Joyce Hill

Tacoma Area Information

Tacoma is located at the base of Mount Rainier in Washington State, nestled along the shores of Commencement Bay. Tacoma is host to a population of more than 199,600 residents and is nationally recognized as a livable and progressive international city. The city was incorporated in 1884 has grown from its historical roots as a home of sawmills and a bustling port that exported goods around the world to a center for international exports, the arts and healthy, affordable living. To discover all this and more about beautiful Tacoma, Washington, please visit the city’s official website at: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=2

History

Tacoma was inhabited for thousands of years by predominantly the Puyallup people, who lived in settlements on the delta of the Puyallup River. It was visited by European and American explorers, including George Vancouver and Charles Wilkes, who named many of the coastal landmarks in the late 1790’s. In 1864, pioneer and postmaster Job Carr, a Civil War veteran and land speculator who hoped to profit from the selection of Commencement Bay as the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad, built a cabin, and later sold most of his claim to developer Morton McCarver, who named his project Tacoma City. The name derived from the indigenous name for Mount Rainier, deriving from the Puyalluptacobet, "mother of waters".

Tacoma was incorporated on November 12, 1875. It became the "City of Destiny" in 1873 as the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The transcontinental link was affected in 1887, but the railroad built its depot on "New Tacoma", two miles south of the Carr-McCarver development. The two communities grew together and joined. The population grew from 1,098 in 1880 to 36,006 in 1890. By 1890, the population reached 36,000 people. Sawmills, coal mines, flour mills and a smelter turned raw materials into exportable goods. The discovery of gold in the Klondike in 1898 led Tacoma's prominence in the region to be eclipsed by the booming development of Seattle.

Today Tacoma is a thriving city with a revitalized downtown that caters to residents and visitors alike with its shopping, dining, theaters and award-winning arts and architecture. Tacoma continues to make use of both its land and sea resources and is home to the Port of Tacoma, the seventh-largest container port in the United States. Tacoma is within 20 miles of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and 36 miles of the city of Seattle. For more information about Tacoma’s rich history, please visit: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=28

Tacoma , WA Attractions & Activities

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is honored to offer a wide array of animals ranging from seahorses, sharks, peacocks and penguins to wolves and walrus for close viewing. Delightful, affordable, and home to some breathtaking views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Northwest. As of 2005, the Zoo celebrated its 100 year anniversary. Please visit Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium’s official website for more information. http://www.pdza.org/

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
Just a short drive away from Tacoma, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is located in Eatonville. The park itself features a narrated tram tour through more than 400 acres of meadows and forests where visitors can see bison, elk, moose, mountain goats and more. There is also a walking tour on paved forested pathways to see predators and small forest and wetland animals. For more information about Northwest Trek, go to: www.nwtrek.org.  

Tacoma Dome
The Tacoma Dome is one of the largest wood domed structures in the world and is owned and operated by the City of Tacoma’s Public Assembly Facilities Department. The Tacoma Dome is extremely flexible with 65% of the seating being moveable allowing from seating that ranges from 5,000 to 23,000. Ground breaking for the facility took place on July 1, 1981.  The building was constructed in less than two years and officially opened on April 21, 1983.  The Tacoma Dome hosted its first major concert on August 11, 1983 with David Bowie. The Tacoma Dome hosts over one million guests annually.  The Tacoma Dome Arena and its attached Exhibition Hall host over 300 days of events every year including WIAA high school sports, major concerts, family shows, and several tradeshows. Discover this and more about the Tacoma Dome by clicking here: http://www.tacomadome.org/history.aspx

Museum of Glass
The Museum of Glass is dedicated to providing exhibitions of works executed in glass along with their permanent collection of 20th- and 21st-century glass. Explanatory commentary in the form of interpretive text panels and gallery guides are provided to ensure your experience is meaningful and engaging. Learn more about the Museum of Glass by visiting their official website. http://www.museumofglass.org/

Parks & Recreation

Metro Parks Tacoma was created in 1907 to manage park, recreation and zoological services and facilities for the citizens of Tacoma. Today it also serves the citizens of Dash Point and Browns Point. Metro Parks Tacoma maintains and cares for some 57 parks and open spaces in the Tacoma area including Point Defiance Park with its Zoo and Aquarium, Boathouse Marina, and Fort Nisqually; Northwest Trek Wildlife Park near Eatonville; W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory; Meadow Park Golf Course; and Ruston Way waterfront parks including Les Davis Pier. For this and more information about Metro Parks Tacoma, please visit: http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/

Events Calendar

Daffodil Festival
The Daffodil Festival is celebrating its 77th year during the 2010 festival season and takes pride in calling the great State of Washington, specifically Pierce County, its home.  The Festival is an annual event that culminates in April with a Grand Floral Street Parade, which travels through the cities of Tacoma , Puyallup, Sumner and Orting, all in one day.  The event includes activities for the whole family, showcasing the importance of youth and providing positive venues for their talents. Please visit the official event website for more information. http://www.daffodilfestival.net/

For a detailed list of Community events, please visit: http://tacomawacoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventsStartPage.aspx

For more details about Tacoma, WA please visit: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=13406