OLD TOWN
Old Town, otherwise known as Old Tacoma, gets its name from the fact that it was where the first white settlers dropped anchors and established the city. The shore was already long known to the established Salish people.
Befitting its historical significance, Old Town celebrates its lineage with a number of parks, museums, and shops that take a look back at Tacoma's past. Job Carr, the founding white settler, is memorialized by the Job Carr Cabin Museum.
The Ruston Way Waterfront lends Old Town a gorgeous view, which is accentuated by the old-time shops and vintage houses that color the area. This neighborhood is also home to St. Peter's Church, the oldest-standing building in Tacoma, as well as the Slovenian Hall; both buildings are on the National Historic Registry. Homes in the area are typically well-appointed and lovingly crafted.
The Spar, Tacoma's oldest saloon, resides in Old Town, and regularly hosts a blues night. In addition to that weekly night, this neighborhood is also where you'll find the annual Old Town Blues Festival.
Old Town is also where you'll find me, right there on N. 30th at Windermere Abode. Come visit next time you're in the area for Spar Chips or a waterfront stroll.
Established in 1913, The Spar has been serving Tacomans beer and pub fare for over a century.
The Old Town Dock reopened in 2013. It's a great place to take a walk with family, watch the weather, and get out over the water (or fish for squid at night!).
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tacoma Public Schools offers open enrollment outside your neighborhood based on availability and transportation.
HOUSING
The Old Town neighborhood is—as one might expect—populated by historic homes. Many are updated, others are new, and a few condominiums and apartments join the single-family dwellings arranged on this airy, open slope overlooking Ruston Way.
