw in the corridors of the building was a homeless man. All of the marble in the building was attractive. It was a fairly small capitol. To get a tour, we would have had to wait until 10 am. Since we had seen all of the public areas by 9 am, we decided not to wait.

This is a spectacular building and piece of American and western history. We were so delightfully surprised by the informative, free tour. It's an architectural gem with gorgeous grounds and gardens, inlays, marbles and even an enormous (size of VW bug) Tiffany lamp in the cavernous entrance. All of the docents were friendly and helpful and the tour was full of historical facts you'd never read about.

Loved the classical lines in this majestic building. Walk the staircases, balconies, and basement. Good store too, with products from all over the state. Friendly service.

This is a must visit. We took the free hour long tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. Such a beautiful building. Such gorgeous Tiffany light fixtures, marble throughout, and gorgeous rugs. The gift shop was very nice and staffed by friendly people.

Great free tour (about 45 minutes); nice buildings and grounds; amazing Tiffany fixtures; plan to spend about 2 hours total here to walk around the buildings, take the tour and enjoy the grounds. Good visitor center nearby

Big and impressive and with gorgeous rhododendrons around it but the interior is a bit plain compared to many other capitols

The grounds are beautiful and very good for a stroll, even in a drizzle. But to me, the guided tours of the State Capitol Building are the best. The docents are knowledgeable and take you to places the wandering public may not get to see. Washington joined the Union in 1889. The history of the state's evolution is all right here.

We stopped in Olympia on our way back to Seattle and stopped by the Capitol. The buildings are so beautiful and free for everyone to enter. There are tours which don't cost anything. If you love history and architecture be sure to stop here.

The Washington state capitol building is one of the few dome buildings on a lake near downtown Olympia. The area surrounding the capitol building is great fro pictures especially in April when the apple trees are blooming.

Lovely buildings and grounds. We followed one of the tours and found it interesting and informative. The granite and the Tiffanys are great.

There are free guided tours daily from 10AM until 5PM which are very informative and answer questions regarding Washington history and the construction of this great building. The Governors Mansion is next door and they also offer free tours every Wednesday but reservations are required for the Mansion tours.

It's a must-see. The location, the architecture, the marble & tile workmanship, the lighting fixtures and on and on. One minor disappointment is the bust of George Washington. Visitors used be able to touch George's nose for good luck - which, over the years, created a nose with a golden gleam. That's now forbidden and the bust has been painted over. Oh well.

Beautiful building; we took the tour as a work group and were impressed with the architecture, history and with the knowledgeable tour guide and his interesting pieces of trivia. The price tag (free) was also awesome!

The Capitol Building is well maintained and nice to look at. The grounds were immaculate. We loved the views of Puget Sound and The Law Enforcement Memorial.

Happy we came.

The state capitol building is a beautiful work of architecture. Marble floors, chandeliers from Tiffany and Co., and much to see and learn about. It's especially good when they are in session. Don't miss it!

When you come here, you can take a tour of the Capital Building. Walking up the steps, you should count how many there are, not including the big ones. The number should be in the 40s, I forgot how many there. But the number represents that if the number was 44, then Washington was the 44th state. If you're visiting from a different state and want to learn about Olympia and Washington, you guys should totally come here.

We visited our new state Capitol during the holidays and were mightily impressed with the building’s beauty and history. We enjoyed a very informative one hour FREE tour with a knowledgeable volunteer docent. He walked us through the whole building and answered our many questions about the history, architecture, and the WA state legislature. The grounds around the Capitol are well kept and are sure to be beautiful come spring. There are some walking trails nearby which we plan to utilize on our next visit.

Our jaws just dropped as soon as we entered. Just stunning. We went on a Sunday, free parking, beautiful flower garden, incredible art, marble, chandeliers. The only negative was that you can only go in the chambers if you’re with a group.

sit by the fountain, tour the capitol...all worth a look see and great photo op. At least drive through.

I am a big fan of the architecture style of the Capitol or "Legislative Building" as it's officially termed. All the decadence of the roaring 20's was incorporated into this building and I love every detail.
I would highly recommend a visit if you're ever in the area

My 12 year old son and I went for a tour on a Saturday (they start at 11:00 am). The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and we learned a lot about the building, what happens in the building, learned about some hidden items as well (look for the dog in the reception room).

This would be a great indoor activity on a cold or rainy day.

The tour is free, and lasted over an hour.

Free education and relaxing fun for entire family. Here in our own Back Yard of things to do for free Olympia WA. History, architecture, views and easy walking. Take a guided tour of Capital building or wonder on your own with a helpful staff for any questions, including where to eat. Best tourism gift shop in the state! Have fun and learn.

My sister and I flew to Seattle to get some coffee from the Starbucks Roastery (see my post on this) and because my bucket list is to get a selfie from a polaroid camera in front of the 50 State capitals, I figured it was a good time to do it. So, we left the Roastery, rented a car and drove 45 minutes to take a picture. I wish that it wasn't at night as the pictures can't even do it justice, but this is one of the most fantastic and beautiful architecture. This also seems like a great place to walk through and learn the history...I would have loved to experience a Masquerade Ball like another person wrote about. Instead we just drove around the grounds and took pictures that really didn't turn out so well. Accomplished another State Capital on my bucket list, but I'd say travel here and stay longer to enjoy all that the great State of Washington has to offer!!

We were in Olympia on July 3. We decided to go visit the Capitol building. It was a good time to visit as there were very few people there. We enjoyed looking at the architecture and admiring the craftsmanship. On the other hand, it would have been nice to have taken a tour with an explanation of the history. Either way it was an experience to be there.

Most every state I have visited, I have tried to see its Capitol as it is a structure where the people of that state try to show you who they are. Unfortunately, due to timing, we did not get to go in the Capitol. However, we did get a brief view of the grounds. It is very pretty stone building with a commanding view on top of a hill overlooking the harbor which is the most inland part of the Puget Sound. While I would have loved to gone inside, I was happy I got to see its exterior.

We visited the Washington State Capitol as a family after a quick dental checkup at Capitol Lake Dentistry—it turned into one of the most memorable parts of our day in Olympia. The grounds are stunning, with wide lawns. The architecture itself is grand, and the inside tour gave us a real appreciation for the history and detail behind Washington’s government.
Our kids were surprisingly engaged, especially with the massive dome and marble interiors. The guides kept the information light and interactive, which made it easy for them to follow along.

Dave S was an enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable guide through the capital building. We received huge amounts of history about the building and the state of Washington. Absolutely gorgeous building and entertaining guide. Great way to stay out of the rain

I have been a tour guide at the State Capitol but, yesterday I took 2 out of state visitors who were greatly impressed with this building and the knowledge of the guide. To think that most of the decor has been in place since 1928, and how it has survived, is magical. Did you know that this state has the largest collection of Tiffany lights in the world, and the largest chandelier that Tiffany every designed and built? That alone is worth the visit to the tallest masonry dome in the United States.

Seeing the state capitol and memorial, was a great afternoon. The architecture on the buildings are incredible.

Really recommend taking the free tour of the Capitol. It is an hour and very informative. You learn about the building and state history.

I worked here for six years and never got tired of the beautiful grounds and scenery - especially the Capitol Lake. It really is amazing in the springtime when everything is in bloom. You can wander for quite awhile here and see the various memorials and gardens, the fountain, and of course the Legislative Building. Before Covid, you could go on guided tours of the Legislative Building, which is pretty awesome. The inside of the building is stunning to say the least, and at Christmas they have a beautiful tree set up and often there are school bands and choirs. Worth a stop if you're in the area. A great place to exercise - lots of paved paths, lots of steps to climb, and if you want to take the switchbacks (dirt) trail to the bottom it's worth the effort. There are benches to stop and rest along the way if you need to. When it's non-Covid time, you can visit the Legislative Building gift shop for neat treasures. Even local residents and employees like to shop there for little goodies and souvenirs.

