Fort Nisqually Living History Museum

We have entered into October, and while we will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays through the fall and winter, you can always check out our online store if you are interested in tickets!

General admission tickets purchased online can be redeemed on any general admission day, and you can also purchase tickets for upcoming events, like Candlelight Tour, which is happening this Friday and Saturday! Tickets are still availible! You do not want to miss this amazing candlelit evening in 1855!

Candlelight Tour 2024 Campfires and candlelight provide illumination for this outdoor evening walking tour of Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Travel back in time to eavesdrop on the affairs of the Puget Sound in 1855. More than one hundred historical interpreters bring to life the men, women, and children of the Hu...

As September transitions into October, so too do our hours of operation. We will be changing to our fall and winter hours starting October 1st. This means we will be closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays, including on October 1st. We will also be reducing our hours of operation, closing at 4:00pm.

We will still be open on Monday, September 30th until 5:00pm!

Episode 6 of the Indigenous Voices Podcast is out now, available wherever you get your podcasts. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 decreased federal control of Native affairs, returned surplus lands to the tribes, and encouraged tribal self-governance. In episode 6, participants discuss the state or tribal governances after the Dawes Act and the Indian Reorganization Act.

Indigenous Voices Podcast - Fort Nisqually Living History Museum Advancing Native voices in the telling of Puget Sound history.

We have officially entered the fall season, and what better way to celebrate than an evening walking tour of 1855? Tickets for our Candlelight Tour are selling fast! We have times open from 6:00 pm for those who like to see the Fort at sunset, to as late as 9:00 pm for those interested in the true candlelit experience.

Purchase your Candlelight Tour tickets today! You do not want to miss out on this experience!

Candlelight Tour 2024 Campfires and candlelight provide illumination for this outdoor evening walking tour of Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Travel back in time to eavesdrop on the affairs of the Puget Sound in 1855. More than one hundred historical interpreters bring to life the men, women, and children of the Hu...

We have opened up more times for our very popular Candlelight Tour! Earlier ticket times are now available. Head over to our website to purchase your tickets today!

Candlelight Tour 2024 Campfires and candlelight provide illumination for this outdoor evening walking tour of Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Travel back in time to eavesdrop on the affairs of the Puget Sound in 1855. More than one hundred historical interpreters bring to life the men, women, and children of the Hu...

Come join us as "ghosts from the future" while over 100 of our volunteers bring the year 1855 to life on October 4th & 5th this year! https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/event/candlelight-tour/

Candlelight Tour at Fort Nisqually - Cityline - September 22, 2024 Campfires and candlelight provide illumination for this outdoor evening walking tour of Fort Nisqually Living History Museum.Guests eavesdrop as more than a ...

We're experiencing technical difficulties with our phones. The best way to connect with us is through email at [email protected]. Thank you for your patience!

Travel back in time on October 4th and 5th at our annual Candlelight Tour! With Fort Nisqually illuminated by candlelight, more than one hundred historical interpreters will bring to life the people of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1855. Tickets sell out fast, so get them today!
https://fnlhmstore.company.site/products/candlelight-tour-2024

Celebrate the coming of Fall at Harvest Home this Saturday, September 7th! Learn to press apples, make a corn husk doll, and join in traditional dancing!

Get your tickets today: https://fnlhmstore.company.site/products/harvest-home-event-admission

Opening this Saturday, September 7th, our latest exhibit, Saving Fort Nisqually: 90 Years of Preservation.
The Hudson’s Bay Company established Fort Nisqually in 1833 to expand fur trading operations in the Pacific Northwest. The first globally connected settlement on Puget Sound, the fort facilitated economic and social interactions between European fur-traders and farmers, and Indigenous peoples.
Today, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum represents 90 years’ worth of experiential learning, interpretation, and historic preservation. This exhibit is the story of how community saved Fort Nisqually.

Happy Labor Day! This labor day is very special to us as it marks the 90th Anniversary of the culmination of the hard work of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in reconstruction Fort Nisqually in Point Defiance Park. In 1934, 70 men used historic construction methods to rebuild the site, which is what is depicted in the picture. We thank these men today, for all of their hard work, as well as all the hard working individuals who built and maintain the Fort through the years.

