This mirror-image storefront, built in 1884, is significant for its lively Victorian cast-iron decoration. Mass-produced cast-iron embellishments were cheaper than hand-carved wood or stone. When they became widely available in the 1880s and '90s, even smaller merchants could afford to dress up their storefronts. Diamonds, rosettes, fleur-de-lis and pilasters (mock columns) were especially popular.

The south side of this building housed a busy hardware store-through a succession of several owners-well into the 20th century. In the floor of its recessed entryway you can still see whimsical print marks where old-fashioned hand tools were tamped into freshly poured concrete.

The north storefront was the first location of Harris Dry Goods, an important mercantile emporium in early Olympia. It later housed the Kay family restaurant, one of Olympia's most popular Chinese eateries, from 1941 until 1977.

The Olympia Hardware Building is located on the west side of Capitol Way between Fourth and State Avenues. It is listed on the Olympia Heritage Register. The building is open to the public.

Main Street (Capitol Way), ca. 1900. Olympia Hardware midway down the street on the right. Special Collections Division, University of Washington Libraries Neg. 4880.