Lord Mansion and Coach House

Lord Mansion was built in 1923 for banker Clarence J. Lord and his wife, Elizabeth. Lord was a powerful figure in the history of Washington banking. He served as Olympia's mayor in 1902-03 and was a staunch opponent of any attempt to move the state capital. 

The Lords married in their home town in New York's Hudson River Valley in 1890 and came west where Mr. Lord founded the Capital National Bank, prospering even during the dark economic conditions of the 1890s. His wife Elizabeth was a founding member of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was active in many public civic organizations, being remembered for her warm and welcoming home and her generosity to children and students in the community. Daughter Helen was born in 1904 and, one year after graduating from the University of Washington, married bank employee William (Bill) Lucas in 1928.

Lord engaged Olympia architect Joseph Wohleb to design his impressive new home. Raised and trained in California, Wohleb brought a distinct Southwest style to much of his work in south Puget Sound. The Lord Mansion, a Spanish Colonial villa surrounded by lush lawns and evergreen trees, is the grandest of all of Wohleb's stucco-and-tile residential designs. Exterior features include decorative friezes inset in the walls, carved brackets under wide eaves, and an arched formal entry flanked by Doric columns. A matching "coach house" behind the home, complete with chauffeur's quarters upstairs, testifies to C. J. Lord's fondness for large motor cars.

After Lord's death in 1937, the mansion was donated to the state by Elizabeth Lord and her daughter Helen Lord Lucas with the "suggestion" that it be used as a museum. A year-long effort spearheaded by the Daughters of the Pioneers to secure state support for the museum culminated in Governor Arthur Langlie signing a bill creating the Washington State Capital Museum Association as a trustee of the state responsible for operating the Lord Mansion as a museum. The Museum opened to the public on March 5, 1942 with a glittering event and all the state elected officials, including the governor, were on hand to welcome visitors. In 1993, it merged with the Washington State Historical Society and continued as the State Capital Museum and Outreach Center. 

As museum standards for proper display and preservation of art and artifacts have evolved, the Lord Mansion was evaluated, and it was determined that renovations to meet museum standards were not cost effective or in the best interest of the building. The Historical Society worked with the State of Washington to preserve and restore the building while adapting it for beneficial use. 

Although the home's interior has been altered for its different uses over time, its gorgeously paneled dining room and sweeping central staircase remain splendidly unchanged.

The Washington State Historical Society could no longer find beneficial use for the building so in 2018, the Washington State Legislature transferred stewardship of the Lord Mansion and Coach House to The Evergreen State College. The College intends to honor the public legacy of the building and the intentions of the Lord family when they deeded the property to the State. Evergreen will use the facility to welcome, engage, and support the general public and the greater Olympia community while also promoting the College’s mission as a unique, vibrant, and local destination for teaching and learning across differences.

Historical information courtesy Washington State Historical Society, 2018.

Lord Mansion and Coach House Rental Rates

Included in your facility rental are various tables and chairs to match your event needs. Additional equipment may also be available, just ask!

• Chiavari Chairs with Mahogany Finish
  • 84 chairs
  • Classic elegance for traditional events
  • Easy to decorate to match event colors with fabric overlays or ribbon
  • Default chair for 1st floor of Mansion
  • Optional 2" Cushion with black fabric
  • Optional 2" Cushion with white vinyl
• Classic Folding Wedding Chairs
  • 120 chairs
  • Perfect for outdoor receptions and ceremonies
  • Default chair for use in the Coach House and Front Porch
• White Folding Chairs
  • 84 chairs
  • Backrest and seat contours to the shape of the individual
  • Breathable seat and backrest
  • Superior comfort beyond traditional wedding ceremony chair
  • For courtyard/garden functions
• Black Stacking Banquet Chairs
  • 60 chairs
  • Black frame and black fabric
  • 2.5" thick seat for extended comfort
  • Chair back has an event pitch for added comfort
  • Default chair for 2nd floor of Mansion
• Cocktail Reception Tables with Gray Smooth Top
  • 20 tables
  • 30" round top for 2-4 people
  • 42" height
• Round Tables with Gray Smooth Top
  • 18 tables
  • 48" round top
  • Seats 6 people
• Rectangle Tables with Gray Smooth Top (6' L × 30" W)
  • 24 tables
  • Seats 6-8 people or serves as tables for buffet line
• Skinny/Seminar Table (6' L × 18" W)
  • 24 tables
  • Seats 3 people on a single side
  • Seminar size table for training workshops or presentation materials
• Sweetheart Table
  •  48" half round table
• Birch Arch
  • White birch wood wedding arch with a height of 7' and a width of 6' using three birch poles. Use as an altar or backdrop behind a sweetheart table. Wrap with your linens or flowers to match your theme. LED curtain lights are also available. Comes with two white stands so it can be used indoors or out.
• Portable PA System
  • Portable PA system with 2 speakers, 1 wired microphone. System inputs include 2 mic inputs, SD card input, USB input, Bluetooth and FM radio.
• Smart TV
  • Our 50" Sharp SmartTV is portable on casters. It can be connected to your laptop for presentation purposes via HDMI or use a USB to share a slideshow of pictures.
• Portable LCD Projector and Screen
  • Portable LCD projector with HDMI input and portable screen

Approved caterers have provided Evergreen with a copy of their business license, catering and applicable alcohol service endorsements, as well as their certificate of insurance listing Evergreen as an additional insured. Evergreen does not endorse or guarantee quality or service provided by outside caterers.

If you don't see your caterer listed, please contact us and staff will contact your caterer to obtain approval.

These caterers have been approved for service at the Lord Mansion and Coach House:

Venue Driving Directions (Google Maps)

• On-site parking spaces are limited.
• Additional street parking is available around the site, subject to City of Olympia parking regulations.
• Carpooling, taxi, ride-share servic, and use of free Intercity Transit routes is highly encouraged.
• The streets surrounding the Lord Mansion are zoned for 2-hour parking Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Free parking without a time restriction is available within a two-block walking distance from the Lord Mansion at the gravel parking lot at 122 23rd Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501.