None of the caches are located on the Capitol grounds. No physical caches are located at any of the intermediate coordinates. The final cache is located in another part of Olympia.
To ensure a smooth visit to the Capitol, please take a moment view the Washington State Capitol Campus links below. Public gatherings to express viewpoints will occur on campus from time to time, particularly during the Legislative Session (January 13th - April 27th). It is possible that one of these events might be held near one of the geocache waypoints. For more information, please refer to the following resources from the Washington State Capitol Campus:
This is part of the Keys of the Capitol Series
Key 1: Splendid Art Key 2: Changing Waters Key 3: Gardens for the Senses
Key 4: Interesting Spaces
Keys of the Capitol: Finale
Each multicache in this series will feature a different theme and ask you to find a "key" (name or word) that can be found in proximity to the final location of the cache. When all the keys are combined in the correct order, they can be used to unlock a grand finale mystery cache.
Often, people drive by the Capitol and overlook the many interesting things it has to offer. However, when you take the time to walk around, you discover there is quite a bit to see. The purpose of this series is to encourage you to spend time enjoying the numerous attractions within the Olympia Capitol campus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Key 2 is entitled: Changing Waters.
(Code Name: O. mykiss)
|
Quick Stats:
4 Stages, 2.2 Miles, 140 ft + -
Micro: Bring a pencil
|
You may visit the four stages in any order you prefer. The estimated round-trip distance, if you park in a single location, is up to 2.2 miles, including a modest elevation gain of approximately 140 feet.
Alternatively, if you're willing to park multiple times, you can minimize both distance and the switchbacks. To do this, park at Marathon Park or Water Street to access one of the waypoints and then drive to the Capitol to obtain the remaining coordinates (or vice versa).
Each waypoint description contains a link to further information about the feature you are observing. When you arrive, you will need to record specific notes at each water feature. To determine the cache's hidden location, input the recorded information from each stage into the checker as a keyphrase, or utilize the tables and formulas provided in the final stage section to calculate the coordinates. The checker will also provide additional details about the cache's location.
The hide location guides you to another site with a similar theme, one that people often drive past without noticing—unless they step out of their car and maybe take a few moments to listen carefully.
Quick Links (Web only)
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
Stage 4
HEAD TO THE FINAL
Parking and Transportation
Stage 1: Tivoli Fountain
N 47° 02.190 W 122° 54.100
Find out more about Tivoli Fountain
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Take a moment, watch me change
In seven minutes, a new display.
Varying jets of different range
Out of copper tulips, a shimmering spray.
Lights at evening, the colors gleam
In the Capitol’s heart, a tranquil scene.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A SECOND, SMALLER FOUNTAIN STANDS APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AWAY.
CLUE TO RECORD: WHO MADE THIS SMALLER FOUNTAIN? WRITE DOWN THE FIRST LETTER OF THEIR NAME.
Jump back to the quick links
Stage 2: Capitol Lake/Estuary
N 47° 02.293 W 122° 53.360
Find out more about Capitol Lake,
How the lake got here,
and the
Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project
~~~~~~~~~~~~
People wanted me to be a mirror of reflection.
Once my waters were made still, it led to silt and stagnation.
Now I can feel the tide turning back,
Deschutes water's flowing to the sea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
AT THIS LOCATION THERE IS AN INTERPRETIVE SIGN WHERE YOU CAN SEE A SIMULATION OF WHAT THE RESTORED ESTUARY WILL LOOK LIKE AT DIFFERENT TIDE LEVELS.
CLUE TO RECORD: READ THE LIGHT BLUE BOX ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SIGN. RECORD THE FIRST WORD THAT APPEARS ON LINE 10
Jump back to the quick link
Stage 3: Du Pen Fountain
N 47° 02.070 W 122° 54.290
Find out more about the Du Pen Fountain
~~~~~~~~~~~~
During construction, I am silent.
Underneath the scaffolds embrace.
Pending the moment, my waters can flow again.
Each piece in place, a future foreseen.
