The Olympia Tumwater Foundation has announced plans to transform and expand an existing building within Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls into the History and Nature Center — a new public space where people can discover the natural, cultural and historic stories that have shaped one of Washington’s most treasured places, according to a news release from the Olympia Tumwater Foundation.
The renovated facility will feature exhibits, classrooms and gathering space for year-round learning, school programs and public events.
“The center represents an investment in the future of our community,” Todd Cutts, executive director of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation, said in the release. “People are naturally drawn to Tumwater Falls because of its beauty. Our vision is to create a place where visitors can also discover why this landscape matters — its ecology, its history and the generations of people who have shaped and cared for it.”
The center is designed to deepen the Brewery Park experience. After exploring the falls, people will be able to step inside to discover the stories of the landscape they have just experienced through engaging exhibits, flexible learning spaces and opportunities for conversation and discovery.
Programming will include school field trips, family learning experiences, public programs and rotating exhibits that bring the park to life. Visitors will explore topics ranging from salmon and watershed stewardship to the people and events that have shaped Tumwater Falls through engaging, place-based experiences, the release stated.
The project also strengthens the foundation’s collaboration with the adjacent Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery. Together, the two sites will provide complementary educational experiences that connect people with salmon biology, watershed stewardship and the environmental significance of the Deschutes River corridor.
Development of the center is well underway. The foundation has assembled its project team and is advancing environmental review, schematic design and permitting. Carve Architects is leading design of the facility, while Forma Construction has been selected through a competitive qualifications-based process to serve as general contractor and construction manager.
The project has secured significant federal and state support and continues to be strengthened by gifts from individuals, businesses, foundations and local partners. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027 with operations expected to commence in the second half of the year.
“For more than 75 years, the Olympia Tumwater Foundation has been entrusted with caring for this extraordinary place,” Lee Wojnar, president of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation, said in the release. “The center reflects our commitment to ensuring that future generations not only enjoy Tumwater Falls but also understand why it has been worth preserving for generations past.”
Additional information about the center, giving opportunities and Friends of the Falls can be obtained by emailing otf@olytumfoundation.org.
