This Washington Town Is Older Than the State Itself

When Captain Lafayette Balch sailed into Puget Sound in January 1851, he possible had no thought he was about to put the foundations of what would develop into Washington State’s first integrated city. A full 38 years earlier than Washington achieved statehood in 1889, this toehold in what was to develop into the Pacific Northwest area of America was initially named Port Steilacoom after its native inhabitants and its business potential.

Officially integrated in 1854 as Washington’s oldest city (it beat out each Seattle and Tacoma for that distinction), Steilacoom initially consisted of two competing settlements. Balch’s Port Steilacoom centered round his wharf and lumber operation, transport timber south to booming San Francisco, whereas Steilacoom City was established only a few months later, a bit additional inland. The territorial legislature merged these rival cities in 1854, stitching them collectively alongside what’s now Union Avenue.

As the 1850s progressed, Steilacoom swiftly turned the area’s most vital settlement, with landmark occasions just like the institution of Washington’s first submit workplace in 1852 and the primary Protestant church north of the Columbia River in 1853 cementing its significance. The first public library and a territorial jail had been additionally added in 1858 to the neighborhood, which by then had grown to incorporate many properties, a number of shops and motels, in addition to sawmills and a grist mill.

Historical Highlights

Although it’s situated a bit out of city, Historic Fort Steilacoom is a must-see for its museum and displays regarding early native historical past. Established two years earlier than the port, the fort performed a significant position through the Puget Sound War of 1855-1856 when tensions between settlers and Native tribes erupted into battle. It was ultimately decommissioned through the Civil War in 1868. Highlights at present embody a number of unique buildings from this era, together with excursions and re-enactments.

Elsewhere in Steilacoom, you’ll discover loads of proof of the city’s Nineteenth-century character, particularly round its 40-block National Historic District. The Steilacoom Historical Museum is a superb place to begin and occupies the Nathaniel Orr homestead, a two-story 1857 pioneer residence with unique furnishings. Highlights embody interval rooms with furnishings handmade by Orr himself, the household’s unique orchards, and the Wagon Shop from 1870. Guided excursions can be found.

All that historical past making you peckish? The Bair Drug and Hardware Store homes a quaint bistro that provides an excellent breakfast or lunch in a historic setting courting from 1895, full with unique shelving, a working 1908 soda fountain, and partitions lined with patent medicines, tobacco tins, and early Twentieth-century images.

Things To Do in Steilacoom

The Steilacoom Tribal Cultural Center and Museum occupies a timber constructing constructed in 1903 and options artifacts courting again to the 1400s, in addition to storytelling periods (renovations are presently underway, so verify prematurely for opening hours earlier than visiting). Built in 1891 by a rich service provider, the E.R. Rogers Mansion is considered one of Steilacoom’s most imposing constructions. Now used as workplace area, it’s value a walk-past to see its commanding views over Puget Sound.

Speaking of views, Pioneer Orchard Park supplies waterfront vistas and a bandstand the place free summer time concert events are held. You’ll additionally get pleasure from nice views when you cease at Topside Bar and Grill’s rooftop deck overlooking Puget Sound and with views extending to the Olympic Mountains. If you’re staying lengthy sufficient, take into account hopping aboard the Steilacoom Ferry to Anderson Island. Departing from the ferry’s devoted dock, this simple 30-minute-or-so journey carries automobiles so you possibly can simply get concerning the island to hike, fish, or loosen up on its seashores.

Outdoor Attractions

Across the highway from the fort after which it’s named, Fort Steilacoom Park encompasses Waughop Lake and a big acreage of public lands. In addition to the paved one-mile Discovery Trail that’s appropriate for strollers and wheelchairs, the park options climbing trails, a big off-leash canine park, and a devoted working route. Educational indicators present particulars of the realm’s early historical past as a gathering place for the Nisqually and Steilacoom tribes and its later use as a hospital farm.

If you possibly can time your go to to coincide with one of many city’s many occasions and festivals, you’ll end up not solely having enjoyable but in addition studying much more about Washington’s oldest city. The Steilacoom Historical Museum Association organizes the enjoyable Apple Squeeze every October to have fun the native harvest, in addition to their fashionable Ice Cream Social each Fourth of July. Guided ghost excursions are additionally supplied in October, that includes tales of the Nathaniel Orr residence and different (allegedly!) haunted websites.

The Final Word

If you’re solely capable of go to a single small city in Washington, you could as nicely make it Steilacoom. This historic city is the place you’ll expertise outdated Washington in its most genuine method. Despite the Northern Pacific Railroad’s determination to terminate in Tacoma, which ended the city’s hopes of ever turning into the following San Francisco, that financial disappointment proved a blessing in disguise, permitting the city to ultimately deal with preserving its many aged buildings fairly than knocking them all the way down to make method for the brand new. For curious vacationers looking for a dose of real Pacific Northwest historical past, this quiet city on Puget Sound delivers an expertise that’s even older than the state of Washington itself.