Even our cats love the Heritage Skills Cider-Making Workshop! Bring fermentation to your home pantry this fall with this informative and entertaining cider class, where we will explore the history and alchemy of cider. Participants will leave with their own gallon of cyser (a hard cider brewed with honey as the sweetener) and the tools to continue brewing more at home!
Registration is open now, find tickets at fortnisqually.org.

Fort Nisqually Living History Museum will be OPEN for our regular operating hours of 11am to 5pm on Monday, September 2nd, Labour Day. Stop on by and visit with our historical interpreters, Learn about the labourers of the 1850s, and the ones who moved the fort in the 1930s as well!

Episodes 4 & 5 of the Indigenous Voices Podcast are out now, available wherever you get your podcasts. In this 2-part episode, podcast participants discuss the effects of land allotment.

Indigenous Voices Podcast - Fort Nisqually Living History Museum Advancing Native voices in the telling of Puget Sound history.

Do you make your own jam or jelly? We have an opportunity for you to put your creation to the test at our Harvest Home event on September 7th, during our annual Jam & Jelly Competition! Items will be judged based on appearance/presentation, flavor, and texture. Entries must be placed on the judges table between 1:00-1:45 pm, with judging taking place between 2-2:45 pm. Buy your tickets to the event today: https://fnlhmstore.company.site/products/harvest-home-event-admission

Closing on Monday September 2nd, this weekend is your last chance to view the current exhibit, In Her Shoes: The Women of Fort Nisqually. This exhibit explores the heritage and lives of the women at this early-mid 19th century settlement on the Puget Sound.

Are you ready to help make history come alive through our volunteer program? Our last volunteer orientation of this year will be on September 14th, from 10am-12pm, at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Apply today and join us to start volunteering as soon as possible. https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/fort-nisqually-volunteers/

Step back in time tonight at our Living History Event! Dive into history with fun "make-and-take" crafts, sip on some cider or wine at our Fort Nisqually Foundation cash bar, and discover your future with a tarot reading! This is the last 21+ event of the summer, don't miss out on this evening of creativity, drinks, and so much more! See you there! https://fnlhmstore.company.site/products/homespun-happy-hour

The women of Fort Nisqually played an important role in the daily activities of the fort. Some planted potatoes, washed laundry, and cooked meals. Others hosted visiting dignitaries.

Join us this Saturday, August 24th, to learn how jam is made and try a sample for yourself!

Metro Parks Tacoma One week left until our last Homespun Happy Hour of the year! Join us at 6pm on August 22nd for our favorite "make-and-take" historic crafting event for those 21+! Tickets can be found here: https://fnlhmstore.company.site/products/Homespun-Happy-Hour-p665785704

The Harvest (Home) is soon upon us! Join us on Saturday, September 7th for our annual Harvest Home event. Experience cider pressing with apples harvested from the museum’s very own orchard, crafts for the whole family and samples from our period kitchen! Help decorate the hock cart used for the final harvest of the year and witness the crowning of the Harvest King and Queen.

For those with canning spirit, enter the Jam and Jelly Competition. Bring a small jar of your homemade jam or jelly for our judges to taste and see if you can “take the egg” or win the competition.

As Fort Nisqually celebrates 90 years in Point Defiance Park, we will also be unveiling a new exhibit: "Saving Fort Nisqually: 90 years of Preservation".

Bring the whole family along to celebrate the coming of fall! This event is FREE for all Fort Nisqually Living History Museum Members.

You can purchase tickets here:
https://fnlhmstore.company.site/products/Harvest-Home-Event-Admission-p687704255

Our phones are currently experiencing technical difficulties, if you are looking to contact the museum, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your patience!

Fort Nisqually will be closed today, Monday, August 12th for our Brigade Encampment cleanup. We will resume our normal operations on Tuesday, August 13th. Thank you to all of our volunteers who made Brigade an amazing event, and thank you to all of our guests who made new memories with us here at the museum!

🎉 Get ready for an unforgettable weekend! Here are the details for our exciting event:

📅 Date: August 10th & 11th
⌚️ Time: 11am - 5pm
📍 Location: Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
🎟 Tickets: https://fnlhmstore.company.site/products/Brigade-Encampment-Event-Admission-Tickets-p674849999

Join us for our biggest annual event! Don't miss out on the fun- see you there! 🎉🥳