Local Wonders

Latest

Paying Last Respects for the Unclaimed Dead of Pierce County

On a remarkably clear day at the end of August I watched the cremated remains of 40 people drift into the waters of Puget Sound. The cremains belonged to people who had died in Pierce County over the previous two years and whose bodies were left unclaimed.

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.

Paying Homage to the Murray Morgan Bridge

A while back we asked some of our readers what symbolized Tacoma in their eyes. While “Bikini barista stand” gave us a good chuckle, the most popular answer was the Murray Morgan Bridge.

All the Cool Things You Didn’t Know About Fort Nisqually

If the last time you visited Ft. Nisqually was on a fourth grade field trip, it’s time you got reacquainted. Summer is a great time to go, especially with all the events going on.

Here’s the Story Behind Puget Creek’s Hidden Sculpture

Have you ever noticed the mysterious sculpture near the northern trailhead of the Puget Creek Natural Area? If not, don’t feel bad. It’s pretty easy to miss. If you have seen it though, you may not know the whole story attached to it.

An Introduction to Tacoma’s Peregrine Falcons

You may not know it, but Downtown Tacoma has played an important role in the recovery of peregrine falcons for nearly 20 years. The tall buildings emulate the rocky cliffs falcons naturally gravitate to. That, combined with a ready supply of pigeons, makes for prime falcon real estate.

Tower Bells to Jail Cells: A Rare Look Inside Tacoma’s Old City Hall

Old City Hall is one of the most prominent structures in Tacoma, but for the last decade it’s been little more than a curious ornament on the city’s skyline.

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.

Exactly How High Can You Get in Tacoma? We Investigate

Getting truly high in Tacoma isn't as easy as one might expect. Sure, there are pot shops on quite a few corners, but we just can't compete with the likes of Denver, Colorado. This is sea level, man.

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.

Kraken the Case Behind One of Tacoma’s Most Popular Local Legends

Washington State has no shortage of octopus myths. The well known Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus haunts our canopies from coast to mountain top, but it’s Tacoma that is home to the real King of the North.

What do Seattleites Think Tacoma is Like? We Ask, They Answer

For decades Tacoma has been seen by many as a redheaded stepchild compared to the shiny glory of Seattle. But as the housing market skyrockets in the Emerald City (median Seattle house value in 2017 was over $700,000, compared to Tacoma at $264,000), the appeal of our gritty city is on the rise.

A Note on Hard Copy 30

Letter to the Editor: Who Can Afford Death in Times Like These?

Waste Management – of the Human Body

What Does It Mean to Be Patriotic?

Dramatic Photos from the Slamfest Demolition Derby