Tacoma Real Estate Area Information and Homes for Sale in Pierce County, WA.

Tacoma

With a population of approximately 193,000, Tacoma is the third largest city in the state. It is known for its historic neighborhoods and architecture, wide range of convenient amenities and world-class port. Its location gives residents easy access to the entire Puget Sound area. It is only 16 miles from the Seattle-Tacoma Airport and 26 miles from Seattle.

Historic buildings in downtown Tacoma represent the wealth and vigor of the early days of industry in the Pacific Northwest. Nationally renowned architects created works in industrial and high styles, including Beaux Arts and Art Deco. Neighborhoods developed in a rich mix often featuring the Victorian and Craftsman styles that America recognizes as their own type of home. Commercial and industrial buildings have been adapted for new uses in the downtown area, and have won national respect for that work. Neighborhood coalitions have worked to preserve the character of entire streets and blocks.

Major restoration efforts and a growing revitalization of Tacoma's downtown area are rapidly changing the city's past reputation as an industrial rail and lumber town. The central business district began emerging in the mid-1980s with the restoration of the historic Pantages Theater, construction of the Tacoma Sheraton Hotel and The Financial Center, and renovation of Union Station.

In the 1990s, a growing infusion of boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and night spots has contributed to the comeback of downtown Tacoma. A major addition is the $40.8-million Washington State History Museum that opened in 1996. It features interactive and multimedia exhibits and showcases the most significant collection of pioneer, Native American and Alaskan artifacts on the West Coast. The 106,000-square-foot museum's dramatic architecture complements the massive, arched, Romanesque style of adjacent Union Station.

The University of Washington opened the first phase of its Tacoma Branch campus in 1997. Located across Pacific Avenue from the Washington State History Museum and Union Station, the downtown site cost $33 million initially and will expand to a 46-acre, $85-million campus.

Union Station -- a landmark designed by the architects who created New York's Grand Central Station -- was built in 1911 by the Northern Pacific Railway when Tacoma was its western terminus. The copper-domed station was once considered the grandest building north of San Francisco. However, it was vacated in 1983 when Amtrak moved its operations elsewhere and it then fell into disrepair.

In the late 1980s, Union Station was put on the National Register of Historic Places and $57 million was spent on complete interior and exterior renovation. Today it enjoys new life as a Federal Courthouse and home of the largest single exhibit of sculptured glass art by internationally known native son Dale Chihuly.

The Tacoma Art Museum arranged the station's Chihuly display and features more of his work at its nearby downtown location, along with Northwest artists, impressionists, classics and special quarterly exhibits. Long rated a top art museum, it is currently looking for a larger home but remains committed to finding that new space within the downtown area.

Near the Broadway Theater district is Antique Row, comprised of 14 shops offering 60,000 square feet of collectibles and vintage furniture. Most of the stores are open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, noon to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. A vibrant Farmer's Market enlivens Broadway every Thursday.

Close by the downtown hub, the Tacoma Dome is a major sports, entertainment and events facility. Opened in 1983, it is the world's largest wood-domed arena: 15 stories tall, 530 feet in diameter, accommodating up to 28,000 spectators. The Tacoma Dome has regularly hosted headline entertainers from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen, events such as the annual Home & Garden Show, and many other exhibitions throughout the year.

Near the dome is Freighthouse Square Public Market, a historic railroad warehouse now housing many original gift shops, off-beat boutiques and ethnic food restaurants. The latter range from Thai and Vietnamese to Mexican and American, plus fabulous cinnamon rolls and other goodies. Ethnic fests are held there each month to salute different cultures.

The Port of Tacoma is the sixth largest container port in North America and among the top 25 container ports in the world. The port handles over 80% of all waterborne cargo shipped to Alaska from the lower 48 states.

For recreation and natural beauty, Tacoma can't be beat. Mount Rainier National Park was established by Congress and signed into law by President McKinley in 1899. The 250,000-acre park, along with a section of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, dominates eastern Pierce County. The park contributes tremendously to the county's tourism and recreation sector, most of which is otherwise centered in the greater Tacoma area.

Tacoma stems from the Indian name for Mt. Rainier "Tacobet," meaning "Mother of Waters." Interpreted by the white man as Tahoma, later, Tacoma was the name of the fledging settlement in 1865.

Native Americans were the first known inhabitants of present-day Pierce County. The area's principal tribes were the Puyallup (north county) and Nisqually (south county). They depended largely on cedar canoes as a means of transportation for trade with one another and various other tribes around Puget Sound. Their trading activities are widely considered to be the first forms of commerce in what is now Pierce County.

On May 26, 1792, an expeditionary party led by Captain George Vancouver put ashore at present-day Dash Point or Brown's Point (it's not entirely clear which). Later that day, they explored Commencement Bay. As a result, the party is believed to be the first whites to set foot in what is now Pierce County.