Photo credit: Dan Ellis of Hoffman Layout and Modeling

OLYMPIA, Wash.  — For the first time, Washington state's Capitol has its own website, Capitol.wa.gov, showcasing all that makes it a standout in the nation. It's a new way to discover and explore the natural and built environments that make the Capitol buildings and grounds a historic and internationally renowned treasure.

"Our state's Capitol is a place of inspiration, civic engagement, and natural and architectural beauty," said Tara C. Smith, director of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). "Our new website makes it easy for visitors to plan the perfect day here."

DES manages the daily care and long-term planning for the state's 143-acre Capitol Campus, including the buildings, grounds, infrastructure, memorials and artworks, and the 260-acre Capitol Lake, at the mouth of the Deschutes River, which DES is restoring to an estuary.

Washington's Capitol Campus landscape was designed by the visionary Olmsted Brothers in the 1920s. Last year, it earned international accreditation as an arboretum, an outdoor museum devoted to native and adaptable trees suited to the landscape's natural features. In 2028, the domed Legislative Building will celebrate its 100th year.

DES created Capitol.wa.gov to give visitors one location to find Capitol Campus information for planning a visit, scheduling a tour and requesting event space. Built with the principles of human-centered design, the new site aims to improve the user experience for the estimated 400,000 visitors who set foot on the Capitol grounds each year.

"This new website represents a significant milestone in our mission," said Director Smith. “To connect with their government, people all across the state need to be able to tap into our Capitol—its history, its vital present, and the promise of its future. That connection is one of our primary missions as stewards of Washington's state Capitol."

The website features the campus' artwork, memorials and monuments, trees, parks and gardens, and landmark buildings. The Capitol Campus' new YouTube playlist features stories behind some of the campus' landmark trees, such as the Dawn Redwood and the Norway Maple, and the new Instagram account highlights the beauty of the campus and its role as a civic engagement center.

Visit capitol.wa.gov to plan a visit, or find us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

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