Capitol Campus
Secretary Wyman and former Seahawk Lawyer Milloy at the 12th Man rally (Photo courtesy of Benjamin Helle) Not much can stop the Capitol from preparing for the 2016 Legislative Session, except a visit from a former Seahawk, the team’s mascot and two Sea Gals. Lawyer Milloy, a strong safety for the Hawks in 2009 and 2010, helped whip up the crowd at a rally outside the Capitol Thursday ahead of Sunday’s (very cold) playoff game in Minnesota. Along with the…
Secretary Wyman hands gifts to children in the State Reception Room prior to the tree-lighting ceremony. With families and firefighters from across the state in attendance, Secretary of State Wyman led the 27th annual Holiday Kids’ Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday night. The event is sponsored by the Association of Washington Business. This year’s theme is “Heroes Near & Far,” honoring Washington firefighters and police. In addition to traditional decorations and 5,000 LED lights, the Holiday Kids’ Tree is decorated with…
Marine veteran Clayton Pitre speaks at the launch ceremony for a new exhibit focusing on Washingtonians who served in World War II. (Photo courtesy of Benjamin Helle) Marking the 70th anniversary of VJ Day that ended World War II, the Secretary of State has launched a new exhibit that features GIs in some of the most vicious fighting of the conflict, survivors of the Nazi death camps and minorities who encountered racism during the war. A dozen stories take visitors…
Secretary Wyman speaks at the “Spirit of ’45” event marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Photos courtesy of Benjamin Helle) Secretary of State Wyman joined a handful of World War II veterans, officials with the state Department of Veterans Affairs and others during a special ceremony Friday morning at the state’s World War II Memorial to mark the 70th anniversary of the war’s end. World War II ended on August 14, 1945, when Japan surrendered….
Now that we’ve finished showcasing the June edition of the Archives Jewels, we’re ready for you to vote on your favorite. Your three contestants are a collection of Washington State Ferries schedule pamphlets going back decades, documents on Washington’s first territorial prison and photos of the Spafford murals being removed from the House Gallery in 1993. You can pick your favorite by going to our online poll (below), which will be open until this Friday at 5 p.m. State Ferries…
Workers remove one of the Spafford murals. (Photos courtesy Washington State Archives) In the long history of Olympia’s Legislative Building, you’d be hard-pressed to think of a more controversial set of artwork that once graced (some would say disgraced) its walls than the Spafford murals. Called the Twelve Labors of Hercules, they were created by artist Michael Spafford. Soon after the first murals appeared on the walls above the House Gallery in 1981, critics voiced displeasure over them. Some called…
Our office’s front lobby is renowned for historical exhibits and other displays capturing the past. Even very tragic events. One of our display cases is the home of an exhibit that commemorates the 150th anniversary of the death of President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln died on the morning of April 15, 1865, hours after being shot by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. The exhibit items include a single-shot Derringer pistol similar to the…
Capitol employees and visitors are being treated to an annual highlight — the blooming of the cherry trees and rhododendron bushes next to the Legislative Building. The cherry blossoms made their entrance last week and should be around for a few more days. The rhodies just started blooming a few days ago and should be at their colorful best for at least a couple of weeks. And if that isn’t enough to make you want to visit Olympia, there are…
Secretary of State Wyman speaks about the Medal of Merit during the ceremony in the House Chambers to present that award and the Medal of Valor. (Photo courtesy Legislative Support Services Photo Department) It was a day of applause and deep respect and admiration, as the state of Washington awarded the Medal of Merit to two game-changing citizens and the Medal of Valor to Snohomish County communities and tribe who responded heroically to the Oso landslide tragedy one year ago….
Secretary Wyman has fun with some of the new Capsule Keepers in front of the Centennial Time Capsule in the Capitol. (Photos courtesy of Benjamin Helle) Washington‘s Centennial Time Capsule was sealed for the next 25 years during a ceremony at the State Capitol Sunday afternoon. Letters and artifacts collected over the last year were added to the capsule. Secretary of State Kim Wyman and members of the Keepers of the Capsule Board spoke to an audience of about 80…