As “collectors” of state capitols, we enjoyed the free guided tour of Washington’s state capitol. The group was too large to make the tour comfortable, but the guide managed. The architecture of the building is classically beautiful, and the colors, light fixtures, and furnishings completed a picture of elegance and importance. After the tour, at the guide’s recommendation, we stepped inside the governor’s outer office to see the portraits on the wall and the conference room. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. Even though we would have enjoyed a smaller tour group, we were glad to see that the capitol tour is so popular.

After the tour, we walked across to the beautiful Supreme Court building. We also enjoyed the statues and fountain on the grounds. Parking was easy on a non-legislative day; we parking in metered parking along the driveway. We were happy to find that the meter machine accepted coins. We probably would have spent more time enjoying the capitol grounds, but our meter was running out.

I normally come to this memorial twice a year, and I find it peaceful, reconciling, and very calm. I just sit and think more deeply about it's actual events that occurred and ponder on this memorial structure and its' true meaning. I believe this stone structure is a beautiful statement. I am proud to have this at our state capital. Thank you to all that were instrumental in its' being.

The Washington State Capitol Tour was very good. We went on a Saturday so the building was quiet and we were not able to go into some areas since no one was working in those offices. It's free. Parking is tricky to find as you don't know where the building entrance is. It's probably best if you stop at the visitor's center first and then go park because they can give you better directions. I'm working on visiting all the capitols and this was number 47. 3 more to go!

Have lived here in WA since 93 and had never been to capital. Stick around for the tour given every hour. Worth it. The gentleman we had on Sunday was energetic and really knew his stuff. A must see. Plus parking is free on weekends. Tour is free. Why not.

The Capitol is beautiful with its marble and granite. Tall in stature. We walked up the steps. We did not go inside, but we will be back. Want to take the walking tour.

The tour of the capitol is free and very interesting. Our guide provided a very detailed and interesting dialog of the buildings and history. This is a place all Washington citizens should definitely visit. This visiting Oklahoman thinks you have a marvelous building and grounds. You should be proud.

We jumped into a tour that had already started that only had 2 people & we had a family of 6. Very interesting & informative. Guide was a wealth of knowledge & spectacular! He could relate the info to our kids ages 13-7 & keep them engaged! Our kids even asked questions, lots of them - we were shocked. 3 of our kids said this part was the favorite of our trip to Olympia! The architecture, the government processes & history were all amazing. I think we may have some pages in our family future thanks to our tour guide.

The Capitol grounds are beautiful and a must see when in town. The Legislative Building is beautiful and free to get in. There are a lot of stairs up to the building but, once inside, you can take an elevator. I recommend you take the guided tour in the Legislative Building. You can do a self-guided but the guided gives you more access to the other rooms. There is a lovely gift shop downstairs as well. Unfortunately, only service dogs are allowed inside. You can have a leashed pet on the grounds.

Definitely take a stroll around the grounds on a warm sunny day. There is an amazing Dahlia garden, large trees and interesting statues and fountains.

It was a beautiful day to check out the Capitol. We like to take the kids to see different capital buildings. This one had nice architecture. The gift shop left more to be desired, staff was busy chatting amongst themselves and the prices on items were a little much for what was being offered. Pleased that we made the stop to check out the grounds though.

When family visited, we took them on the free tour of the Capitol and we all had a great time. The adults loved the architecture and history and the kids loved the "factoid" details offered by the guide.

Though we had been at Seattle for many years and have passed through Olympia and Tacoma many times never visited the State Capitol. This time on our way to Saint Helen we decided to visit and spend few hours. The visit is worth. The Buildings are magnificient and well maintained. The Lawns are large spacious and beautiful. You have guided tours available which take about an hour and if you are a history buff we recommend it strongly .The views inside the building are beautiful.

The docents on the tour provide insight about the history of the mansion and the governors who have lived there. The decor is interesting and unique with beautiful antiques. Our group was fortunate to meet Trudy Inslee in passing.

Beautiful Building, inside and out. The park is very nice constructed and there is a fountain. Unfortunately but for good reasons the fountain will not be using water this year. The Capitol Building is a must see if you come to the South Sound region.

This is the 41st state capitol we've visited. It's beautiful.

There is metered parking along the street. You are welcome to walk around and inside the capitol at your own pace and see it's beautiful architecture.

Went for 1pm tour on Sunday and guide didn’t show. Did self tour but everything but Lobby was locked.

we attended a memorial for numerous families honoring those that had passed and donated organ, (northwest transplants)., They made the day special, and pulled out the red carpet for all attending, light breakfast, ceremony, then lunch,

I like visiting capitols. Lots of history and insight to the origins and institutional values of the state. Washington's Capitol overlooks a small lake and the south Puget sound.

We have a beautiful State Capital and campus in Olympia WA. The daffodils and tulips are in bloom in the Spring, cherry trees are blooming and fragrant. The dome on the Capitol is limestone. Interior is marble. Worth a visit when you’re in town!

I love to see the architecture and workmanship that went into building the capital as well as that it takes to maintain it.

It's unfortunate we can not build like this today.

Got to the capitol just in time for the tour at 12:00. The lady ( forgot her name) did a very good job! Very ornate..lots and lots of marble and tiffany chandeliers. Saw the senate and house and reception area where they hold dances every 2 years!

A great day trip - especially with the kids! We love taking the guided public tour (available 10-3 daily), the volunteer guides are always friendly and well informed. The Tiffany crystal chandeliers are lovely and, from the Rotunda floor, the interior dome rises 175 awe inspiring feet. The grounds are well maintained and at there most beautiful in the Spring.

The Washington State Capitol is incredible. The home of the Washington State Legislature also houses the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of State. Tours are available year-round, and, if the Legislature is in session, I recommend watching either the House or Senate as they do their work. If you are a resident of the state, contact your Senator or Representative for a tour and meeting. The gift shop is great too! Parking can sometimes be a challenge, so take a look at the website before your trip.

Washington's State Capitol is tucked amongst a lot of other state offices in Olympia. Wow it's very impressive. Though it looks old it was only completed in 1920's We didn't take a tour and just wandered around the massive interior - lots of marble and a gorgeous dome. While we were there, we noticed democracy in action as there were several protestors at one entrance - something about women's rights. Gardens are lovely. Free short term on street parking near the building.

When we were driving through Olympia we stopped by the State Capitol building to take a few pictures and at the entrance a guided tour was starting and we were invited to join. The lady guiding us was excellent and was wealth of information on the building and the political structure of the state. We have visited other state capitol buildings and Washington's outside is typical and not very interesting but the interior is fantastic with tons of Marble and granite everywhere. Take in a guided tour and you won't be disappointed.

Nothing special, but a very beautiful campus, especially for a small City / State Capitol. I used to live in Olympia for many years and I've actually spent a lot of time there with School, Boy Scout, and other field trips...

Anytime of year is great. Great for families and children. So much to see. Every four years is the Governor's Inaugural Ball which is the biggest party of the year and all non political. Lots of seafood featured, lots of other food, adult beverages and at least 5 different bands playing in 5 different locations.

