Oyster Bay and Other Places January 9, 2026

Описание: Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay in Thurston County, Washington, boasts a rich history centered on the abundant Olympia oyster, a vital food source for Indigenous peoples for a millennia and later a massive export commodity for settlers, leading to early overharvesting but also establishing a lasting industry with processing plants and cultural significance, with its bays and inlets, like those connected to Budd Inlet, playing a crucial role in this natural and commercial heritage. The bay’s story reflects the deep connection between the land, water, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and the development of the region, with its rich tidelands supporting both traditional lifestyles and economic growth.
Sources
Wikipedia - Oyster Bay Puget Sound
Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House – city of Olympia saved pages
Thurston Talk – Neighborhood Notes – Frank House Oyster Bay Historical Landmark and Thurston County Jewel
ArcGIS StoryMaps – Tidelands: “When the Tide is Out, the Table is Set”
Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House – Olympia’s History and Resources

Indigenous Roots & Early Settlement (Pre 1840s)
Tribal Lifeline: The Squaxin Island Tribe (Steh-Chass band) lived on Budd Inlet and relied on the Olympia oyster, using them as staples and currency for trade with other tribes.
Naming the Bay: The area was named for its vast oyster beds, a natural resource that attracted early inhabitants and latter settlers.
Sources
Wikipedia - Oyster Bay Puget Sound
Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House - City of Olympia saved pages
Thurston Talk – Neighborhood Notes – Frank House Oyster Bay Historical Landmark and Thurston County Jewel
Kitsap Sun – Puget Sound Restoration Fund restoring Olympia oysters In Dyes Inlet

The Boom Years (Mid-1800s – Early 1900s)
Settler Survival: When American settlers arrived, they depended-on oysters for survival through their first winters, recognizing their importance.
Export Industry: The demand from California, especially after the gold rush, fueled an export boom, making Olympia oysters a major product shipped from the region.
Processing and Trade: Oysters were harvested from the bay and nearby inlets, then shipped to processing plants (like those near the 4th Avenue Bridge in Olympia) and sent south via rail and steamer.
Sources
Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House - City of Olympia saved pages
ArcGIS StoryMaps – Tidelands: “When the Tide is Out, the Table is Set”
History Link.org – Oyster Farming in Washington, Part 1
Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House – Cultural History of the Olympia Oyster, by Ed Echtle
Revize Website – Olympia Oyster History: A Walking Tour

The Oyster Industry’s Evolution
Commercial Operations: Major shellfish operations developed, utilizing the bay’s productivity.
Japanese Immigrant Labor: Japanese Immigrants played a significant role in harvesting and processing oysters, introducing new techniques like shell stringing for oysters to spawn.

Sources
Wikipedia - Oyster Bay Puget Sound
Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House - City of Olympia saved pages
Thurston Talk – Neighborhood Notes – Frank House Oyster Bay Historical Landmark and Thurston County Jewel
Project Henderson Inlet – The Olympia Oyster
Maritime Washington – Japenese Immigrants and Washington’s Oyster Industry

William Cannon Footpath
On November 18, 1824, a Hudson’s Bay Company Expedition departed Fort George (Astoria) at the mouth of the Columbia Riveron their way to Fraiser River in Canada. Eighteen days later December 6, they journeyed through this valley.
The leader was a Scot named James NcMillian. His party consisted of 41 men. There were three deputy leaders. A Frech Canadian translator. An international collection of boatmen; seven Native Americans (Iroquois), six Hawaiians, 21 French Canadians, an Englishman, and William Cannon from Virgina.
William Cannon came to the Pacific Northwest in 1810 with the Astor expedition. He constructed the first flour mill on the Pacific Coast at Vancouver, Washington.
When the expedition reached this point, William Cannon became one of the first non-native American to see Puget Sound. Native Americans lived along these shores and were described in detail in the McMillian notes.
Today, this footpath and the shoreline of Mud Bay are both rich resources for our community to enjoy the interpretive markers here recount the history of this area.

Mud Bay
Mud Bay, near Olympia, Washington, is known for its native Olympia oyster, the historic Mud Bay Logging Company (operating 1920 – 1940s), and “Mud Bay Sam” Yowaluch, a founder of the Indian Shaker Church, with the first built around 1890.
Sources
Wikipedia – Mud Bay, Thurston County, Washington
Thurston Talk – Loggers in the Black Hills: The Mud Bay Logging Company
Wikipedia – Mud Bay Logging Company
Wikipedia – Mud Bay Indian Shaker Church