Pierce County, Washington

Adjutant General's Residence Albers Brothers Mill Alderton School American Lake Veterans Hospital Anderson Island School Annobee Apartments Arletta School Ashford House Auditorium Dance Hall, The Balfour Dock Building Beutel, Conrad F. & Annie K., House Bisson, William, House Blue Mouse Theatre Boatman-Ainsworth Hose Bowes Building Browns Point Lighthouse and Keeper's Cottage Buckley's Addition Historic District Building at 1602 South G Street Building at 712-716 Sixth Avenue Cabin No. 97 Camp Muir Camp Six Central Elementary School Chinook Pass Entrance Arch Christ Episcopal Church Christine Falls Bridge City Waterway Bridge Coffee Pot Restaurant, The Coke Ovens College Park Historic District Curran, Charles and Mary Louise, House Cushman Substation Custer School Dadisman, David, House Davidson House DeVoe, Emma Smith, House Dieringer School Drum, Henry, House DuPont Village Historic District East 34th Street Bridge Edith Creek Chlorination House Elbe Evangelical Lutheran Church Engine House No. 11 Engine House No. 13 Engine House No. 4 Engine House No. 8 Engine House No. 9 Fairfax Bridge Fire Alarm Station Fire Station No. 1 Fire Station No. 10 Fire Station No. 14 Fire Station No. 15 Fire Station No. 2 Fire Station No. 5 FIREBOAT NO.1 Fireboat Station Fort Nisqually Granary and Factor's House Fort Nisqually Site Fort Steilacoom Fox Island School Galbraith, John, House Glencove Hotel Gobbler's Knob Fire Lookout Haddaway Hall Hershey, Peter L. and Emma, Homestead Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Home School House at 1510 Tacoma Avenue South House at 1610 South G Street House at 2314 South Ainsworth Avenue House at 2326 South L Street House at 605 South G Street House at 708-710 South 8th Street House at 802-804 South G Street Huckleberry Creek Patrol Cabin Indian Bar Trail Shelter Indian Henry's Patrol Cabin Ipsut Creek Patrol Cabin Lake George Patrol Cabin Lakewold Longbranch School Gymnasium Longmire Buildings Longmire Campground Comfort Station No. L-302 Longmire Campground Comfort Station No. L-303 Longmire Campground Comfort Station No. L-304 Longmire Historic District Lord-Heuston House Lotz, J. H., House Lynn, C.O., Co. Funeral Home Manley-Thompson Ford Agency Masonic Temple Building-Temple Theater McChord Field Historic District McIlvaine Apartments McMillin Bridge McMillin School Meeker, Ezra, Mansion Midway School Mount Rainier National Park Mowich Lake Patrol Cabin Mt. Fremont Fire Lookout Munson, Herbert and Barbara House Murray, Frederick H., House MV KALAKALA (ferry) Narada Falls Bridge Narada Falls Comfort Station National Bank of Tacoma Nihon Go Gakko Nisqually Entrance Historic District Nisqually Power Substation North 21st Street Bridge North 23rd Street Bridge North Mowich Trail Shelter North Slope Historic District Northern Pacific Office Building Old City Hall Old City Hall Historic District Old Main Orr, Nathaniel, House and Orchard Orton, Charles W., House Pacific Brewing and Malting Company Pacific National Bank Building Pantages Theatre Paradise Historic District Paradise Inn Parkland Lutheran Children's Home Perkins Building Point Defiance Lodge Point Defiance Streetcar Station Purdy Bridge Puyallup Fish Hatchery Pythian Temple Red Shield Inn Rhodes Medical Arts Building Rhodes, Henry A. and Birdella, House Rhodesleigh Rialto Theater Rust, William Ross, House Ryan House Sandberg-Schoenfeld Buildings Schultz Apartments Shriner Peak Fire Lookout Silver Creek Ranger Station Skansie, Andrew & Bertha, Net Shed and House Slavonian Hall Smith, Peter, Farm-Donation Land Claim South J Street Historic District South Puyallup River Bridge Sprague Building St. Andrews Creek Bridge St. Andrews Patrol Cabin St. Peter's Episcopal Church Stadium-Seminary Historic District Steilacoom Catholic Church Steilacoom Historic District Summerland Trail Shelter Sunrise Comfort Station Sunrise Historic District Sunset Park Patrol Cabin Sunset Park Trail Shelter Sunset Telephone & Telegraph Building Suntop Lookout Tacoma Ice Company's Cold Storage Plant Tacoma Mausoleum Tacoma Narrows Bridge Ruins Tahoma Vista Comfort Station Thornewood Tipsoo Lake Comfort Station Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout Union Depot-Warehouse Historic District Union Passenger Station US Post Office-Tacoma Downtown Station-Federal Building Walker Apartment Hotel Walker Cut Stone Company Washington Building Washington School Wedge Historic District White River Bridge White River Entrance White River Mess Hall and Dormitory White River Patrol Cabin Whitman Elementary School Wilkeson Arch Wilkeson Community House Wilkeson School Williams, Herbert, House Williams, Sidney, House Winnifred Street Bridge Wollochet-Point Fosdick School Woodbrook Hunt Club Woolrey-Koehler Hop Kiln Wright Park and Seymour Conservatory Y.M.C.A. Building Yakima Park Stockade Group Yuncker, John F., House