The beautiful building is located on a hill, it is open from 9am to 4 pm on weekends. From the legislation building one can have a nice view of water inlet.

Walking around the Capitol Campus and grounds in,the spring time is always a good time. The flowers are starting to bloom and you can't go wrong with a visit to the State Capitol.

Washington's capitol building was built to resemble the nation's capitol. Our state capitol makes a bold & beautiful statement sitting proudly upon a hilltop seen from many angles in beautiful Olympia. A large body of water is at the bottom of the hill with a great running path around it. One of my favorite spots is on a bridge (near 4th) where I can see the water below & our capitol on top or an absolutely gorgeous view is from the farmers market area! While sitting on a bench with yachts in front of you on the water, to the left is the Capitol perched up high & to the right are snow-capped mountains! What a site!! After taking in this one-of-a-kind view, walk to one of many mom-and-pop eateries for a bite to eat or to a local coffee house where you will get the best quality coffee!! Coffee art (designs on top of your latte is soooo magical!!!). This full day would make for an unforgettable feast for the senses!

You must go here and get a free tour of this absolutely beautiful building. You can tour it on your own as well, but it's more educational with the free tour. If your lucky you can even watch congress in session (or whatever they call that group of elected leaders). It's an absolutely rich breath taking building. Walk around the surrounding areas (campus), eat a picnic lunch on the lawn, and or get some exercise meandering your way down the hill towards capitol lake and take as stroll on that 1.5 mile walk around the lake.

I went there with my class and met some cool people and saw cool things. They have 5 different kinds of marble and I got to meet a page! It was so cool and I recommend you go!

Olympia is close enough to Seattle to visit in a single day. Beautiful capitol building and grounds with accompanying supreme court building. Also old, original capitol building just few blocks away. Easy to park and accommodating facilities. Does not have a history museum on site unfortunately.

Capital governor house open M-Sa and was great history free tour. Parking is free if come during the wknds. After tours, we walked down around the park and downtown. The downtown looks mixture of Udistrict/Seattle seeing many homeless near capital area.

We toured the Legislative Building and the State Supreme Court Building as well as the grounds. Beautiful Marble and panels in both buildings. Interesting facts highlighted. We also had fun in the Gift Shop.

Great venue for a great event. Over 1300 in attendance. Total access to all floors. What a great state we love in

Not great but not terrible. The woman giving the tour of the capital building was very softly spoken. There wasn’t much to see inside in my opinion. But outside the Beautiful cherry blossom trees took your breath away.

I went to the capitol to see it for the first time and to take some photos while I was visiting to compete in the Mrs. Washington pageant held in Olympia. It has beautiful grounds and the buildings are something to see too. I went early morning so the buildings were not open yet to review the inside.

I drove 45 minutes with my children for an educational day at the Capitol building. I have two 7 year olds and an infant (well behaved, quiet baby). I called ahead of time and was told that the first tour of the day would have room and my family was looking forward to it. The kids were really excited to be in such a large and lovely building. They were looking at the statues and talking excitedly. I told them they would need to settle down and behave. When we walked up to the tour group, the elderly female tour guide immediately said "this is a historical tour, so I'm not sure they would benefit from this". I told her that I told them they may be bored, but would need to behave. She then said "I don't think this is going to work out", and refused to let us attend the tour.

This is a public tour and nowhere on the website does it mention that it is not appropriate for children and families. I remember attending this tour in elementary school, and found it beneficial in my understanding of our state government, and was hoping to give my kids the same experience.

It was rude and embarrassing for me. Again, if they wish for children not to attend, they should specify that on their website. Otherwise they should employ guides that can engage with the children and make learning interesting. I was very disappointed with our experience today.

It was a family visit for us. The whole area offers great views of Olympia state government buildings and beautiful surroundings. There is plenty of material for a tourist to know about Washington state and its history. Must visit place.

A visit to the Washington State Capitol buildings in Olympia is worth every minute. Walk around in the spring with beautiful gardens, magnolia and dogwood trees, rhododendrons and sculptures outside, and beautiful marble history inside. Impressive at every turn. Make the walking tour if you can but if not.. just wander around.. and drink from the water fountains .. view the outside and the many turns and trails inside.
Go.. even if you are not American it is a great place to see, sit and even picnic.

If you are going to be at the capital for business, make time to really look around. Wonderful history.

My friend and I had an amazing experience here. We wanted to recreate Rocky's run to the top of the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a student film we were making. The staff were so kind, friendly, and happy to have us there! Thank you!

This old Tartarian Building was magnificent with Grifffins engraved into the marble in the ballroom on the second floor

Very large grounds area and easy access to enter the building. We visited 13 state capitals on our summer trip and this was in the top three for us!

stumbled into the capital late Sunday afternoon not knowing what to expect..caught the last walking tour and was glad we agreed to do it..very informative and the architecture is amazing..a local high school choir was in singing and it was magical

We had a tour of the legislative building (the main capitol building). There is no charge for the tour. Our guide, Michelle, did an excellent job. We were able to see the rooms where the House of Representatives and Senate meet. They were not in session since they meet beginning in January. The Judiciary branch is in a separate building across the street and we were able to explore here following the guided tour. We learned about construction of the capitol building, the symbolism behind the 42 steps leading up to the legislative building, the dome and much more. If someone tours during winter while the houses meet, people can go in little balcony type rooms and observe our representatives voting for or against laws.
There is a cafe downstairs in the legislative building. Outside on the campus grounds there are multiple memorials and monuments.
Check the website for other tours offered . . . botanical gardens, governor's mansion and more!

We like to visit and walk the beautiful grounds. Beautiful gardens, walking trail to Capital lake, there are tours of Capital, library, and various state offices. Great spot for photography. And visit the memorial wall.

We toured on our own, not a guided tour. The capitol building was not busy on a Friday late afternoon. The senate viewing area was closed, but the house viewing area was open. The entire building is spectacular. It is well worth the hour or so you will want to spend there. SO MUCH marble. Wow! The capitol sits on a "campus" of old government buildings. We didn't enter any of the other buildings, but enjoyed looking at them. We live in Wisconsin and our state capitol is comparable. The campus is what sets Washington's capitol apart.

Beautiful building and campus. Go inside for a free tour by knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides and learn the history of the building and the state. The campus is a wonderful place to relax or walk around and enjoy the gardens, the views, and the various buildings and monuments.

Great and informative tour. Fun facts and details. Beautiful building. The tour was about 50 min long and free!

Having been in many capital cities I found this one to be very nice. The grounds have plenty of Green space.. things are laid out nicely. The capital building is surrounded​ by many state buildings. A real nice location and a great place to visit.

We planned a quick drive by, but then decided to go in. We were there before the first tour at 10 am, so took a self-guiding approach with a brochure we picked up. Alas, though the building was open and school or camp groups were visiting, the house and senate rooms were locked. The biggest issue was parking. It was limited and one had to pay.

Whenever family or friends come to visit Olympia we always have a visit to the Capitol included . The free tour, marble and Tiffany chandeliers, make the visit worthwhile. Fashioned after our nation's Capitol building, the Capitol and the beautiful Capitol grounds are well worth the time . The view northward ( in the back of the Superior Court Building) highlights the police officers memorial and the Port of Olympia on Budd Bay .

The Capitol building with its guided tour is one of five buildings in the complex. It is one of the most beautiful capitol buildings I have visited in my quest to visit each state capitol. Lauri, the guide was very knowledgeable and thorough in the tour.

