Bigelow
As the oldest neighborhood in Olympia, Bigelow is the location of many historic homes! Check them out!
Curious about information not shown here? Some other trends I can provide info on are as follows:
Sales Price, Months Supply Closed, New Listings, Percent of List Price, Homes for Sale, Percent of Original Price, Pending Sales, Price Per Sq Ft, Closed Sales, Dollar Volume, Days on Market, Shows to Pending, Months Supply Pending, Shows Per Listing
Can be shown by average or median for 1, 3, 5, or 10 years.
A bit of history
The Bigelow Neighborhood, nestled on the east side of East Bay in Olympia, Washington, holds a venerable title—it’s the oldest neighborhood in the city. Its name pays homage to an early homesteader, Daniel Bigelow. But before we delve into the Bigelow family saga, let’s rewind further—to a time when the land breathed differently.
Long before Daniel’s arrival, the land cradled the stories of the Squaxin Island People. The Squaxin Island Tribe traces its lineage back to the maritime people who thrived along the shores and watersheds of the seven southernmost inlets of Puget Sound for countless millennia. The present-day Bigelow Neighborhood rests upon their ancestral homelands.
In 1851, Daniel R. Bigelow arrived in Olympia via schooner. Around him, approximately 300 white settlers eked out their existence. Daniel Bigelow, a Harvard Law School graduate, set up his law practice. But let’s not romanticize it—he was here to make a living. He had his eye on a 160-acre donation land claim. This claim now forms the core of the Bigelow Neighborhood. On their wedding day in 1854, Daniel and his new wife, Ann Elizabeth, moved into a modest cabin that sat on the spot where their future home—the Bigelow House—would rise. By 1860, the house stood complete. Eight children grew up within its walls. Birthdays happened, secrets were whispered, and the rhythm of life persisted. Descendants of Daniel and Ann Elizabeth Bigelow clung to that same House until 2005.
In the late 1970s, some old houses in the Bigelow Neighborhood faced neglect. Demolition followed, replaced by more economical structures. But from these ashes rose the Bigelow Neighborhood Association. Concerned homeowners rallied, advocating for preservation, community bonds, and a tranquil residential life. By 1988, zoning changes transformed the neighborhood, anchoring it as a residential haven
In 2006, a stretch of Olympia Avenue, from Pear to Tullis Streets, earned the title of the OAHD (Olympia Avenue Historic District). Most houses along this historic corridor are listed on local or national registers. Their grand porches and architectural details reflect practical choices made by their builders. But don’t limit your exploration to just the district—venture further. Bigelow Avenue, Glass Avenue, Quince Street, and Eastside Street harbor more practical gems.
For a self-guided tour of the OAHD, check out the printable guide.