This Washington Town Is Older Than the State Itself
When Captain Lafayette Balch sailed into Puget Sound in January 1851, he likely had no idea he was about to lay the foundations of what would become Washington State's first incorporated town. A full 38 years before Washington achieved statehood in 1889, this toehold in what was to become the Pacific Northwest region of America was originally named Port Steilacoom after its native population and its commercial potential.
Officially incorporated in 1854 as Washington’s oldest town (it beat out both Seattle and Tacoma for that distinction), Steilacoom originally consisted of two competing settlements. Balch's Port Steilacoom centered around his wharf and lumber operation, shipping timber south to booming San Francisco, while Steilacoom City was established just a few months later, a little further inland. The territorial legislature merged these rival towns in 1854, stitching them together along what is now Union Avenue.
As the 1850s progressed, Steilacoom swiftly became the region's most important settlement, with landmark events like the establishment of Washington's first post office in 1852 and the first Protestant church north of the Columbia River in 1853 cementing its importance. The first public library and a territorial jail were also added in 1858 to the community, which by then had grown to include many homes, several stores and hotels, as well as sawmills and a grist mill.
Historical Highlights
Although it’s located a little out of town, Historic Fort Steilacoom is a must-see for its museum and exhibits relating to early local history. Established two years before the port, the fort played a vital role during the Puget Sound War of 1855-1856 when tensions between settlers and Native tribes erupted into conflict. It was eventually decommissioned during the Civil War in 1868. Highlights today include several original buildings from this period, along with tours and re-enactments.
Elsewhere in Steilacoom, you’ll find plenty of evidence of the town’s 19th-century character, especially around its 40-block National Historic District. The Steilacoom Historical Museum is a great place to start and occupies the Nathaniel Orr homestead, a two-story 1857 pioneer home with original furnishings. Highlights include period rooms with furniture handmade by Orr himself, the family's original orchards, and the Wagon Shop from 1870. Guided tours are available.
All that history making you peckish? The Bair Drug and Hardware Store houses a quaint bistro that offers a super breakfast or lunch in a historical setting dating from 1895, complete with original shelving, a working 1908 soda fountain, and walls lined with patent medicines, tobacco tins, and early 20th-century photographs.
Things To Do in Steilacoom
The Steilacoom Tribal Cultural Center and Museum occupies a timber building constructed in 1903 and features artifacts dating back to the 1400s, as well as storytelling sessions (renovations are currently underway, so check in advance for opening hours before visiting). Built in 1891 by a wealthy merchant, the E.R. Rogers Mansion is one of Steilacoom's most imposing structures. Now used as office space, it’s worth a walk-past to see its commanding views over Puget Sound.
Speaking of views, Pioneer Orchard Park provides waterfront vistas and a bandstand where free summer concerts are held. You’ll also enjoy great views if you stop at Topside Bar and Grill’s rooftop deck overlooking Puget Sound and with views extending to the Olympic Mountains. If you’re staying long enough, consider hopping aboard the Steilacoom Ferry to Anderson Island. Departing from the ferry’s dedicated dock, this easy 30-minute-or-so trip carries cars so you can easily get about the island to hike, fish, or relax on its beaches.
Outdoor Attractions
Across the road from the fort after which it’s named, Fort Steilacoom Park encompasses Waughop Lake and a large acreage of public lands. In addition to the paved one-mile Discovery Trail that’s suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, the park features hiking trails, a large off-leash dog park, and a dedicated running route. Educational signs provide details of the area's early history as a gathering place for the Nisqually and Steilacoom tribes and its later use as a hospital farm.
If you can time your visit to coincide with one of the town’s many events and festivals, you’ll find yourself not only having fun but also learning even more about Washington’s oldest town. The Steilacoom Historical Museum Association organizes the fun Apple Squeeze each October to celebrate the local harvest, as well as their popular Ice Cream Social every Fourth of July. Guided ghost tours are also offered in October, featuring tales of the Nathaniel Orr home and other (allegedly!) haunted sites.
The Final Word
If you’re only able to visit a single small town in Washington, you may as well make it Steilacoom. This historic town is where you’ll experience old Washington in its most authentic way. Despite the Northern Pacific Railroad's decision to terminate in Tacoma, which ended the town’s hopes of ever becoming the next San Francisco, that economic disappointment proved a blessing in disguise, allowing the town to eventually focus on preserving its many old buildings rather than knocking them down to make way for the new. For curious travelers seeking a dose of genuine Pacific Northwest history, this quiet town on Puget Sound delivers an experience that’s even older than the state of Washington itself.