Traveling with my mother and sisters for a girls getaway, we were on our final day of a week-long vacation and found ourselves in Olympia en route back to Seattle. While eating at Olympia Oyster House (also highly recommended), we pondered what to do next. With the capitol building close by, I decided to pull it up on Trip Advisor to see if it was worth our time. After seeing so many rave reviews, we decided to take a chance…and we’re so glad we did!!! Steve Jones was our tour guide & did an amazing job in providing an interesting overview of the political aspects as well as the history and beautiful details of the building itself. An hour flew by in no time. Steve was engaging, well-informed, and truly passionate about giving everyone a wonderful experience. Steve- I hope you see this review from one of your new friends from Texas. 🤠

I am at the Capitol Building several times per year and I am always amazed at how beautiful the restoration is.

lovely lovely campus....fabulous architecture....nice lake views.
the governor's house is on the west side of the campus....enjoy the history, the gorgeous interiors, they offer tours all the time.

Grand somber Capitol Campus consisting of Legislative Building housing the Senate and House of Representatives. Justice Building. Classical Greco Roman Architecture Three types of marble. Largest single hand loomed rug on the west coast in Reception room. Grand Temple brass firepits in Rotunda which has the most perfect acoustics.

Washington State's capitol building has to be the most beautiful capitol building in the country. I seriously doubt that a building like it could be built today anywhere in the country. It is a visual splendor of superb architecture, marble, Tiffany chandeliers, and old-world craftsmanship. And our tour guide did justice to this magnificent building.

Stopped in on a whim as we headed to the coast. So glad we did! One of the loveliest state capitols anywhere! Gorgeous dome, marbles, and chandeliers by Tiffany. We took the docent led tour and our docent was charming, interesting, and very knowledgeable! The tour takes you into many rooms including the impressive reception room and bill signing room. The grounds and campus for the rest of the buildings are lovely, too. Stop at the visitors center for extra info and good parking.

This was the next stop on our quest to tour all 50 state capitols. We went on a weekend and were able to park right in front of the building which was nice. Tour had about 20 people, including a decent number of kids. Tour guide did a nice job of trying to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, we were rushed out of the building at 4pm because the building was closing for the day. Not much to do in Olympia otherwise. Beautiful building.

We took the free approximately 1 hour tour of the Capitol Building in Olympia, the seat of the Washington State legislature. It contains the largest single collection of Tiffany & Co. light fixtures specially made for the building. The lamp that hangs in the rotunda is the largest Tiffany lamp in the world, it and the chain it hangs on are about 13,000 pounds. The building was completed in 1928, the rotunda is the fourth largest in the world and the largest in the U.S. Various marbles from around the world were used in all of the building. Our tour guide was very informative and made the tour enjoyable.

This is one building in a complex of buildings constructed between 1911 and around 1940. The grounds are very beautiful and the building has a classic design.

We came here for an unplanned visit after the weather impacted our other plans. Being from out of state, I was a bit skeptical about whether I would enjoy a tour of Washington's Capitol. However, our volunteer tour guide, Steve Jones, was a rock star! He made the tour interesting and engaging, and we enjoyed every minute. We felt as those we were truly guests, and not just gawking tourists. We pulled up Tripadvisor for him and he was surprised to see the glowing reviews he'd already received to date! If you get Steve as your guide, please tell him the group from Texas said to tell him hello.

The Washington State Capitol is worth seeing. The grounds are beautiful, especially in the spring when rhododendrons and other spring flowers are at their peak. The marbled interior is also gorgeous. You can take tours of the governors mansion, visit the many memorials, get info from the nearby visitor center, admire views of Puget Sound and the Olympics, and walk down to and around Capitol Lake.

We arrived in Olympia at supper time, so were unable to take advantage of the guided tours of the Capitol Buildings, which are architecturally beautiful, from the outside anyway! I got some great photos...
If you're a gardener, check out the gorgeous rose garden too.

What a fabulously extravagant building! A beautiful marble interior with such amazing ceiling!
Must be a wonderful day at the office for all who work there.
A fleeting visit & we’re just able to have a wander to take in the sheer scale & magnificence of it all.
The surrounding grounds & gardens were perfectly manicured with a pretty fountain to just sit & relax by.
Definitely worth a visit!

Love the great tours offered thru-out the day! Went twice with different family members visiting Olympia. They were equally impressed.

What a surprise find - we had no idea that the legislative house hosts the largest collection of Tiffany lamps and chandeliers and is beautiful. Best of all are their multiple tours --- even on Sunday. Definitely worth a visit!

Our group stopped here for a stretch of our legs and to walk around and observe the outdoors. I would have liked to spend more time there to go inside but we stopped on a Sunday and the buildings were not open. Beautiful grounds and statues.

Your first impression will be of the Capitol dome looming over you as you drive toward the campus. While it's tiny compared to DC, outside of that, it's arguably the most beautiful state capital campus. Inside, the marble floor and hallways give every step the feeling of historical significance. Fittingly for the Evergreen State, the campus includes towering fir trees. If you're there in the fall or spring, take the time to walk through the residential neighborhood to the South of the campus-- you'll enjoy the canopy created by towering trees in the midst of flowering or losing their leaves. If you're hungry and want to eat on-campus, there's a nice deli in the main leg building or burgers in the Pritchard building. If you're up for the walk, a trip down to Capital Lake is recommended. And don't forget the gift shop.

Really enjoyed our visit. The highlight was the state patrol cadet in Govenor Inslee's office. We were exploring on our own and he invited us in and told us all about the office and the portraits. He was funny and informative. We enjoyed looking around the building.

One of the truly beautiful state capitols. The grounds are a lovely place to stroll -- especially in late spring and summer months. The inner dome is one of the highest in America and is awe inspiring. The legislative rooms are usually open to the public and the WA Supreme Court Building directly across from it is also beautiful. HIghly recommended if passing through Olympia.

I was immediately impressed by how this building had been maintained. There is a lot of marble, bronze and sandstone. There is a massive chandalier the size of a VW bug in the center of the building. You could actually sit upstairs and watch the legislature in action. The wooden benches are original dating back to the early 1900's. The people manning the rooms were very friendly and gave us good information about the rooms we visited.

The Capitol building is now open daily. I highly recommend taking the free 30 minute tour. They tell you very interesting info and you get to visit the State Reception Room (at least we did) that is normally closed. A very beautiful building from another era.

We went to Washington from Portland specifically to visit the state capital. This time we visited during the week. It’s great because Olympia is not a very big city and traffic is minimal. This is one of the nicest capitals we have visited so far. Took the guided tour. Our tour guide, Frank, was fantastic. The capital has one of the largest collections of Tiffany Company light fixtures. Early 1900s era, lots of marble usage, just amazing buildings and grounds. Very interesting history. A must see.

It is a very interesting experience to see where our government runs their sessions, You can see the house and the senate. You can go on tours as well.

We are from California and went to Washington for kids summer vacation. We decided to start visiting every State Capitol and this was our first. After visiting WA Capitol we went to Oregon and California Capitols and nothing beats this place yet! Very elegant and victorian style.

All the fixtures are Tiffany...the tour was totally informative. Very cool, and we'll the detour off of I5. The town of Olympia is very hip as well. Definitely going back.

We took a guided tour which was basically private as my husband and I were the only two on the tour. The docent that gave the tour was very knowledgeable and took time to answer any of our questions. Don't miss the Supreme Court building on your trip to the capitol.

This was the first place we took our family after moving from the east coast. The capital building was beautiful. We all walked around the inside for awhile. If you enjoy historical buildings this is for you.

