Tumwater, WA

Where nature, history, and the future intersect. With a gushing waterfall as its centerpiece, Tumwater shines for its natural beauty, historic significance, and vibrant present.

The city just south of Olympia was the terminus for the Oregon Trail and became the first permanent European-American settlement in the Puget Sound region, where pioneers relied on energy from the churning Deschutes River. Originally named New Market by settlers, the Chinook jargon term Tumwater, meaning waterfall, ultimately made the cut as the city’s official brand.

Tumwater Community Guide

The falls were instrumental to early industry—especially beer brewing—and they are now part of the 15-acre Brewery Park, arguably Tumwater’s most significant attraction. However, that reputation may soon be outpaced by Tumwater’s rising craft spirits scene. The Tumwater Craft District, once complete, will offer mixed-use spaces for restaurants, retail, produce, housing, and, of course, imbibing. The district has partnered up with South Puget Sound Community College’s Brewing and Distilling Program, which trains students in the art of making beer, spirits, and cider, putting Tumwater in the running for yet another historical designation as a world leader in craft production.

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