Events from March 19 – April 16 – Tacoma History Comes Alive!

Notorious Tacoma

WalkingToursAdmin — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Reservation is required by calling 253-400-2076

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Downtown Tacoma’s Alluring History

WalkingToursAdmin — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Ever feel downtown Tacoma whispering? Streetcars once rolled out from the transportation barn, carrying the city forward. A child was christened on the girders of the Rust Building – steel and blessing, high above the street. Department stores where you shopped for everything from washing machines to violins to jewelry, you will be fascinated to hear about Washington’s first female attorney and first female general manager. And yes, some buildings are haunte

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Daffodil Parade History

WalkingToursAdmin — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In 1934 Puyallup Valley bulb famers sponsored their first Daffodil Parade to promote their crop. A parade winding first through the streets of Puyallup and neighboring towns, this annual parade soon became a tradition in Tacoma as well. Learn how Daffodil Queens were selected in the early years, how the parade floats were built and see photos of parade crowds throughout the years.

Reservation is required by calling 253-460-5851

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Rough and Tumble: The History of the Town of Ruston

WalkingToursAdmin — Tue, 26 May 2026 13:30:00 +0000

In 1906, seven square blocks became something more than a dot on the map, they became Ruston. A small town shaped by the people of the Tacoma Smelting Company who wanted what everybody wants, safety, better streets and services. A steadier kind of everyday life. And maybe most of all, that simple, beautiful thing called community

Reservation is required by calling 253-319-1415

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History of South Tacoma

WalkingToursAdmin — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

This area was known as Edison to honor Thomas Edison, a friend of the railroad owner, before transitioning to the name South Tacoma. The Northern Pacific Railway moved its railway shops from downtown Tacoma to the prairie land which is now known as South Tacoma. Soon South Tacoma became a bustling route for early auto travel, Highway 99. Many small business owners opened cafes, taverns, churches and built homes in this bustling neighborhood which stood on its own. You will be interested to learn about the South Tacoma Cycling Company, Edison Soft Drink Parlor, Tillicum Toy Factory, Steve’s Gay 90’s and the Settle Meat Market.

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Downtown Tacoma’s Alluring History

WalkingToursAdmin — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

$20.00 per person – Reservation required: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/downtown-tacomas-alluring-history

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Notorious Tacoma

WalkingToursAdmin — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Step into Tacoma’s shadowy past. Have you heard about the 1951 vice raids – the kind of story that doesn’t just make the headlines, it rearranges a whole city. Hear about the scandal, the secrets and the shockwaves. From bootleggers and bordellos to a former city attorney who died in a mysterious fire, these aren’t just crime stories, they are hidden chapters Tacoma whispers about when the lights go low.

Reservation is required by calling 253-210-3318

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The Women Who Built Tacoma

WalkingToursAdmin — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 19:00:00 +0000

What if Tacoma was built twice…once in lumber and brick and again in courage? Meet Mrs. Bethel Schneebeck, Miss Alice Humble, Mrs. Elsbeth Haering, Mrs. Violet Graham – strong women, business owners, well ahead of their time. Not waiting to be invited into the room – but creating the room. Through vision, risk and persistence, hear how these women shaped the Tacoma we live in today.

$20.00 per person – Reservation required: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-women-who-built-tacoma

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Notorious Tacoma

WalkingToursAdmin — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

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History of the Stadium Business District

WalkingToursAdmin — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

What if a neighborhood story isn’t about headlines but by the people who unlocked the door each morning? Hear about Wright Park, Stadium High School and distinctive entrepreneurs who shaped the Stadium business District. You may not recognize the names of Mrs. Lucy Darling, Mr. Harold Allen or Mrs. Lois Scholl, most don’t. And yet their impact still lives on in the businesses they built.

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