Explore history at Fort Steilacoom
THE BEST PRESERVED PRE-CIVIL WAR FORT WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
THE BEST PRESERVED PRE-CIVIL WAR FORT WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
Fort Steilacoom, which in August 2024 marks the 175th anniversary of its founding, is a history museum where guests of all ages can explore military life of enlisted soldiers, officers, the families of soldiers, civilians who worked there and those that visited from the community. Welcome to one of the two sites for U.S. Civil War activity in Washington state.
Sharing and preserving the first U.S. Army post in the Puget Sound region.
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HFSA is a non-profit 501c3 organization run by volunteers. The Board of Directors meet each month to determine the direction of the museum interpretation. Volunteers host various work parties, living history demonstrations and guided tours of the fort buildings. We have had to reduce programs because of the pandemic and the period after it, so we’re eager to speak with potential volunteers who are self-starters.
Visit the museum’s interpretive center exhibits to get a sense of the scale of the original fort and how the fort helped develop the region into what we know it as today. Take a guided tour through three of the four original structures to learn something about who lived here and what their life was like in the mid-19th Century.
Experience life in the past lane at Fort Steilacoom. The museum offers a selection of annual events, including living history events and lecture series, so that guests may learn more about the history of the fort and its impact on the local community.
Historic Fort Steilacoom exists on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish Peoples whose ancestors resided here since time immemorial and have stewarded this land throughout the generations. We offer our respect to their elders past and present.
Our association acknowledges the complex history of the Fort and its role in the colonization of the area. We are actively working to incorporate the diverse perspectives and experiences of all individuals and communities who interacted with the Fort.