We discovered a tree that was planted from a seed that was brought to the moon and back. The kids thought that was really neat :)

Concierge full of great info, tiffany lamps amazing, the whole complex is easy to navigate and close proximity to visit everything.

We dropped our son off to be a page for this week in the Senate and took a tour of partial areas of the property as well as the capital.
Security and information staff are extremely polite and accommodating to help you out. The renovation of the capital has been a job well done. The marble, woodworking and rosettes look astonishing and as good as brand-new. Details were very well treated with attentiveness right down to the mounting for the closed circuit security cameras on the marble interior walls. We would encourage you to take a look if you're at all interested as the tour will be well enjoyed I am sure.

Our capitol is uniquely beautiful, full of different marbles and a stately atmosphere. I volunteer at the Visitor Center and one of our most popular attractions is the free tour of the Legislative building with its dome. The grounds are well maintained and hold several memorials, something to interest everyone.

We visited on a beautiful sunny day. Beautiful architecture. There are tours, but we wandered around on our own. There was a choir practicing, which added to the splendor of the place.

The Capital was a nice day trip to Olympia. The Capitol Building is open most weekdays and they offer tours every hour or you can wander around yourself. Pretty much every office is open for you to explore. The buildings are beautiful with marble and wood. The park outside is nice and the kids can run around to let some steam out. It is very close to downtown so food is not far if you need some lunch. You do have to pay for parking here but it is really cheap. It was only about $4 for two hours which is enough time to explore.

This is the most impressive and ornate building I have seen this side of England. The entire interior is covered in marble on virtually every surface - except for those parts which are made of solid bronze. We came in through the back entrance on a weekday; nobody stopped us, asked our business, or charged us money. We walked around the fairly deserted capital building at our lesiure, which was fun.

Our tour guide (Steve? It was a Monday and that’s when he gives tours) was amazing. We were in WA and decided a capital tour would be fun, quick, and educational. It turned out to be one of the best stops of our vacation. Steve worked as an attorney for the state government for 30 years and was full of knowledge. He was funny, engaging, interesting, and clearly passionate about his state. If you’re going to take this tour I highly recommend making sure Steve (?) is working.

An educational trip worth taking. Tour guide was fantastic. The building has some neat things and the scale is amazing.

It's free to enter the beautiful state capitol building and marvel at its dome and impressive classical architecture. The grounds are also nice, with veterans memorials, flowers, fountains and statuary. There's also a great view back down to the town and across the waterfront.

We've been to a bunch of capitals and this one was particularly boring to visit. It isn't beautiful (like the state it represents!) and nothing else to recommend it either.

Read the literature you are offered or take a scheduled tour. There are multiple buildings on the campus and the staff in every office seems delighted to help visitors get the most of their visits.

My family and I love visiting all of the state capitols we can take in while on our roadtrips. This is by far one of our favorites. Make sure you check out the gift shop and grab some local goodies! The chehalis mints are worth every penny!

We stopped by the capital grounds along with our picnic on a warm sunny day. What a wonderful relaxing experience. I would highly recommend this outdoor adventure with the kids

I love this building. It is stunningly beautiful inside and out. I especially enjoy walking through the marble lines hallways. It gives you such a sense of history;, of a time when craftsmanship was revered. Continual efforts to preserve and protect this building is an ongoing gift to the people of Washington State and its many visitors.

Very beautiful place, worth visiting! Beautiful grounds all over! There is a park called Marathon Park that has a place to park your vehicle for up to two hours free. Then the pathway that circles the Capitol Lake has a pathway leading up to the Capitol building itself. It's a wonderful spiralling trail that climbs in elevation and it has views of the lake and as you climb higher towards the capitol you also see farther out towards the port where Percival Landing is, with lots of boats moored up. It's either a semi short walk up to the capitol via the climbing pathway or it's a long run around the lake that is quite clear and clean, that theoretically could take less than two hours equal to the free parking allotment.

Went on a weekend. The lady at the front was very welcoming and knowledgeable!we loved it! Thank you Washington!

Awesome building. Campus beautiful in spring. Always interesting to watch the legislature in action. Many days there are special activities at noon in the rotunda.

The Capitol building is beautiful do not miss a visit if you are in the area. We didn't do a guided tour because the timing didn't wasn't right for us. We still enjoyed wondering through the halls and looking in the different rooms, all employees we encountered were very helpful and chatty.

We stopped by on Saturday to visit the gardens. The capital building was also open so we were able to walk around it . What a lovely old building that is still being used. We weren't able to stay for the tour so I guess we will just have to return another time. We did enjoy the garden and viewing all the artwork in the park.

Take the free tour and if you live in Olympia take your visitors! The Tiffany chandeliers and lamps are lovely. Visit the expanded gift shop. Walk around the memorials and down the hill to Capital Lake.

We're visiting state capitals, and this one is like being in a small scale D.C.: a green expanse with numerous pillared limestone buildings and the occasional statue. Impressive, particularly on a beautiful day, and a nice place to walk around. We seemed to find ourselves constantly at the intersection of Reserved Parking Only and Reserved Parking Only but were able to drive through some of the lots.

The Capitol building, seen from the lake is impressive yet the lake is disgusting. I'm aware that there's an invasive snail in the lake and people are advised against using it; what I cannot fathom is why nothing's been done to clean it since 2009. The only positive was that the surrounding path was nice with markers around the lake for each county in Washington State. If you visit with children or pets, please keep them away from this cesspool.

We were in the building for a Legislative Day for a trade group. We got there a day ahead of time so went over just to nose around. Got there just as a volunteer was starting a tour. Really interesting about the history of the building, the origins of the state seal, etc. The building housing the legislative chambers and gov office are in the building with the big dome, but it says Legislative Buiding, not Capitol Building. Beautiful rotunda inside. Of interest to anyone with interest in history or in government. Something kids should see.

Must see if you are in the area. You can see the Capitol building on your own or they also have free guided tours offered by volunteers. The supreme court across is interesting as well. Stroll across the bridge and check out the memorials, gardens and landscape surrounded by a variety of State offices. Plenty of benches yo have a picnic.

This stop made State Capital Building #18. Nice grounds, the stone inside is nice, Did not have time to take the guided tour, just self toured.

This is by far one of the most beautiful capitols in our nation. If you can't stomach DC come here for almost the same architecture, spring cherry blossoms and much less traffic.

As always guided tours are better, but this is small building to see and it does not take too much time.

My husband and I are on a quest to visit all the state capitols, and so far we've seen about 40%. This one ended up being one of my least favorites. The building is certainly imposing, but I would never call it beautiful. It was just too gray. There was a little color in some of the rooms, but it was too little and too muted. On the other hand, I liked the tour we got. We got to see both the senate and the house, as well as a few other rooms. The tour was a nice balance between the history of the state and government.

You are already one of the owners of this building, so this is a good time to take the free tour and look around- even if the legislature is not in session, this is an opportunity to check in with the ways that archectucture supports and inspires democracy. If the legislature is in session, here is an opportunity to see how ideas become policy and policy lives in our lives for better or worse. Pro tip: Be sure to visit the bathrooms-wow!

Decided to visit on Memorial Day. We had a great time! Spent time wandering around the grounds. Took the FREE tour of the capital. There is an awesome path down to the lake for a nice stroll around that too! As someone told me - this is our capital and we should enjoy it and all the beautiful grounds - like the beautiful fountain! Well worth a visit and you will no doubt learn something about your state!

We were pleased to find a tour available midday on Sunday. The guide provided interesting information about the site and Washington State history in general. The tour runs about 40 minutes.

