North East in Olympia in Thurston County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Olympia Panorama, taken near this spot on July 1, 1909
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, November 3, 2026
1. Olympia Panorama, taken near this spot on July 1, 1909 Marker
This picture was taken over 100 years ago within 100 feet of this spot, by Asahel Curtis (1874-1941). He became well-known not only for portraits and scenery shots, but a compendium of pictures of the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon in the 1890s. Notice that many of the houses in the picture above still exist. Notice also how Olympia has changed.
Asahel's brother, Edward Curtis (1868-1952), also a famous photographer, created a 20-volume, 1500-photograph record of Native Americans from the 1890s through the early 1900s. He chose these from over 40,000 pictures he'd taken.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1909.
Location. 47° 3.027′ N, 122° 53.388′ W. Marker is in Olympia, Washington, in Thurston County. It is in North East. It is at the intersection of Quince Street NE and Bigelow Avenue Northeast, on the left when traveling north on Quince Street NE. The marker is located in Bigelow Springs Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Olympia WA 98506, United States
this page online
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, on 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: Historic Bigelow House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Daniel R. Bigelow House (1854) (about 400 feet away); Susan B. Anthony Visits Bigelow House (about 400 feet away); Howard Point - An Olympia Black History Landmark (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bell History (approx. 0.3 miles away); Billy the man (approx. 0.3 miles away); Early Olympia Fire Department (approx. 0.3 miles away); Masonic Lodge 1854-1971, (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Olympia.
Also see . . . Asahel Curtis (Wikipedia). Overview:
Asahel Curtis (1874–1941) was an American photographer based in the Pacific Northwest region of(Submitted on November 3, 2026.)the United States. His career included documentation of the Klondike Gold Rush period in Seattle, natural landscapes in the Northwest, and infrastructure projects in Seattle.Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, November 3, 20262. Olympia Panorama 1909 MarkerWith panoramic photo and a portrait of photographer Asahel Curtis.
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, November 3, 2026
3. Nearby Bigelow House Museum is a 3-minute walk away.
Photographed by Asahel Curtis (courtesy of University of Washington Libraries), July 1, 1909
4. Olympia Panorama (marker photo)
Olympia, Washington panorama, with Budd Inlet and city dock to the right - created by joining three individual photographs together.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 3, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. 4. submitted on November 3, 2026. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
