Local Wonders

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This Is What It Looks Like When Nature Reclaims a Piece of Tacoma

Have you ever wondered how long it would take nature to reclaim a neighborhood if everyone just got up and left? It’s hard to say how long an average house would last, but if you wiped the neighborhood off the map and left the ground bare, 67 years is, evidently, more than enough time to blend the land back into the surrounding wilderness.

WTF is up with Tacoma’s Streets?

There’s something up with Tacoma’s streets, and I don’t mean the pot holes.

Tacoma’s Buffalo Soldiers Museum Packs Big History into a Small Space

The 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum stirred up a lot of emotions as I walked among its exhibits. There was admiration, fascination, sympathy, and a bit of anger—sometimes a lot of anger.

Hey Tacoma, Here's What You Loved Best in 2019

Photo courtesy of Matt Ingram. As we roll into 2020, it’s time to take a look back at the photos...

A Brief History of The Ruston Way Mill Ruins

A century ago, Tacoma’s waterfront was a nearly unbroken string of lumber mills. The city was home to at least 38 of them, together churning out 100 million board feet of lumber every day.

‘Twas the Fife Before Christmas

By Tim Miller ‘Twas the Fife before Christmas and on I-5 South Every brake light was glowing, except those that’d...

Petition to Make Tacoma Narrows Bridges a Matching Set Gains Traction

Header photo by Sierra HartmanAll other images courtesy of Over Tacoma Most who are self-quarantining right now spend their time...

Jokes, Smokes and a Miserable Time: Mark Twain’s Visit to Tacoma

When Mark Twain arrived in Tacoma in 1895 he was broke, smoking 10 cigars a day, and seemingly unimpressed by the area. Much like our summer of 2017, wildfires were wreaking havoc in Washington and most of our beautiful scenery was completely hidden from view.

One of Tacoma’s Best Radio Stations Broadcasts From a Tree

Recently, two Low Power FM stations started broadcasting over the Tacoma airwaves. They are located on the FM dial at KTAH 101.9 and KTQA 95.3. Between the two unique signals, much of the Tacoma area is covered.

Ruston Way Piling Bikes Spread to Downtown Tacoma

The phenomenon which was previously confined to the Ruston Way waterfront has now shown up in downtown Tacoma. Whether or not it's the same person(s) responsible for the original guerilla art project is unclear. Whoever it is, though, seems to have stuck to the theme of mid-century folding bikes.

In Search of Chambers Creek Salmon

It is a crisp fall day in Kobayashi Park. The trees that form a canopy over the rushing waters where Leach Creek flows into Chambers Creek are changing colors and yellow leaves blanket the trail.

Pulling Back the Curtain: Grit City Magazine Needs Some Help

via GIPHY “Hey maybe we should start making a print magazine instead of just the online stuff.” “Yea, good idea....

Tacoma Art Museum: Union-busting Like It’s 1947

The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in the History of Tacoma

Best Christmas Lights in Tacoma 2022

The Rights of Our Ways

Pro Tips for the Tacoma Film Festival