Boos, Brews, and the Roaring '20s
Step Back in Time and Join Me for an Unforgettable Olympia Experience!
I’m Ira Wesley Kitmacher — author, historian, professor, and your guide to Olympia’s past. Join me for a thrilling journey back 100 years to the wild and uninhibited 1920s! This new tour and event will immerse you in an era of brothels, speakeasies, gambling houses, organized crime, silent films, vaudeville, and Jazz! Prohibition was the law, but if you knew the right password, almost anything was possible. Fresh off the devastation of World War I and the deadly Spanish Flu pandemic, America embraced a fascination with spiritualism—and Olympia was no exception. Many of the city’s historic buildings have their own ghostly legends, and I’ll be sharing their eerie tales along the way. We’ll meet outside the historic Old Olympian Hotel (Olympia Ballroom) at 116 Legion Way SE, where I’ll set the stage for our adventure. From there, we’ll explore some of Olympia’s reportedly haunted 1920s-era buildings before making our way to the Filibuster Cocktail Bar & Lounge inside the historic Security Building. We’ll step into their atmospheric Depression-era walk-in bank vault—perfect for soaking in the spirit of the times. Food and drinks will be available for purchase (not included in the ticket price). Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, and get ready for a night of history, hauntings, and hidden stories! I can’t wait to take you on this unforgettable journey through Olympia’s past.
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Olympia History & Haunted Tour
Uncover Olympia’s Haunted History with Me!
I’m Ira Wesley Kitmacher—author, historian, professor, and your guide to the eerie and fascinating past of Olympia, Washington. Join me and Pretty Gritty Tours as we embark on a journey through the city’s history and hauntings in the heart of our state’s capital. We’ll begin on the boardwalk between the Olympia Oyster House (320 4th Avenue W) and the iconic “Kissing Statue,” overlooking Percival Landing Park—the historic port of entry that shaped Olympia’s early days. From there, we’ll step into the city’s shadowy past, where shipwrecks, the notorious “mosquito fleet,” shanghaiing, and restless spirits still leave their mark. If you love history and ghost stories, this tour is for you! Olympia’s past is filled with legends of the undead, cryptids, and hauntings. As a published author (Haunted Graveyard of the Pacific, Spirits Along the Columbia River, Haunted Puget Sound, Pacific Northwest Legends and Lore, and Monsters and Miracles), a professor at Georgetown and Portland State, and a speaker at events like the Oregon Ghost Conference, I’m excited to share these stories with you. This is a fully outdoor walking tour, so dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes—you never know what spirits may be lurking along our path. I look forward to guiding you through Olympia’s hidden history!
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Haunted Trolley Tour (non-active)
Join Me for a Journey Through History
Step aboard for a narrated tour of the Peninsula, where I’ll guide you through the fascinating history of this remarkable region. Discover the rich past of the Peninsula, from sailing ships and railroads to historic villages, lighthouses, forts, and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Tours run on select Thursdays as well—check for specific topics and dates! Our journey begins in Downtown Long Beach, WA, where the trolley picks up passengers near the Merchants Association building on 3rd St and Pacific Ave. From there, we’ll travel through Seaview, Ilwaco, Chinook, Fort Columbia, Middle Village/Station Camp, Nahcotta, Oysterville, and Ocean Park before returning to Long Beach. Along the way, I’ll share stories from my extensive research and books on the area’s history and folklore. My books will be available for purchase on the tour, and I’d be happy to sign a copy for you. Come explore the past with me—I look forward to having you on board!