Are you a local history buff or a wannabe time traveler? If so, then check out the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park. At this reconstruction of historic Fort Nisqually, employees painstakingly reenact the daily activities of fort life in the 1850s. But not everything here is a re-creation. The museum has carefully preserved two of Washington’s oldest buildings!
Located on the north end of the city, Point Defiance Park juts into the Puget Sound. Before stopping by the Living History Museum, visitors can watch bald eagles soar above the Tacoma Narrows, hike an old-growth forest, or grab coffee at one of Tacoma's many delicious cafes.
The real Fort Nisqually wasn't located in Tacoma at all. In fact, it was closer to modern-day DuPont. There, it acted as an important trading and farming hub for the Hudson's Bay Company.
The Hudson's Bay Company was hugely significant to Washington history. It facilitated the initial encounters between Indigenous tribes and European settlers in the state.
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State officials decided to build a reconstruction of Fort Nisqually in the 1930s as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal program. The Great Depression had hit the state hard. With as many as 25 percent of Washingtonians unemployed, the state hoped that the project could be a lifeline for workers on the brink.
Over the years, the fort's original buildings were neglected. In the end, workers could only move two buildings the 15 miles from Dupont to Point Defiance. These happened to be two of the oldest buildings in Washington State. The Hudson's Bay Company built the granary in 1843 and the factor's house in 1855.
Visitors may enter some buildings as part of the museum's immersive experience. Stepping into the small and cluttered rooms feels like stepping back in time. Somehow, the low ceilings and period-appropriate objects convey more about the rhythms of daily life at the fort than most textbooks ever could.
Despite being much, much newer, the reconstructed buildings at Fort Nisqually are practically indistinguishable from the originals. The museum's actors joke that "it's always 1855" at the fort, and their dedication brings the whole place to life.
But don't get so caught up in the museum's activities that you forget to pause in front of the granary! While it may look humble, the United States declared it a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
If you’re a lover of local history, be sure to check out two of Washington’s oldest buildings at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Nearby Tacoma is brimming with fabulous restaurants and fun activities to keep you busy afterward. If you’re from out of town, I recommend staying the night and making the most of your visit!
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