Early January mansion tours to include local history on women's suffrage

OLYMPIA — It was 110 years ago in January that the Governor’s Mansion was completed. At that time women’s suffrage also was before the State Legislature. At a Mansion housewarming in January 1909, Spokane Suffragist May Arkwright Hutton took the opportunity to address the right of women to vote as pivotal legislators were present.

Now during this January, Mansion tour-goers will have the opportunity to “meet” Mrs. Hutton at the end of the tour in the ballroom and hear her story during special “Suffragist Trail Tours” on Wednesdays Jan. 2 and 9. Tours are held at 1, 1:20, 1:40 and 2 p.m.

Reservations

For reservations, please visit the Department of Enterprise Services website at www.des.wa.gov to complete an online Mansion Tour request form.

Reservations MUST be made at least 24-hours in advance (reservations are on a first-come, first served basis so schedule early).

For questions or additional information, please contact the State Capitol Tour Office at (360) 902-8880 or email at tours@des.wa.gov.

Tour information

Governor’s Mansion tours are available every Wednesday (except holidays and the month of August). All tours are made possible by the Governor’s Mansion Foundation.

Adult tour guests must present photo identification and all visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. No cameras, umbrellas, strollers, or food/drink will be allowed on the tour. The Mansion is accessible to wheelchairs and walkers. Visitors must walk a 200-yard incline up to the entrance.

Visitors to the Georgian-style mansion, situated on a bluff overlooking Capitol Lake, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, will get a 45- minute walking tour of the Mansion. The circa-1908 Mansion is the oldest building on Olympia’s Capitol Campus.

Visitors will get guided tours of the Mansion’s permanent collection of antique furnishings and Northwest artwork, including the renowned wall-size murals of Washington scenes in the state dining room.

The Governor’s Mansion Foundation, an all-volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan organization, hosts weekly tours of the Mansion on most Wednesdays (except holidays and the month of August). To learn more on becoming a “Friend of the Mansion,” or for more information on the GMF, visit www.wagovmansion.org.