We had a nice tour of the building, visiting the legislative chambers, the Rotunda and other rooms and corridors. The stone work is beautiful throughout, and the Rotunda is magnificent with it's amazing chandelier.
The grounds are also beautiful. The flowers and the walks around the Capitol Lake area are well worth a visit on a pretty day.

Enjoyed a one hour guided tour around the capitol building. Guide was excellent and she gave us lots of interesting pieces of information. The building is surrounded by beautiful grounds. War memorials, and a large impressive fountain. Plenty of benches to sit at. Free parking at weekends, and plenty parking areas.
If you are in the area, don’t miss it!

This building visit makes us to feel as if we are in some European country. The building is rich with architectural styles and dome and high ceilings give majestic view. We went inside the building and inside it is very richly furnished with granites, marbles, brass chandeliers and brass statues.

We also saw assembly hall and audience chamber. We felt as if we were in a European palace of a king.

Highly recommend every body to visit this place, whoever in Washington state.

I hadn't planned to stop here but the building seemed to call me from the I-5. The beautiful dome of the Capitol building is easily in view from the freeway and so deciding to stop seemed like a great photo opportunity. We went wrong. The building is so large that it's almost hard to get a picture of the entire thing. As you walk the grounds, there are many great views to be had. There is also a dahlia garden here with several varieties which was lovely to look at. It doesn't take too much time to see everything so plan for an hour or less.

Great site to see, tons of history , Washington is a wonderful state to visit I highly recommend going there

The building itself is beautiful. Kind of mausoleum looking and feeling. Has a lot of wonderful historical information though.

The grounds could use a LOT more weeding in areas, but overall is a nice area to stroll around to see the variety of labeled trees. Flower garden was pretty if a replacement for the probably high maintenance former rose garden. Fountain landscaping is very colorful. Multi-war memorial is moving and has many interesting components.

Toured the Capital on the Tram and picked out the Mueseums I wanted to visit. Arlington Cemetary was very informative and interesting.

The WA State Capitol and campus are a great place to visit, esp if you are on your way north or south between Portland and Seattle. Easy access off I-5. Lovely grounds, well maintained. If you are there during the legislative session (Jan.- April, parking will be difficult. If you visit during summer, no problem, If you have time, take a Capitol tour or just walk into the dome and take a look around. Walk over to the Temple of Justice and around the grounds. You'll be glad you did.

This is one beautiful building and a must see attraction when your in Olympia. Marble everywhere you can even go into the Governors office and leave a note for him. You may have to pay to park so be prepared. There is a little café downstairs that has great food and is reasonably priced. Hot n cold sandwiches, salads, soups, various snacks and drinks. The tour is free but go early as I believe the last one is at 3pm.

We decided to spend a few hours in Olympia, and quickly discovered there really isn't much to do.

The State Capitol is an impressive enough building... but a 10 minute wander sufficed for me!

Visiting the building is great just walking around. I've been on the tour before and as a teen myself it was a bit boring, but if you walking inside yourself, you can see how nice the building and the small details they added to the walls and ceiling. If you are interested in taking the tour, you can learn great new facts about the state building that you probably didn't know before. I recommend visiting this place while you are in or around the city of Olympia

This place commands respect for its sheer size and beauty. The State officers and government staff were friendly and approachable. The marble and Chandler in the lobby are not to be missed. The grounds are awesome with a nice walk to the water behind the Capital. So peaceful. They were not in session which actually made the free tour worth it. The history and how they govern was awesome to learn.

This is a nice place to visit and wander around the campus. The history of the Capitol is fascinating and you can take one of the tours to hear most of it.

We had an excellent tour of this beautiful elegant capitol building. The state offers free tours by knowledgeable volunteer docents. I would highly recommend a visit.

As a couple we have made our goal to visit all the state capitol buildings. This one did not dissapoint. The tour was very thourough with a lot of information about state history and architecture of the Capitol grounds.

I used to work at the state Capitol and it is one of the best attractions in (the small town of) Olympia. Built in the 1930's, it is an excellent example of Roman/Greek revival civic architecture. The buildings adhere closely to the original plans (Olmstead brothers designed the campus) creating a rarely seen, harmonious setting. If you can get a tour, do so. The buildings' interiors are covered with butterflied marble - from as far away as Italy. The carpets were designed for the building and highlight native plants of the state. See if you can spot the rhody and dogwood flowers. The rotunda is not to be missed - one of the most elegant in the country, beautifully painted with trompe d'oeil marble.

Join one of the walking tours of the capitol. It is the only way to truly see it. You'll learn all kinds of historical information as well as see first hand how our capitol works. The architecture is simply amazing. One of the most beautiful state capitol buildings in the nation.

We parked in the visitors car park. Although it says you only get 30 mins free parking the guy said it was OK just to leave the car as we were going on the tour. The guy who did the tour was an ex teacher. He spoke eloquently and gave both historical and current context. The building itself was beautiful both inside and outside. Loved the marble and the Tiffany glass. Tour lasted 50 mins and it was time well spent. Very enjoyable

I have never been disappointed by a capitol building tour. In the first place, the architecture of the buildings is always amazing, with a combination of materials and furnishings that are hard to find outside the halls of government. In addition, tour guides are full of interesting stories about a given state’s history and its movers and shakers.

Olympia’s capitol has much in the way of classic architecture and structural materials: lots of marble, grandiose dome and vaulted ceilings, grand staircases and some fine period furnishings. Compared to other capitols I have visited, Olympia’s is more toward the bland side in terms of ornamentation, lacking the amount of original art and gold leaf that can be see elsewhere. Still, it’s a nice building and a worthwhile tour. Recommended.

Definitely take a stroll around the six-building campus, as there are some very serene and scenic places—monuments, fountains, flowers and nice views—in addition to the historic architecture.

Parking can be a little tricky. I noticed many spaces on N and S Diagonal street, so I grabbed one of those. You have to pay by the hour, but it’s not expensive.

We enjoy visiting state capitols. Our tour guide was a retired teacher and very information. Really enjoyed the conference room. It is beautiful and has a very interesting story. Definitely worth spending an hour or so here. All staff were very friendly.

This building is very nice. I didn't learn much about Washington's history, but I did enjoy being able to walk around the building and take pictures. The gift shop was lovely and the ladies didn't seem to mind that we were shopping close to their closing time.

I took an afternoon walk on the grounds of the Washington State Capitol on a Sunday in February. It was surprisingly warm and sunny for the season, so that made everything more pleasant. The architecture of the buildings on the site is interesting and beautiful, and the high ground offers some fantastic views of the mountains and inlet to the north on a clear day. I thought this was a great place to take a walk and enjoy a sunny day.

What a very special part of our trip this was! Absolutely majestic and full of Washington pride!

The grounds were breathtaking and it all felt so welcoming.

We would walk after supper as it became evening and all was so very peaceful. Recognition of the many fallen heros were displayed and honored in such respectful ways.

Also the lookout over the water to the mountains was breathtaking! One could spend a very long while there.

Finally,great to see so may people enjoying the capital grounds!

Thank you Ilympia and the state of Washington❤️

Our tour guide seemed to be an expert on all-things capitol building. She even had great story about giving a tour the day an earthquake hit Washington. Another great thing is that the tours are free and run hourly from 10-3.

