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 Lift Truck Chain Olympia - The City of Olympia is the capital city of Washington State, with a population of around 46,478. It serves as the county seat of Thurston County. The city is located in the Puget Sound area.
The original inhabitants in the region were the Lushootseed-speaking peoples who lived here far before Europeans began settling in the area. The indigenous cultures comprised the Puyallup, Chehalis, Duwamish, Squaxin, Suquamish and Nisqually. In 1792, the British Vancouver Expedition charted the location. During the year 1846, Edmund Sylvester and Levi Smith lay claim to the location which will become the city's downtown. During the year 1851, the city was selected by Congress as the location for the customs house, serving Washington Territory. Many settlers arrived via the Oregon Trail and stayed. In 1853, the township became officially known as Olympia because of its amazing view of the Olympic Mountain range. A fleet of steamboats named the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet served the residents. It was incorporated as a city during 1859.
There are several essential artesian wells in the City of Olympia. These Artesian springs were the key supply of fresh water for settlers. The McAllister Springs still serves as the city's water source. The artesian spring was the place where people gathered to socialize. There is still an active artesian well in the Diamond Parking lot at Jefferson Street and Fourth Avenue, preserved by Olympia, and one more at the corner of Olympia Avenue and Washington Street. For many years, Olympia Beer was brewed utilizing water from artesian wells. A lot of the artesian wells have been covered over by new development.
The City of Olympia is a key cultural hub. There are numerous local theatrical companies like the Capital Playhouse, Olympia Family Theater, Theater Artists Olympia, Harlequin Productions and Olympia Little Theater. The historic State Theater on Fourth Avenue is considered a cinematic treasure. The Washington Center is a major place for music and performance. The Olympia Symphony Orchestra performs there during concert season.
Olympia is a regional center for the visual arts. Local coffeehouses display visual art, the most famous of which are Caffe Vita, Batdorf & Bronson and Burial Grounds. Art House Designs is both a fine art gallery and a jazz venue. Percival Landing along the urban waterfront features murals and public art installations. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts regularly exhibits art in its lobby.
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