East Bay Drive in Olympia in Thurston County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Howard Point - An Olympia Black History Landmark

Howard Point Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, October 28, 2025

1. Howard Point Marker

Inscription.

Howard Point - An Olympia Black History Landmark. . Alexander and Rebecca (Groundage) Howard emigrated from Massachusetts to Olympia in the late 1850s, just a few years after the town's founding. The Howards were among the earliest Black residents of Olympia and Washington Territory., Shortly after their arrival they took over management of the Pacific House Hotel, built by 1854, at Capitol Way and State Avenue. Under Rebecca's leadership, the Pacific House (and later Restaurant) achieved acclaim as a fine, well-run establishment comparable with restaurants and hotels in San Francisco. President Rutherford B. Hayes and his entourage came to Pacific House on his visit to Olympia in 1880., As their business blossomed, the Howards purchased the northern half of the Calvin H. and Waitsill Hale land claim along East Bay, including the point of shoreline that locals commonly called "Howard Point" into the 1900s., Frank, the son of Native American Julia Kanim and settler Thomas Glasgow, was adopted by the Howards. Frank married Margaret Lillian Howard in 1881 and they later moved to the East Coast., Rebecca and Alexander Howard continued to invest in real estate and eventually retired to their farm on Howard Point after accumulating a modest fortune. Rebecca passed away in 1881; Alexander in 1890. The land was later sold., Over time, the name "Howard Point," associated with their property, fell out of common use. In 2018 community history supporters petitioned the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to officially designate Howard Point, which was approved in 2019. Howard Point is one of very few place names in Washington honoring early Black pioneers and is visible directly north from this location along East Bay., Captions , (Photo #1) Pacific Coast Business Directory, 1867 , (Photo #2) Margaret Lillian Howard , Courtesy of the Howard Family , (Photo #3) Frank Howard , Olympia Tribune Souvenir Edition: Olympia, Washington, May 1891 , (Photo #4) Pacific House, 1902 , Rebecca Howard's reputation as a successful, no nonsense businesswoman commanded respect and empowered her to challenge anyone who dared call her "Aunt" without her permission, C2015.0.88, Washington Historical Society, Tacoma (Wash.) , (Photo #5) Whitham and Page's Map of Olympia and Surrounding , Washington State Archives

Alexander and Rebecca (Groundage) Howard emigrated from Massachusetts to Olympia in the late 1850s, just a few years after the town's founding. The Howards were among the earliest Black residents of Olympia and Washington Territory.

Shortly after their arrival they took over management of the Pacific House Hotel, built by 1854, at Capitol Way and State Avenue. Under Rebecca's leadership, the Pacific House (and later Restaurant) achieved acclaim as a fine, well-run establishment comparable with restaurants and hotels in San Francisco. President Rutherford B. Hayes and his entourage came to Pacific House on his visit to Olympia in 1880.

As their business blossomed, the Howards purchased the northern half of the Calvin H. and Waitsill Hale land claim along East Bay, including the point of shoreline that locals commonly called "Howard Point" into the 1900s.

Frank, the son of Native American Julia Kanim and settler Thomas Glasgow, was adopted by the Howards. Frank married Margaret Lillian Howard in 1881 and they later moved to the East Coast.

Rebecca and Alexander Howard continued to invest in real estate and eventually retired to their farm on Howard Point after accumulating a modest fortune. Rebecca passed away in 1881; Alexander in 1890. The land was later sold.

Over time, the name

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"Howard Point," associated with their property, fell out of common use. In 2018 community history supporters petitioned the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to officially designate Howard Point, which was approved in 2019. Howard Point is one of very few place names in Washington honoring early Black pioneers and is visible directly north from this location along East Bay.

Captions
(Photo #1) Pacific Coast Business Directory, 1867
(Photo #2) Margaret Lillian Howard
Courtesy of the Howard Family
(Photo #3) Frank Howard
Olympia Tribune Souvenir Edition: Olympia, Washington, May 1891
(Photo #4) Pacific House, 1902
Rebecca Howard's reputation as a successful, no nonsense businesswoman commanded respect and empowered her to challenge anyone who dared call her "Aunt" without her permission, C2015.0.88, Washington Historical Society, Tacoma (Wash.)
(Photo #5) Whitham and Page's Map of Olympia and Surrounding
Washington State Archives

Erected 2022 by Thurston County Heritage Grant, Olympia Arts + Heritage Alliance in cooperation with the City of Olympia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans

Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, October 28, 2025

2. Howard Point Marker

• Industry & Commerce • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1891.

Location. 47° 2.972′ N, 122° 53.577′ W. Marker is in Olympia, Washington, in Thurston County. It is in East Bay Drive. It is on West Bay Drive Northwest near Glass Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 413 W Bay Dr NW, Olympia WA 98506, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Puget Sound Region

and in Greater Seattle.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Susan B. Anthony Visits Bigelow House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Historic Bigelow House (about 500 feet away); Daniel R. Bigelow House (1854) (about 500 feet away); Billy the man (approx. 0.2 miles away); Olympia Lodge No. 1 F. & A.M. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tribute to Family Support Center Founders (approx. half a mile away); Old City Hall and Fire Station (approx. half a mile away); Masonic Lodge 1854-1971, (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Olympia.

Also see . . . Howard Point Marker. Olympia Arts + Heritage Alliance (Submitted on October 29, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 65 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 28, 2025, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.