Henderson House Museum - A House From the Early Twentieth Century
A delightful two-and-a-half story home located near the lower Tumwater Falls dates from the optimistic age at the turn of the 20th century. By then Tumwater had blossomed from a tiny pioneer village into a very promising town with electric streetcars, a railroad spur and a highly successful brewery at the foot of Tumwater Falls.
The house was built in 1905 for William Naumann, a brewmaster from Hamburg, Germany who worked across the river at the Olympia Brewing Company. At the same time the brewery was also building a fine new six-story brewhouse-a landmark structure of red brick and sandstone that opened the following year.
The Naumann family's house was considered quite modern for its day. It boasted such novel conveniences as hot and cold running water, an upstairs bathroom, steam heat from a coal-fired boiler and electric lights in each room. Electricity was provided by the Olympia Power and Light Company, which had just erected a new powerhouse on the river below the Naumann home, down at the Lower Falls.
Museum Hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 1- 4 p.m. Admission free. Suggested donation $2 for adults.The address of the Henderson House Museum is 602 Deschutes Way. For information call 360-754-4217.
tumwatermuseums@olywa.net
