Historic Tacoma

06/04/2026

🌲 Did you know that one of the world's largest timber companies got its start in Tacoma?

In January 1900, Frederick Weyerhaeuser and his partners set up the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company right here in our city — helping cement Tacoma's status as the "Lumber Capital of the World." While its headquarters eventually moved north, the company's early presence is still written into our skyline at 1015-1021 A Street — the Tacoma Building, also known for decades as the Weyerhaeuser Building.

The next time you walk past it downtown, take a close look at its unique architecture:
🏢 Designed by the architectural firm Potter & Merrill, this 1910 structure features a beautiful mix of Chicago Commercial style with elegant French Renaissance details.
🧱 The first two floors are clad in a striking, butter-yellow glazed terra cotta, which transitions into a multi-toned brick facade as the building rises.
🏗️ It was also part of a cutting-edge wave of construction in the Pacific Northwest, utilizing a massive, fireproof, cast-in-place reinforced concrete skeleton to support its frame.

Recognizing its immense architectural and corporate significance, the Tacoma Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001—and it remains actively used by local businesses today, proving that preservation and progress go hand in hand.

Preserving these spaces keeps Tacoma’s rich, industrious history alive. If you could save one historic building tied to Tacoma's business history, which would it be and why? 👇

06/02/2026

🌸🌳 Welcome to June, Tacoma!

As we step into a sunny new month, we’re celebrating one of our city’s most iconic living landmarks: the Point Defiance Rose Garden. If you love history that breathes, blooms, and grows, take a stroll through the roses and visit the nearby Pagoda.

Did you know the very first roots of this garden were planted in 1895—and by Tacoma’s schoolchildren? Park Tacoma’s first superintendent, Ebenezer Rhys Roberts, issued what became known as the 100,000 Cutting Challenge, asking local students to bring rose cuttings from their own backyards. Tacoma’s kids stepped up in a huge way, contributing around 100,000 cuttings, which were successfully propagated right here in the park.

By 1912, the garden took on the circular layout we still see today. And if you walk through the historic climbing rose arbor, you’re experiencing a feature whose origins trace back to the earliest era of the garden’s design — a living link to the 1890s plantings and pathways.

Just steps away, the Pagoda — built in 1914 as a streetcar terminal — adds another layer of Tacoma history to your visit.

Ready to celebrate Tacoma in bloom? The annual Point Defiance Flower & Garden Festival is this coming weekend. Details here: https://www.parkstacoma.gov/ptdflowergardenfest/

What’s your favorite green escape in Tacoma? Share with us in the comments.

Enjoy a showcase of gardening in the Pacific Northwest with hands-on programming, garden tours, food trucks, shopping, lectures, live music and more.

05/29/2026

As May comes to a close, we’re wrapping up National Preservation Month with a heart full of gratitude—and a heavy reality check. 🏛️

Two local stories remind us that our work as neighbors and preservation advocates is never really “done”

💔 The Loss of Alderton School
You may have seen the heartbreaking news about the Alderton School, built in 1915. It was partially demolished on May 18 after a permit was reportedly issued "in error." Pierce County later lifted the stop-work order on the main building on May 22, due to safety concerns, and demolition is expected to continue. The gymnasium, remains standing, is scheduled for review by the Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission in June.
The school had sat vacant since 1958. It’s a painful reminder that vacant buildings are vulnerable buildings. Preservation isn’t just about stopping bulldozers — it’s about finding ways to keep historic places active, cared for, and loved before they reach a point of no return.

🏫 Keeping an Eye on Whitman Elementary
We’re also hearing renewed community concern about Whitman Elementary. Rumors are circulating that there may be efforts to remove it from the historic register to pave the way for demolition rather than a thoughtful rehabilitation. We’ve seen this script before. In 2011, the landmarked Barlow Annex was delisted and demolished. We do not want history to repeat itself. But protecting Whitman will take a village — and a lot of loud, local voices.

This is exactly why Historic Tacoma exists. We’re a tiny nonprofit with a big mission, and we rely on you. Our watch list isn’t just a document; it’s a community early-warning system. Preservation only works when neighbors speak up before decisions are final.

How you can help:
• 👍 Like & Share: Help this reach more Tacomans. Awareness is our best defense.
• 👀 See something? Say something: If you hear about a landmark or historic place being threatened, drop us a line at historictacoma.org/contact

Thank you for standing with us. Let’s keep fighting for the places that make Tacoma unique.

05/21/2026

The Civil War Veterans Who Built Tacoma — and the Memorial Day They Started

Did you know Memorial Day has deep roots in our city? It was carried here by Civil War veterans who didn't just survive the war—they became Tacoma’s earliest leaders.

In 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — a fraternal organization of Union veterans — established "Decoration Day", the tradition that became our modern Memorial Day. Their mission was simple: remember fallen comrades and ensure no sacrifice was forgotten. In Tacoma, the GAR wasn’t just a club—it was foundational.

