Welcome to Tacoma

The City of Tacoma (map), in Pierce County, is located on Commencement Bay near the southern end of Puget Sound and on Interstate 5 which runs northbound to Seattle, Bellingham and Canada and southbound to Vancouver and Oregon. The city for many years was basically a maritime port of call, but over recent years it has embraced a number of cultural activities and enhanced its environment with parks for recreation while taking an interest in preservation of historic buildings and its heritage.

The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, the Tacoma Dome, a major regional venue for entertainment and other events, and the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts are evidence of the city's renaissance.  The city's historic waterfront and its downtown area have been enhanced with modern buildings and the International Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum as part of its revival.  The Karpeles Manuscript Library and Museum has a branch in Tacoma.  Tacoma's downtown peregrine falcons are a special contribution from Nature to the city's attractions.  The Tacoma Little Theater and the Tacoma Musical Playhouse provide a variety of entertainment on their stages.

The Tacoma Historical Society, the Tacoma Public Library and the Chinese Reconciliation Project web sites are very good resources for acquiring an introduction to Tacoma's history.  An important event in the city's history involved the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge which collapsed due to wind-induced vibrations on November 7, 1940.  The preceding link leads to photographs and a short video of this catastrophe.  There are many buildings of historical and architectural interest in Tacoma and Pierce County listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Online Encyclopedia of Washington History has several articles on the history of Tacoma and its people, including Puget Sound's Cod Schooners and artists Philip McCracken and Harry Everett Smith.  Use the search option on the encyclopedia's web site for more articles.

The Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club has information about events and routes in and around Tacoma or visitors interested in exploring the area by cycling.

Tacoma has a good selection of hotels and motels to make it a very good base for exploring Northwest Washington

Our highway logs for Interstate 5 will help visitors with travel planning and driving directions.

Other resources for travel planning information include the Tacoma Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau,the City of Destiny and the Tacoma Public Library web sites.

Transportation:  Washington Department of Transportation web cams provide real time views of traffic conditions and current weather conditions.

Airports:  Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the closest airport providing commercial passenger services.  It is on the south side of Seattle to the west of the south junction of Interstate 404 with Interstate 5.  Olympia Regional Airport, which provides general aviation services, is to the south of Olympia on the east side of Interstate 5.

Public Transit:  Pierce Transit and Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority provide bus and rail services throughout the county and the region.  The Washington State Ferries operates a short route between Point Defiance Park in Tacoma and Vashon Island. 

Commercial Services:  Long-distance rail and bus services operating through Tacoma are provided by Amtrak and Greyhound, respectively.

Top of Page