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Visit Tacoma, Washington

Discover the best activities and accommodations in Tacoma, Washington

What to Do in Tacoma

Tacoma is defined in part by a nickname: “The City of Destiny.” Early settlers coined the name in hopes that their community—established in 1852 when a Swedish immigrant built a water-powered sawmill on a creek near the head of Commencement Bay—would rise to greatness by being designated the end of the line for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The bay was indeed chosen as the western terminus in 1873, but the company built its depot on a spot 2 miles south, dubbing it “New Tacoma.” By the time the transcontinental link finally came through in 1887 the two towns had merged to become one Tacoma.

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