Job Carr, our city’s first non-Native permanent settler and first postmaster, was also the first commander of Tacoma’s Custer Post No. 6. He came west in 1864 after serving in the Civil War, built a cabin near what's now 2350 North 30th Street, and watched a city grow around him. When he passed in 1887, he was buried with full honors, his casket handles proudly inscribed "G.A.R."

General John W. Sprague, a fellow veteran and GAR member, served as Tacoma’s first mayor when Old Town and New Tacoma merged in 1883. He presided over Carr's funeral and helped steer a young lumber town into a booming city.
These veterans were everywhere in early Tacoma—leading the city council, building businesses, and every spring, leading the Decoration Day procession through our streets.

Both men now rest at Old Tacoma Cemetery alongside many of their fellow Union veterans. They hoped, in their own words, that "following generations would continue to remember them by caring for their final resting place and memory."

This weekend, if you’re looking for a quiet moment of remembrance, consider visiting the Job Carr Cabin replica in Old Town, or walking the rows of Old Tacoma Cemetery. These men built our city with their hands—and they built the tradition of Memorial Day to ensure we never forget.

They’re still here. And we’re still remembering. 🕊️

05/20/2026

A close call, a century of history, and a few things you might not know about Tacoma’s Temple Theatre. 🏛️✨

Exactly one week ago today, many of us held our breath as sirens rushed toward St. Helens Avenue and smoke rose above downtown Tacoma. An electrical malfunction sparked a fire on the roof of the Temple Theatre, but thanks to the swift work of the Tacoma Fire Department, the blaze was quickly contained and this beloved landmark was spared major damage. 🚒❤️

Designed by renowned architect Ambrose J. Russell and completed in 1927, the Temple Theatre is an iconic Tacoma landmark. A rare example of early 20th-century fraternal architecture, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Originally built as the Masonic Temple Building, it was designed as a “two-in-one” landmark: grand public performance spaces below, with private lodge rooms and ceremonial halls above. Hidden beyond the auditorium are some of Tacoma’s most fascinating historic interiors — ornate lodge rooms, ballrooms, and ceremonial spaces that many residents have never had the chance to see.

A few favorite details:
✨ A hidden world upstairs — Four large meeting rooms were each designed in a completely different architectural style: Doric, Ionic, Gothic, and Corinthian.
🎭 Built for spectacle — The backstage fly loft rises seven stories high and originally used a traditional h**p system capable of flying in 42 different stage scenes.
🏺 Egyptian-inspired interiors — While the exterior features restrained Second Renaissance Revival architecture, the theater interior transports visitors with dramatic Egyptian Revival detailing, including massive columns and intricate stenciled motifs.
🧥 Prepared for Tacoma weather — The original coat room was designed to hold an astonishing 1,000 coats and 600 hats!

Historic places like the Temple Theatre connect us to Tacoma’s story — and last week was a reminder of how fragile they can be.

💬 If you have memories or photos from events there, we’d love to see them in the comments. And if you know someone who loves Tacoma history, share this post so the story reaches a little farther.

05/14/2026

🎵 TACOMA HISTORY PRESERVED IN EVERY NOTE 🎵

For 95 years, Ted Brown Music has kept Washington singing — and their story is rooted right here in Tacoma’s historic commercial corridors. 🏙️

Clay Eals at Seattle Now & Then just published a wonderful retrospective on this family legacy, and the buildings featured are true Tacoma Gems:

🏢 755 Broadway (1931–1934) The original Ted Brown Music’s storefront still anchors our iconic Antique Row today!

🏛️ 1121 Broadway (1934–2001) Built in 1906 and expanded in 1913, this beautifully ornamented structure remains one of Broadway’s most distinctive early 20th century commercial buildings. Today, it continues to serve the community as part of the Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA).

🎹 2301 Tacoma Ave S A beloved local landmark in spirit! The former Clinton’s Music House — complete with its iconic rooftop piano — is now home to Ted Brown Music Outreach.

Our historic commercial districts aren’t just brick and mortar. They’re the stages where local family legacies grow, evolve, and continue to shape Tacoma’s identity. ✨

👉 Explore the full story and enjoy the vintage photos here: https://pauldorpat.com/2026/05/14/seattle-now-then-ted-brown-music-1935/

💬 Share your own memory of Ted Brown Music or Broadway below - we love hearing about it.

05/12/2026

🌲 From Douglas Fir to Engineered Wood — Tacoma's Timber Legacy Lives On 🌊

Did you know Tacoma helped shape the engineered wood products used around the world today?

In the early 20th century, Tacoma was known as the "Lumber Capital of the World," with mills lining the Commencement Bay tide flats. Among them, The Wheeler Osgood Company became the largest door manufacturer in United States. By 1927, its plant covered 14 acres and employed 1,500 workers. Their craftsmanship still survives—in historic homes, commercial buildings, and century-old doors throughout our city.

