What Your Parents Knew About Local History Was Likely Wrong By Walter Neary Across the nation, many museums honor the U.S. Army while grappling with the challenging history of westward expansion. However, Fort Steilacoom Museum didn’t emerge until 1980. Even now, more than 40 years later, many people say they have never heard of Fort […]
Why Fort Steilacoom Disappeared Between 1868 and 1978 What Your Parents Knew About Local History Might Have Been Wrong By Walter Neary Across the nation, many museums honor the U.S. Army and the complex history of westward expansion. However, Fort Steilacoom Museum didn’t emerge until 1980, and even today, it’s common to meet people who […]
The next Lakewood Community Coffeehouse with Mayor Jason Whalen is Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 at 6 p.m. Mayor Whalen is excited to welcome former Lakewood City Council member and Historic Fort Steilacoom 2020-24 board president Walter Neary. Neary will share about Historic Fort Steilacoom, which recognizes its 175th birthday this year. As part of his […]
The Historic Fort Steilacoom Association (HFSA) is thrilled to announce the acquisition of artifacts belonging to Private Christopher M. Mahon, an Irish-born soldier stationed at Fort Steilacoom in 1849. This remarkable discovery sheds light on the lives of early military personnel and their enduring connection to the Puget Sound region. Mahon, a member of Company […]
Living history can bring the past to life vividly in a myriad of ways – such as demonstrating crafts from a bygone era, playing an old tune, donning period clothing and portraying an historical person. For nearly 30 years, Karen Haas has relished being a living history performer, one of the veterans of South Sound’s […]
10 am – 3 pm at Historic Fort Steilacoom, Quarters 2, in Lakewood. Want to help support the mission of Historic Fort Steilacoom? Donate your gently used material to the museum for the sale! Fiction and non-fiction books in all genres are welcome. The only criteria is that they need to be in reasonably good condition (no […]
This is a file of some previous events 2023 events Of course, we’re open the first Sunday of every month for tours. Book here. March 25, 2023: Our first Swap Meet since the pandemic. July 2, 2023: Living history to celebrate the Fourth. It’s a new event for us, and we’re excited about it. July […]
Dec. 7 update: Thank you, thank you to our many wonderful supporters who have purchased tickets. This event is largely sold out except for two slots available as we type this, at 6:10 and 7:10. PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THIS EVENT WITHOUT A TICKET. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SELL TICKETS AT […]
The following is an opinion publishing in the winter 2023 issue of our newsletter by the museum board president, Walter Neary: It was a gift to be president of this museum board in the early 2000s and to return after a decades-long break in 2020. One can see, very clearly, how some things change and […]
Marian Smith’s mentors told her not to write her book. She wrote it anyway. By Walter Neary This article is a fuller version of an article in the winter 2023 issue of the Historic Fort Steilacoom newsletter. Comments most welcome. Marian Smith was an anthropologist who interviewed several elders of the Puyallup and Nisqually Tribes […]