Schmidt House
Located at 330 Schmidt Pl SW, Tumwater, WA 98501. In Tumwater Falls Park, the Schmidt House is a historic 19th-century house. It was donated to the Josephine County Historical Society in 1978. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The Schmidt family was active in the community during the 19th century. The Schmidt House is operated by the Olympia-Tumwater Foundation and is open to the public.
Claus Schmidt built the Schmidt House in 1901. His son Harold Schmidt became the family’s business partner. The Schmidt family had six children. They lived in the house until 1911. The Schmidt house was restored, including pointing masonry, replacing aluminum windows, and installing period floor coverings. The family donated the Schmidt House to the Josephine County Historical Society in 1978.
The Schmidt house is an example of the Colonial Revival style. The style was very popular in the early twentieth century. It was also a simpler style than the 19th-century designs. Many of the decorative details are inspired by the Colonial Revival style.
The Schmidt house has a rich history that is preserved through historical markers and tours. Visitors can learn about the Schmidt family’s lives and the community. They also get a glimpse of the community’s culture and history. The Schmidt house and grounds are also available for a limited number of special events.
The Schmidt house is a great place to bring kids for a fun day. They can play on the grounds, watch the pond, and see the old buildings. Visitors can tour the house every third Thursday from October to June for free. They can also attend the tours for $10 per person. The tours are scheduled at 1:30 and 3 p.m. and visitors must check in at the historical society library. Guests can also buy books from the Josephine County Historical Society bookstore. There is a large collection of photographs and newspapers on the shelves in the historical society research library. Learn more.
The Schmidt house is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tours are offered at 1:30, 3 and 4 p.m. Visitors must check in at the historical society library before they can take a tour. Visitors can also buy a membership card that grants them a 10% discount on tours, events, and admission to the Schmidt House.
The Schmidt house was constructed for Claus Schmidt, a local grocery merchant. He also had two additions made to the house. He also owned a horse and kept it in a barn. In the late 1890s, Claus Schmidt opened a grocery store on 6th Street.
In the 1940s, Henry Mueller spent hours in the house. He and his wife, Karoline, remained friends with the Schmidt family. When the harness department closed, the merchandise changed from merchandise to photography supplies and accessories. The YMCA also took over the Schmidt “Mansion” for office space in 1958.
A historical marker sits outside the Schmidt House’s front gate. The marker provides a detailed history of the Schmidt family and the Schmidt House. The Schmidt house is also listed on the Tumwater Historic District’s Registry of Historic Places. Next article.