Nevertheless, I wait to return.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE FOUNTAIN IS A GREEN AND BLUE SIGN.
CLUE TO RECORD: READ THE BLUE SECTION OF THE SIGN. RECORD THE LETTER THAT IS MISSING FROM THE STATEMENT.
Jump back to the quick links
Stage 4:Water Garden
N 47° 02.095 W 122° 53.950
Find out more about Water Garden
~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I was formed, they envisioned me a calming space.
An oasis for reflection and cascading falls.
Time took its toll, my basins weakened, water lost.
Eventually, I was shut off, yet I remain a quiet place.
Reborn perhaps, a dream of mending, a new form... but still the Water Garden.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
WITHIN THE SOUTH EAST SIDE OF THE INNER COURT YARD OF THE WATER GARDEN, THERE IS A GREEN SPRINKLER HEAD.
NOTE TO RECORD: WHICH STATE IS THIS SPRINKLER FROM? RECORD THE FIRST VOWEL FOUND IN THE STATE'S NAME.
Jump back to the quick links
Final Stage
?
N 47° 02.??? W 122° 53.???
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many, many years ago, Olympia relied on me so it could grow.
Off course and re-aligned, my journey now is pre-defined.
Xeriscapes and pavement, conceal me from your view; you've probably driven over me, and never even knew.
Listen closely at a metal grate,
I am still singing though whisper faint.
Enduring patiently until once again, I am seen as important in the minds of Olympians.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOLVING FOR THE FINAL:
OPTION 1 (skip to the end):
- Enter your recorded notes into the checker as a single string of answers (without spaces and ignoring capitalization) to obtain the final coordinates and location information.
Put the notes in the following order:
1. THE LETTER MISSING AT DU PEN. 2. THE FIRST LETTER FROM THE NAME AT THE SMALLER FOUNTAIN BY TIVOLI. THE FIRST VOWEL IN THE STATE LISTED ON THE SPRINKLER AT WATERGARDEN. THE WORD OBTAINED FROM THE CAPITOL LAKE SIGN.
EX if you recorded the following clues at the locations: U R A Geocacher
Then it would be entered into the checker as: urageocacher
Input your recorded notes in the order specified in option 1 into the checker to obtain the final coordinates and supplementary information about the location.
You can validate your puzzle solution with
certitude.
DON'T FORGET TO RECORD THE KEY!: After you find the container. There is a water fountain to the Northwest on the other side of the street. Walk over to it and obtain Key 2. Record the first word in the title of the nearby fountain.
OPTION 2 (but I like doing the math part, it's my favorite...did I say that out loud):
- Sum up the nuber of letters in the word recorded at Capitol Lake write this down as the value for Capitol Lake. ex. if the word you obtained was "Water" = 5. in this example the value at capitol lake would be 5, Use the tables below to find the values for the other single letters recorded from the other stages. Then apply all 4 values in the formulas to determine the coordinates.
| A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
| O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
| 15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
North= N 47° 02.[(Watergarden Value+Capitol Lake Value)^2]x[Watergarden Value + Tivoli Value -Du Pen Value]+15
W 122° 53.[(Watergarden Value+Capitol Lake Value)^2]x[Watergarden Value + Tivoli Value -Du Pen Value]+115
DON'T FORGET TO RECORD THE KEY!: After you find the container. There is a water fountain to the Northwest on the other side of the street. Walk over to it and obtain Key 2. Record the first word in the title of the nearby fountain.
Jump back to the quick links
Parking:
There is paid visitor parking throughout Campus. M-F 7-4PM after that it is free. General Public - Visitor Parking
You can also find street parking nearby, most locations have parking meters (free on weekends, holidays, and after 5pm). One of the stages is in Marathon park you could also park there.
Olympia Inter-City Transit offers free transportation on their routes. You can get to Capitol Campus using a few different routes. Route 14 is a good option that stays in the downtown/capitol area. For a listing of all available routes go to the Intercity Transit Page
Jump back to the quick links