We make a point of visiting state capital buildings as we travel throughout the US. This was a beautiful building, but what it lacked was items that related to the history of the state. The volunteer was a great speaker and was willing to answer any questions. We only saw pieces of the structure, the governor’s conference groom, the house chamber and the central rotunda. I would have liked to see pictures depicting important events in the founding, the flag described, important events in the continuing history of the state. Description of functions of the various branches. I left feeling there was an untold story that needed to be told

The Capitol building is a short walk from the visitor center parking lot. Very welcoming personnel and docents enhanced the visit. The extensive use of marble from five countries is astounding. Our docent was a former educator and extremely knowledgeable. Although there weren’t any sessions underway, we enjoyed seeing the areas and learning more about government processes. The rotunda and the unique Tiffany chandeliers are exquisite. Even if you don’t “need to go”, go into one of the restrooms for more marble craftsmanship. If you’re able, take the stairs for even more.
There is a small cafeteria where you can get a beverage and food, but it is also used by employees. We went in late morning for a beverage before our tour but decided to pass due to the wait and our approaching tour time. I can imagine that during lunch, you might have a wait because many menu items are prepared as they are ordered. Fortunate for us, we visited on Potato Day. Staff and visitors were treated in the rotunda to complementary baked potatoes with numerous toppings to choose from plus beverages. We were told that the following day would be Ice Cream Day.
Although there were four adults and no children on my guided tour, I did see materials designed for children and got a sense that the tour could easily be adapted to interest them.

So there are a lot of reasons to visit the capitol. The giant steps, the state history, seeing where our laws are made ... But the best part, and often the most overlooked is the gift shop.
It's mostly local and awesome goods. They have everything from wine, to umbrellas, mugs, kids clothing, local artists works ... Seriously I live nearby and sometimes visit the capitol just to grab a present for a birthday or thank you.

My kid got toys for her half siblings birthdays here and I've gotten some amazing greeting cards here too!

This review is underrated, you have to check it out to see how neat it is. Plus the folks at the counter have always been very friendly and helpful.

The neo-classical architecture is beautiful and ornate. The grounds are quite lovely. Might want to call ahead for a tour or find out if it’s a school trip day since it can be noisy.

I love walking the grounds of the Capitol regularly. The lake often has a family of river otters fishing in it, there are switchbacks that takenyou right up to the Capitol, they have a small flower garden and a pretty fountain. Always a peaceful place to wander on a nice day.

The Capital is great for events, such as memorial day, veterans day, and pride. But, less welcoming on an average day for teens

The area has several State buildings and historical buildings to see. You don't need long to take a short walk and see the sights, but definitely worth stopping.

It was a beautiful day! These building were built in the late 1800's and they are magnificent. It's really worth the stop and make sure you take the hour tour.

Visited the Washington State Capitol complex. We spent several hours touring the grounds, looking at monuments and visiting several of the buildings. We enjoyed the day but did a lot of walking. We walked the complex on foot. Tours are offered. We opted to tour on our own. There is a gift shop. We were able to pickup guides and maps that assisted us in our quest. Lots of marble. Lots of things to see. The staff and volunteers were very friendly.

Completed in 1928, the building is the seat of government for the 42nd U.S. State. It is home to the two chambers of the legislative legislature. It is free to visit (and guided tours are also available).

Opposite the main entrance (with its imposing staircase) is the so-called "Temple of Justice" (the building of the judiciary).

Free parking can be found near the building and from here you are also in 30 min. walk to the "Olympia Farmers Market".

We really enjoyed the free tour. The tour was informative about the history of the capital and our state government. After the visit my daughter decided she wanted to apply to be a summer intern Page. After the tour be sure to walk around the grounds and take the trail down to the waterfront. Really relaxing morning.

So much history here. Walk around and visit the various memorials. Go to the visitors center first for maps and info. The Capitol rotunda often has special exhibits, right now it holds the Christmas tree. All this is free.

I've done a self tour before and the Domed Capitol building is visually impressive what with all the marble and brass but this time, with guests from out of state we did the Docent guided tour. What we got was detailed history...learned where the marble was quarried (Italy and some from France) and who did the impressive brass, lamps and one piece carpet for the Reception room....50+ feet wide! Not giving those secrets away....

The docent had been giving tours for years and knew her history....delightful and so glad we did the tour!

I was just kind of wandering around Olympia, when I decided to head up to the Capital for old times sake. I had graduated from the old Olympia High School when it was still across the street and my Dad had been the minister of the United Churches. Going thru those huge doors and up the stairs was a funny feeling. Then topping the stairs and there was the seal on the floor and the ceiling and chandelier so far above. I was able to do a bit of wandering around, but not as much as we used to do before. It is just as beautiful and awesome as it was 60 years ago.

Washington State has a beautiful capital building and memorials. The landscaping isn’t as beautiful as it once was,

I grew up in Washington State but had. never visited the capitol building. We walked in the door just as a tour was starting. Our guide - a retired state employee was well-spoken, knowledgeable, and knew how to tell a story that would keep us all engaged - not an easy job with the mix of young and old in attendance.

What a great time we had exploring the seat of government for Washington State. Great property and you must take the 1 hour tour to learn aome of the history.

Also take a moment and head to the govenors office and see if he is in, shake his hand and tell him how he is doing!

Great history, and it is worth the stop.

Haven't been to the State Capitol for over 20 years. The collection of monuments is worth visiting and the variety of state buildings offer lots of interest for photography.

Parking is free on weekends and holidays

Road trip! Our 44th state capitol visited. The tour guide makes all the difference! Ours was great. Visitor parking was close and plentiful because we got there early. Highly recommend this tour.

My bucket list is to visit all 50 state capitol buildings, so had to stop here. This is one of the best! We enjoyed the 1-hr tour (usually one the hour from about 10am-4pm). Our guide (Mark Greene) was awesome and packed our tour group (5 people) full of info. The interior is so rich and lavish.....original Tiffany lamps, the 5-ton rotunda chandelier, the original one-piece woven carpet from 1928, and Alaskan marble throughout are all awesome. The bldg interior is reminiscent of the grand European buildings. The gift shop is well stocked with historical references, tasteful items and the usual kids things. Well worth a stop, easy access of I-5 from Portland or Seattle!

Washington State Capitol is quite a regal building indeed. It is a Greco-Roman style structure, a fine one at that, built towards the end of when this type of architecture was going out of style. The whole complex, which includes the state auditor's office, the Washington Supreme Court and the State Governor's Mansion, is well designed, lush and impressive.
The flooring and walls are mostly made of marbles quarried from Washington, Alaska and some imported from Europe. The rosettes on the roof are beautiful. The grandiose dome, high ceilings and wide stairs are quite radiant and very aesthetically pleasing. The light chandeliers designed by Tiffany's are an embodiment of fine craftsmanship, especially the one in the main rotunda that weighs 5 tonnes. Another majestic site was the State Reception Room. The original carpet in this room is huge and at that time was the largest single-loomed carpet in the world. The chandelier and the massive carved table in the room are also sights worth seeing.
The rotunda is also a very beautiful sight. There are beautifully carved fire-pots located in the corners of the rotunda. And the view of inside of the big dome from the rotunda is gorgeous. The center of the rotunda floor has a replica of the Seal of the State of Washington.
I'd absolutely recommend taking the free guided tour of the building. They have guided tours every hour. Sheila, our guide, was very patient, knowledgeable and her interest in the subject was fascinating. The tour took us through the main foyer, the house and senate viewing halls and the time capsule on the rear side. She described the various aspects of the legislature and the history of the building and the state and she really did an excellent job on the tour! The view of the senate and house chambers were quite impressive as well.
Parking is quite cheap and abundant when I went on a weekend.

Took my Grandson from Bloomington, MN. He was 16 at the time. The guide was aware of his age and kept up his interest level.

