Look just ahead for a charming gray-blue boathouse with "Percival Landing, City of Olympia" written across its front and a backdrop of sailboat masts-you're in the right place to start your adventure!
Welcome to Percival Landing Park, where Olympia's maritime magic comes alive! Imagine you’re back in the 1800s-the bustling steamship wharf, built by Sam Percival in 1860, creaked with busy feet and echoed with the shouts of workers. Over the years, this spot went through more comebacks than a retired rock star, being torn down and rebuilt multiple times. As you stroll along the boardwalk, you might hear the gentle slap of water against boat hulls, just as sailors did long ago. The park’s story doesn’t end in the past, though. In 1996, what once was an oil tank farm was transformed into a green lawn-goodbye, oil, hello picnics! Step a little farther and you’ll see local sculptures perched throughout the park, including a beautifully carved Orca by Joe Tougas, connecting Olympia with its Japanese sister city. On festival days, the laughter and music of Harbor Days and "Sand in the City" bounce between boat masts and playground swings. And who can miss the historic Sand Man tugboat, always ready for its closeup? Take a breath, soak in the salty air, and let the whispers of dockworkers and festival-goers past fill your imagination. Welcome to a living piece of Olympia’s waterfront history!
