History Links

We hope these links to resources outside of our website will aid you in your research goals.

Online Collections

Lacey Museum Collections

Explore the Lacey Museum’s online collections and photographs. More items are added all the time!

Olympia Genealogical Society Collection

Housed with the Lacey Museum and available for public access.

Sanborn Map Overlays of Olympia

Detailed historic maps overlaid on top of today’s Olympia aerials. Courtesy of the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House.

Tacoma Public Library Northwest Collection

These online resources draw from Tacoma Public Library’s substantial local history collection housed in the Northwest Room at the Main Branch original 1903 Carnegie Library.

Washington State Digital Archives

Possibly the best state digital archives in the country, here you will find vital records like marriage and death records, plus censuses, land records and photographs.

Timberland Regional Library Reference Databases

With your library card, you can access census records (with Heritage Quest), newspaper archives, Olympian archives, and much more.

University of Washington Special Collections

These are the University of Washington Libraries’ most rare and unique resources.  Of particular interest are the collections on Washington Labor history and Pacific Northwest history.

Washington State Archives, Southwest Regional Branch

Search for records of local government, property records, maps and collections of local significance.

Washington State Historical Society Research & Collections

Access the collections of the state museum, including their vast photographic archives.

Washington State Library

Numerous research materials including digital collections, newspapers, state government publications, and genealogy.

 

Local Yearbook Archives

North Thurston Rambler Archive

Check out the student created site to celebrate North Thurston High School’s 60th year. 1956 to 2016. It is a work in progress so keep checking back for new features. The yearbooks are located in the school timeline.

Timberline High School Yearbook Archives

This is a digital collection of all of Timberline High School’s yearbooks from 1971-2009 prepared by the Career & Technical Education Web Design Class.

Olympia High School Yearbook Archives

This alumni website includes high school history and scanned yearbooks. Before North Thurston High School was opened in 1958, Lacey students attended Olympia High School.

Online Publications

Classics in Washington History

A digital collection of full-text books, including rare and out of print titles. Presented by the Washington State Library.

History Link

Free online encyclopedia of Washington State history.

Legacy Washington

Legacy Washington documents extraordinary stories in Washington history.

ThurstonTalk History

History stories about Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and throughout Thurston County.

Local History Organizations & Museums