Tag Archives: National Register of Historic Palces

Happy New Year at the Pythian Temple

 

As we usually do, dear daughter and I celebrated New Year’s Eve at Tacoma’s First Night in Downtown Tacoma. We drove to the Dome Transit Center and caught the Link to the theater district and then we kicked up our heals! It is really a top notch event. The weather was cold, but not frigid and there was no rain (a small miracle). I ran into a bunch of folks that I knew, but dear daughter seemed to know almost everybody! She declared that her schoolmates owned the downtown domain!

The new place for the day is the Pythian Temple at 924-926 1/2 Broadway, Tacoma. The building was constructed in 1906 for the Commencement Lodge No. 7 of the Knights of the Pythias. On August 23, 1985, Pythian Temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The meeting room is upstairs and is amazing, with dark carved woods and lovely frescoes and a huge organ.

For more on the Temple, including some historic photos, go to here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythian_Temple_%28Tacoma,_Washington%29

This is my sixth building that was designed by Frederick Heath, architect and named after the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley. The others are:

http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2012 Oakland School

http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=1961 Urban Grace

http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=1335 Titlow Lodge

http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2370 Tacoma Public School’s CAB

http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2374 McKinley School

Tumwater Historical Park

Tumwater Historical Park by Gexydaf
Tumwater Historical Park a photo by Gexydaf on Flickr.

Tumwater Historical Park is the sister park to Tumwater Falls Park, which was my new place of the day on October 17, 2010 (see http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=1407)

This park, which is situated on the Deschutes River, features a wonderful view of the now defunct Olympia Brewing Company. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the lovely setting, there are big toys for the kids and restrooms. Of note is a sign that says the lake is closed because of the New Zealand Mud snails, an invasive species. The City of Tumwater is attempting to quarantine Capital Lake and this lower part of the Deschutes River to stop the spread of the snails.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_mud_snail

http://www.olytumfoundation.org/park.asp

http://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/historicaldistrictboundaries.htm

  

Tacoma Firestation #11

 

Today I took a moment to photograph Tacoma Fire Station No. 11 at 3802 McKinley Avenue. It is a relatively small, two story fire station and was placed into service on April 17, 1909. Looking at a photo of the station from 1910 (http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=3&o=3&n=20900&i=6243#text), it looks much the same, though of course nowadays the fire trucks aren’t pulled by horses!

The particularly nice weathervane was dedicated on October 28, 1978.  The station was place on the National Historic Register on May 2, 1986.

There are 17 fire stations in Tacoma.
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=8023

The City of Tacoma placed 11 individual fire related properties (9 stations, 1 ship and an alarm system) on the national historical register in 1983. The nomination form is located here:
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64000904.pdf

 

A lovely fall day at Tumwater Falls Park

Originally uploaded by Gexydaf
 
 

 

This jewel of a park was worth the short drive down to Tumwater. It is a perfect park, especial if you just have an hour or so. There is a quick loop that shows off the waterfalls and the accompanying Deschutes River. And there are also several well placed signs that share the history of the area including the now closed Olympia Brewing Company. I love the idea of going back in the winter when the falls partially freeze! I guess I also need to go back in the spring to see the salmon run. And I bet it’s pretty nice in the summer, so it’s an all season park! The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

http://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/historicaldistrictboundaries.htm

http://www.olytumfoundation.org/park.asp