36th Airlift Squadron Memorial A Growing Community A Living History: the S'Homamish A Pioneering Woman A Recovering Forest A Rich Boat Building Legacy Across the Bay Alice Maude Smith, M.D. An Ancient Community Austin Estuary Beechcraft UC-45J Expeditor Bell and Pump House Birth of the Business District Birthplace of Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Boat House and Oil House Browns Point Light Station Building the Cabin Captain George Vancouver at Browns Point Changing Course Coming of the Railroad to Tacoma Community Life in Old Tacoma Community Spirit Convair F-102A Delta Dagger Convair F-106A Delta Dart Crescent Creek Park Totem Crew Quarters Douglas B-18A Bolo Douglas B-23 Dragon Douglas C-124C Globemaster II Douglas TC-47D Skytrain Elbe Evangelische Lutherische Kirche Emma Smith Devoe Ester Allstrum Explore Gig Harbor Wildwaters F-16 Fighting Falcon Fairchild C-82A Packet Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II Fannie C. Paddock First House in Tacoma First Settlers Fishing Family Memorial Anchor From Valley to Bay Generator Building George Francis Train Global War on Terrorism Memorial Harvesting the Seas Heart of the Harbor Inspired to Preserve Janet Elder Steele Jennie Jones Job Carr's Cabin Judge H.R. (Dick) Thurston Kautz Creek Nature Trail Lakewood Veterans Memorial Light Keeper's Cottage Loadmasters Memorial Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star Lockheed-Georgia C-141B Starlifter Lost At Sea Malich Home Margaret Meeker Davis McDonnell CF-101F Voodoo McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle McMillin Bridge Military Road Mud on the Move Nettie Asberry North American F-86D Sabre Old Oregon Trail Our First Downtown Our First Sawmill Our First Settlers Paradise Inn Peninsula High School Salmon Rearing Program Peninsula Light Co. People's Dock POW/MIA Memorial Ross Memorial Skansie Brothers Park Skansie Netshed & House Streams of Change Tacoma City Ten Inch Shell From U.S.S. Maine The Dash Point Dock The Historic Finholm District The Historical Carbonado Saloon The Job Carr Family The Landing The Salmon Life Cycle The Sehmel Family, Pioneers of the Gig Harbor Peninsula Two of Our Best on Mount Everest Two-Story Log House Western State Hospital Historical Cemetery, 1876-1953 Why is the River White? Wilkeson Eagles Building 100th Anniversary "Memory Vessel"
Pierce County, located in the state of Washington, has a rich and diverse history. The area that is now Pierce County was initially inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Puyallup, Nisqually, and Squaxin Island tribes. European settlement began in the 1830s when fur traders and missionaries arrived, followed by the establishment of the military Fort Steilacoom in 1849.

The region saw rapid growth and development with the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway in the 1870s. Tacoma, the county seat, became a bustling port city, attracting industries such as lumber, fishing, and agriculture. It quickly grew into one of the largest cities in the Pacific Northwest, fueled by an influx of immigrants seeking employment opportunities.

However, economic prosperity was interrupted in 1889 when a devastating fire destroyed much of downtown Tacoma. The city rebuilt and continued to thrive, with industry diversifying to include manufacturing, shipbuilding, and trade. In the early 20th century, Tacoma also became known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, with establishments like the Tacoma Art Museum and the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.

Pierce County played a significant role in World War II, hosting military installations like McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis. After the war, the area experienced further growth, suburbanization, and the development of infrastructure. Today, Pierce County is a thriving hub for business, education, and outdoor recreation, with a population of over 900,000 and a diverse economy that encompasses technology, healthcare, and tourism. The county continues to honor its history while embracing modern advancements and envisioning a bright future.
Brief timeline of the history of Pierce County, Washington:

  • 1852 - Pierce County is established as one of the original 17 counties in Washington Territory.
  • 1869 - Tacoma, the current county seat, is incorporated.
  • 1873 - The Northern Pacific Railroad reaches Tacoma, bringing economic growth to the county.
  • 1890 - The Tacoma Smelter is built, becoming a major industry but also causing environmental pollution.
  • 1940s - Pierce County experiences significant population growth due to the military presence during World War II.
  • 1950s - Construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge connects Pierce County with Kitsap Peninsula.
  • 1990s - Development and economic growth continue, especially around Tacoma and the University of Washington Tacoma campus.
  • 2001 - Pierce County experiences a significant earthquake, causing damage to infrastructure.
  • 2010s - Efforts are made to improve transportation infrastructure, including the expansion of highways and light rail systems.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Pierce County, Washington.