Olympia Celebrates the Turning Point of the Civil War
Upon receiving news of Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the capital of Washington Territory erupted in days of wild, illuminated celebration.
The past week has been one of intense excitement and enthusiasm to the good people of this vicinity. On Monday, when the glorious tidings of victory were received, the news spread like wild-fire. Bells rang forth their merry peals, and the cannon proclaimed the joyous enthusiasm far and near. At sunrise, every available piece of bunting was gaily fluttering in the breeze. Almost every private residence, store, hotel, and place of business was brilliantly illuminated, which with the many people on the streets gave the appearance of a populous city by gas-light. Immense bonfires were lighted, and a company of 'choice spirits,' numbering between fifty and a hundred persons, paraded the streets singing patriotic airs. The Governor, Surveyor General, Secretary of the Territory, Henry M. McGill, and others were called out to respond. Later in the week, the Olympia Brass Band performed from the veranda of the Washington Hotel, followed by a ball to close the festivities.
“Almost every private residence, store, hotel, and place of business was brilliantly illuminated... gave the appearance of New York (or some other populous city) by gas-light!”
In 1863, Olympia was a remote frontier town, yet citizens felt the pulse of the nation so deeply that they mimicked the celebrations of major East Coast cities. Today, these rituals of civic unity are rarely seen on the same scale, but the event serves as a reminder of how the capital city has always served as the symbolic heartbeat for Washington's political identity.
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