Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls will get a dedicated learning center focused on the Deschutes River corridor's ecology, salmon runs, and cultural history, the Olympia Tumwater Foundation announced July 22.

The nonprofit plans to transform an existing building inside the 15-acre park into the History & Nature Center, a public facility with exhibits, classrooms, and gathering space.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with operations launching in the second half of that year.

"People are naturally drawn to Tumwater Falls because of its beauty," Executive Director Todd Cutts said in the announcement. "Our vision is to create a place where visitors can also discover why this landscape matters — its ecology, its history, and the generations of people who have shaped and cared for it."

The center is designed to complement the park itself, grounding exhibits in the specific landscape visitors just walked through.

After exploring the falls, visitors will step inside to discover rotating exhibits on topics including salmon biology, watershed stewardship, and the people and events that shaped Tumwater Falls. Programming will include school field trips, family learning experiences, and public events year-round.

The project also strengthens the Foundation's partnership with the adjacent Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery, connecting visitors with salmon biology and the environmental significance of the Deschutes River corridor.

Who's building it

Carve Architects is leading design. Forma Construction, selected through a competitive qualifications-based process, will serve as general contractor and construction manager.

The Foundation said it has secured "significant" federal and state funding, supplemented by gifts from individuals, businesses, foundations, and local partners. No total project cost has been disclosed.

Environmental review, schematic design, and permitting are underway.

A park with deep roots

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation, founded in 1950, built Brewery Park along the Deschutes River falls in 1962.

The privately owned park draws roughly 180,000 unique visitors who make more than 270,000 visits each year, according to the Foundation.

Lee Wojnar, the Foundation's president, said the center reflects a commitment to ensuring future generations understand why the falls have been worth preserving.

The Foundation launched its Friends of the Falls membership program in June 2026. Through mid-2028, membership revenue will go directly toward developing the center.

Community members who want to contribute or join Friends of the Falls can email [email protected].