Did a on your own tour- guided tours are available. They have a paper guide to lead you through.
An amazing chandelier and images of George are highlights.
Parking is available short distance away.

Took a tour with a docent. They run on the hour. Very professional docent. Said he had worked in the building for many years and, yes, he truly knew the building and a lot of history. Just exquisite. Lots of school children visiting, and they were well behaved.

I am on a quest to visit all 50 state capitols and I have around 15 to go. So, I know what makes a great state capitol building for me. It is attractive and tells about its state. I always say that the capitol building is how a state presents itself to the rest of the country and to the world. While tours are great, the capitol shouldn't need one to tell its story. This one tells no story. The only full sculptures are copies of ones in the US Capitol. There is a bust of George Washington and his face (as part of the Seal of the State) is all over the place, even in doorknobs. Yes, the state is named for him, but he was never here. This building tells me nothing about the people of the state or the industries or the geography. There is no artwork telling any history or showing scenery. There is nothing about the state flower, bird, etc. You can see the flags of all the counties in the rotunda, but you can't get close enough to study them. The interior is beautiful with beautiful marble and great chandeliers. I left having learned nothing about Washington.
There is a gift shop with some local products, but, when I was there, the clerks were too busy talking to each other about one of them possibly getting a different job, to pay much attention until someone asked to pay for something.
Parking is available down the street at the Visitors Information Center. 2 hours cost $4.

A visit to my district representatives and senator was made all the more pleasant by their welcoming legislative aides and the friendly doorkeeper who showed us around and how to observe the house in session. Be sure to reference the great map on the web.

My cousin and her husband took me to the Washington State Capitol. The weather was perfect, and I really enjoyed the architecture and the scenery! I would visit it again.

So glad I decided to join the free tour of the building. David, our tour guide, was excellent. Really enjoyed it and appreciated the detail we would otherwise have missed.

Plan for at least 3 hours to really explore the capitol building and the campus. There are memorials and statuary on the grounds. An excellent gift shop and information kiosk is also on the campus.

Beautiful historic building with knowledgeable docents. Great place to take out of town visitors for a short visit.

The Capital Building in Olympia is beautiful. The grounds are well maintained and the landscape is bright and beautiful. Free guided tours are available.

One cannot visit Olympia without driving past, or experiencing the Capitol. The grounds contain many a memorial and visual candy, in addition to the historical architecture. The fountain is a "splash" on sunny days.

Stately typical Capitol building. Beautiful grounds with huge greenhouse and lots of flowers. Free tour is offered or you can wander around on your own.

This was my 42nd State capitol visit and it compares very well with others. There is cheap metered parking within a 5 minute walk and the views of the building as you walk are great. A very friendly lady called Mary offered to walk with us to show us the way in and tell us a bit about the building and the locale- she is an employee at the building.

The security staff were very helpful and pointed us to where was accessible as a self-tour. Inside the building is immense and impressive. As we walked another friendly guy called Patrick stopped and spoke to us for 20 minutes about the history of the building and showed us some photos - and he wasn’t even the official tour guide!!

We had a quick coffee in the on-site cafe and the lady serving already knew who we were - I guess they don’t get too many Scots visiting this Capitol building.

Very enjoyable visit to a very impressive building.

Went to the capitol building, where the legislative sessions are held. Unfortunately it was the weekend and there was not that much going on. Walked outside the ground and part of the walking trail. Good view of the harbor. Just kind of surprised to see that the outside concrete of most buildings are coated with a layer of grime. They sure could use some cleaning. Otherwise, the ground is well maintained.

The WA State Capitol provides free capitol tours. The tour guides are knowledgeable and provide interesting and fun facts about the architecture of the building and historical events that have occurred there. Also, there is a great little gift shop that offers fun "Olympia" and state capitol items - great for birthday gifts for those who already have everything!

We were able to see the Washington State Capitol Building only from the outside, because it was closed for the evening. The building was impressive as were the views.

We flew into Portland and drove up to Olympia and Tacoma to see two cities we had not seen before while in the area. Naturally we visited the state capitol while in Olympia. It was nothing extraordinary, but it is a must see. You can see it n your own as we did or take a tour that lasts about an hour. Unfortunately both of the chambers were closed since they were in session. It was interesting to listen to them outside the chambers having conversations about regulations as we walked by. The area outside the Capitol is really pretty with gardens, statuary and other government buildings. There is a great gift shop and a deli on the bottom level.

Went for the first time ever. It’s kind of cool. Go on the weekends walk around the gift shop is in the basement.

We visited during our family holiday what a stunning, fascinating building with history and fantastic architecture e went on a tour which was very informative and interesting

We were there on a Sunday, so there was hardly anything going on. At the same time, we had great weather and it was very beautiful and idyllic at the Capitol.

We really enjoyed the short stop at and around the Capitol. The building is impressive and the immediate surroundings are beautifully designed with gardens, fountains, monuments and great nature.

Olympia is the capital of Washinton State, Unlike Seattle, which is more popular with tourists, Olympia is a laid-back tourist destination. There are no malls, shops, or well-known restaurants, around the area but you will be spoiled with breathtaking views and magnificent architecture that surround this place. Washington State Capitol Building and Campus resemble what you will see in Washington DC but are less crowded.

The tour is a walk-through and it is interesting. The capitol seems kind of small. But they get their work done. There is some discussion of history but more would be better.

On a whim we stopped and did a self tour and found many interesting exhibits. I think it would have been worth going on a guided tour but I was unaware of them being available.

Such lovely capital grounds and not to be missed when you are in town. excellent photo place for family pics as well!

What a wonderful marble filled unique structure.Truly amazing and the Tiffany lights are superb.More interesting than it first appears .Worthwhile visit for sure and free tours excellent.

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and his enthusiasm for the state as well as the building made it even more interesting. The pace was good for older as well as younger folks, and filled with fun facts as well as important historic milestones.

We had just finished a wonderful dinner at the Gardner’s Restaurant and my friends took me up the hill to see the architecture. Spectacular! The capital building itself and all the buildings are under beautiful. There is also an exceptional statute which is a memorial to World War I.

Apparently, there are also indoor tours available.

We came here Saturday and entered at right at the 11AM opening. We came through the back where the gift shop and tour window were located. However no guided tours were offered so we grabbed a map and wandered around on our own.

All offices (ie governor), senate and house chambers were all closed so we were not able peek inside. The formal reception room was closed but at least visible through the large glass windows. It seem to use that this was a smaller Capitol building compared with its exterior.

The main rotunda rose high above but was not as ornately painted as some others we’ve toured. The floor and part of the walls were grey marble and encircled the Washington State seal. By far the best part was high above, a 5 ton Tiffany chandelier, one of their largest created, along with four statue lamps in each corner.

At the main entrance a gentlemen was giving a short overview of the Capitol to a couple of visitors. Visitor log and information desk was also located here.

Outside the grounds contained a few statues, memorials, water fountains and a public library. The grounds were well maintained and pretty expansive. Behind the judicial building was a law enforcement memorial and views towards the water.

Visitor parking was only on certain designated areas which happened to be at the entrances. We like most other did not use the parking meter this day.

This Capitol has to be the most significant Legislative state building in the United States. It is set on a high knoll overlooking an ocean inlet and Capitol Lake. The stone structure rises to 287 feet ! It took 5 years and 500 master craftsmen to complete it by 1928. The State Capitol area includes 50 acres with several other beautiful buildings. Free guided tours and parking are available from 10 am to 3 pm.