Current Exhibits
Step inside the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum and be inspired by the creativity and history that make our community unique. Our galleries are alive with art, stories, and perspectives that invite you to linger, look closer, and see Olympia in new ways.
Wishing wall
July 2 – August 9
In our Lobby Gallery, view our “What Do You Wish for USA?” Wishing Wall and leave you own birthday wish for America. As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, it’s time to imagine our future – together.
We’re excited to invite our community to reflect on what 250 years of American history means to you and to envision the future you hope to build.
This installation is part of the national Civic Season Wish Wall program. Learn more here.
Richard Hilburger
Newly on view in our Lobby Gallery, Richard Hilburger's oil paintings bring a local perspective to an iconic subject: the Washington State Capitol.
A retired Olympia resident, Hilburger captures the building with a signature tension between precision and looseness. His works Capitol with Goose and Capitol with Cottonwood are warm and inviting. Stop by and see them for yourself!
It’s The Water
April 24 – December 31
In our largest space, the South Gallery, It’s The Water explores the ways Olympia is shaped by our waters, highlighting the story of Tribal Canoe Journey in partnership with 2026 hosts, the Nisqually Indian Tribe.
Through additional mini-exhibits, visitors will explore Olympia’s shellfishing industry, estuaries, dams, and inlets with interactive elements featuring art, history and local cultures.
Paint the town
April 10 – December 31
Come Paint the Town with us! In our North Gallery, explore Olympia’s mural culture through the colorful artwork decorating our streets and alleyways and turning everyday landscapes into sites of color, memory, and connection. This exhibit also investigates the work murals do in Olympia and beyond—from murals that double as solidarity networks to those that serve as memorials.
Paint the Town also features a cardboard city that visitors of all ages are invited to decorate!
you are here
January 23 – December 31
Against the backdrop of hand-painted maps by local muralist Fern Tallos, You Are Here explores Olympia at two scales: From the history at the intersection of State Avenue and Columbia Street to the broader stories of the South Puget Sound which have shaped Olympia over time.