A visitor to Tacoma, Washington could be easily overwhelmed by all of the history surrounding them. Luckily, the National Historic Register has officially recognized the most important historical sites. While you still might not be able to hit all of these the first time through, history buffs can use this guide as an introduction to the best of what Tacoma has to offer.

1. Engine House No. 9: Built in 1907 as the North End’s fire protection center, the Engine House was recognized as a historical site in 1975. In 1992, the site became the first non-smoking pub in Pierce County, and it now houses a microbrewery with eight local beers. (more…)

While Nicholas Delin was instrumental in attracting settlers to Commencement Bay, a European settlement existed at the Puget Sound as early as 1833. Fort Nisqually was built as an outpost for the Hudson’s Bay Company, the oldest commercial company in North America. Settlers travelled from sites as distant and diverse as Scotland, Hawaii, Canada, and the West Indies to trade for beaver pelts, livestock, and crops. The fort was originally closed in 1869, when the United States government bought the land from HBC for 460,000.In 1930, the fort was rebuilt at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, primarily to provide new jobs during the Depression. While the only original buildings capable of being moved were the granary and the factor’s house, the Fort Nisqually Granary was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970. (more…)