In 1933, a group of Pacific Northwest plywood manufacturers gathered at Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel with a bold idea: create industry-wide quality standards, promote new uses for wood products, and support the booming timber economy centered right here on Commencement Bay. That meeting launched the Douglas Fir Plywood Association—an organization that would evolve into today's APA – The Engineered Wood Association, still headquartered in Tacoma. What began with plywood has grown into an industry representing structural panels, OSB, glulam beams, LVL, and wood I-joists used in modern construction across the globe.

Today, the former Wheeler Osgood mill site is being reimagined. Through the Port of Tacoma's new Maritime Center and Maritime|253 skills campus, what was once industrial shoreline is becoming a place for workforce training, public waterfront access, and habitat restoration—preparing the next generation for maritime and trades careers. It's a living reminder that Tacoma's working waterfront continues to adapt while honoring the legacy that built this city.

📸 Do you have a favorite Tacoma building with a timber story? Maybe original Wheeler Osgood doors, Douglas fir paneling, old mill photos, or family ties to Tacoma's lumber industry? We'd love to see and hear about it. Drop your photos and stories in the comments!

05/07/2026

Happy Thursday, Tacoma! ☀️

As we move through May, we are celebrating a unique intersection of history: it is both National Historic Preservation Month and Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It’s the perfect time to honor the labor and resilience that built the foundation of the city we love.

Our city became a major port and timber hub for one big reason: the Northern Pacific Railroad chose Tacoma as its western terminus in 1873. And the railroad? It was built in large part by Chinese workers. An estimated 15,000 of the 20,000 men who built the Pasco-to-Tacoma branch line were Chinese. They blasted tunnels through granite, laid tracks over brutal terrain, and powered through harsh winters to complete one of the 19th century’s epic engineering achievements. In 1883 alone, 1,400 were grinding it out north from Tacoma!

Today, you can literally walk in their footsteps on the Prairie Line Trail—that cool diagonal path slicing through downtown and UW Tacoma, tracing the rails that turned a sleepy settlement into the City of Destiny. The original rails are still there, and don’t miss Hai Ying Wu’s powerful bronze sculpture: rail tracks with a 1909 railroad car piled high with boxes etched with the names of Chinese laborers who died building the Northern Pacific—a moving tribute to their skill, sacrifice, and lasting contribution to our city’s foundation.

Lace up your sneakers and take a walk through history this month! You can learn more about the trail’s art and heritage at prairielinetrail.org.

Which historic place in our city inspires your sense of belonging? Share with us below! 👇

05/04/2026

Hi Neighbors, we don't usually talk about buildings 3,000 miles away—but sometimes a preservation story matters no matter where it happens.

There's a proposal to paint the granite facade of the iconic Eisenhower Executive Office Building bright white. It's stood unpainted since 1888—a National Historic Landmark with subtle stone and slate that tell its story. Painting it would cause irreversible damage, trapping moisture and permanently altering a landmark integral to the Lafayette Square Historic District.

The good news? Our voices still matter. The National Capital Planning Commission is accepting public comments through May 6 at 9am our time (noon ET). The National Trust for Historic Preservation just hosted a webinar on this (recording available) and has made commenting straightforward.

If you believe once-lost historic fabric can't be replaced—we see you, Tacoma—this is a moment to speak up for preservation wherever it's threatened.

🔗 How to comment & watch the webinar: https://savingplaces.org/eeob

The EEOB is a National Historic Landmark and a contributing element of the Lafayette Square Historic District that has been preserved, un-painted, since its completion in 1888. Coating the surface with an impermeable layer of paint would trap moisture within the masonry, and accelerate the building....

04/29/2026

🌸 As we head into National Historic Preservation Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, we wanted to shine a light on one of Tacoma’s most beloved and photographed treasures: the Point Defiance Pagoda.

What many people don’t realize is that this graceful building was never actually a pagoda. Back in 1914, it opened as the Point Defiance Streetcar Station — the joyful final stop on the trolley line for thousands of hardworking Tacoma families ready for their precious Sunday adventure at the park. Architect Luther Twichell designed it in a beautiful Japanese-inspired style with sweeping rooflines and deep eaves, creating a warm, welcoming “grand arrival” moment when people stepped off the streetcar.

When streetcar service ended in 1938, the building didn’t fade away. It evolved — becoming a cherished community space, then a garden club gathering spot, and eventually picked up the nickname we all know today: “The Pagoda.” It even survived a devastating fire in 2011, only to rise again more beautiful than ever thanks to dedicated restoration.

Today, it stands as a National Historic Landmark, a centerpiece of the Japanese Garden, and a living bridge between cultures — especially after Kitakyushu - Tacoma’s longest-standing sister city, gifted the beautiful Shinto shrine and Torii gate nearby.

Places like the Pagoda show us that preservation isn’t just about saving old buildings. It’s about holding onto the stories, the traditions, and the spaces that make Tacoma special.

What’s your favorite memory at the Pagoda or in Point Defiance Park?