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 M during the Mexican-American War, may have been one of the first of thousands of military personnel who served in Pierce County and subsequently chose to make the Pacific Northwest their permanent home. This donation underscores the fort’s crucial role in the region’s history and its lasting impact on the community.
“If you go anywhere in Lakewood, Steilacoom, Tacoma – anywhere in Pierce County, – you meet active duty personnel or people who retired from JBLM,” said Walter Neary, HFSA board president. “Mahon started the tradition. Mahon and his family represent the beginning of a long tradition of military retirees contributing to Puget Sound.”
A generous and anonymous donor gifted the HFSA with a pair of musket powder horns and a flask that once belonged to Private Mahon. These artifacts, framed with a map of the fort, include a message inscribed on the flask reads, “Given to C.M. Mahon by Lieutenant Murphy at Fort Steilacoom 1849.”
“These items provide a fascinating glimpse into the life of a soldier stationed at Fort Steilacoom,” said military historian and museum volunteer Alan Archambault. “While not military issue, the powder horns and flask suggest Mahon’s involvement in hunting, a vital skill for survival in the frontier environment.”
After leaving the Army in 1850, Private Mahon became a pioneer settler in what is now Parkland, Washington. His story is emblematic of the countless soldiers who transitioned from military service to civilian life, contributing to the growth and development of the state.
The Mahon family, including his wife Elizabeth, an Army laundress, and their children, played a significant role in the early history of Pierce County.
“The donation of these artifacts offers a unique opportunity to honor their legacy and connect with the thousands of military veterans who have called Pierce County home since that time,” Neary said.
The artifacts are on display during the fort’s regular open hours, 1 to 4 p.m. on first Sundays of the month. Tickets to tour all four buildings from the first U.S. Army post in Puget Sound are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tour-historic-fort-steilacoom-museum-tickets-405453441157 Historic Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, on the grounds of Western State Hospital. is the only ‘first fort’ of its kind to be managed entirely by private volunteers.
https://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mahon-items-scaled.jpg20482560fortsteilacoomhttps://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FtSteilacoom_340x156.pngfortsteilacoom2024-07-26 21:25:182024-07-26 22:24:37Historic Fort Steilacoom Acquires Artifacts of Pioneer Soldier Who Started the Tradition of Military Retirees Building Our Community
Fort Steilacoom’s 2nd annual Old-fashioned Independence Day Celebration and free open house will be noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.
Last year, people told us they appreciated a free, family-oriented event. So we’re doing it again, in honor of the 175th anniversary of our founding this year! View our historic U.S. Army post and see four of the oldest buildings still standing in Washington.
We’re on the grounds of Western State Hospital. The hospital’s front lawn was a parade ground for U.S. Civil War soldiers. Use the street address, 9601 Steilacoom Blvd SW to find us.
https://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/july-7-fort-steilacoom-open-house.jpg20481536fortsteilacoomhttps://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FtSteilacoom_340x156.pngfortsteilacoom2024-06-25 22:08:372024-06-25 22:08:372nd annual Old-fashioned Independence Day Celebration is July 7
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 thriving living history community.
In a talk that will take you “behind the scenes,” Haas will share snippets of some of her programs, tell of the joys and challenges of creating historic personas, and give tips and tools for doing your own historic reenactment.
Enjoy these entertainingly informative “Confessions of a Living History Performer” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Historic Fort Steilacoom, 9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood.
Her talk in celebration of Women’s History Month is the first of several events commemorating the 175th anniversary of the U.S. Army’s arrival in Puget Sound and the founding of Fort Steilacoom. Fort Steilacoom operated from 1849 to 1868 before the buildings and grounds became what we call today Western State Hospital.
Throughout her career, Haas has interpreted the lives of dozens of unsung, famous or infamous people. Here are just a few of them:
Thea Foss, famed Tacoma-based maritime pioneer (famous then for always serving good coffee)
Narcissa Whitman, a pioneer whose legacy has been under close examination
Dr. Elizabeth Drake, one of Tacoma’s first female physicians. Dr. Drake loved fast cars, fast horses and fast boats – and lived two blocks from what became the Lakewood Mall
Bertha Snell, the first woman to pass the Washington bar, passionate about justice
And seven women whose different experiences gave them vastly different perspectives on the U.S. Civil War
Haas feels especially rewarded telling the tales of those whose voices are usually silent in history — women.
This is especially challenging at Fort Steilacoom as we’re not aware of published recollections of women at the fort, though several men who later became Civil War generals went on to publish memoirs.
The talk is free; donations are welcome. At Fort Steilacoom, volunteers keep the past alive through the support of donors like you. It is the only ‘first U.S. Army fort’ of its kind in the nation managed entirely by volunteers.
https://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/KHaas-Thea-Foss.jpg15061404fortsteilacoomhttps://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FtSteilacoom_340x156.pngfortsteilacoom2024-02-27 15:38:442024-03-08 15:40:02Confessions of a Living History Performer: Secrets to Making the Past Come Alive
Historic Fort Steilacoom Acquires Artifacts of Pioneer Soldier Who Started the Tradition of Military Retirees Building Our Community
/in News/by fortsteilacoomThe 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 M during the Mexican-American War, may have been one of the first of thousands of military personnel who served in Pierce County and subsequently chose to make the Pacific Northwest their permanent home. This donation underscores the fort’s crucial role in the region’s history and its lasting impact on the community.
“If you go anywhere in Lakewood, Steilacoom, Tacoma – anywhere in Pierce County, – you meet active duty personnel or people who retired from JBLM,” said Walter Neary, HFSA board president. “Mahon started the tradition. Mahon and his family represent the beginning of a long tradition of military retirees contributing to Puget Sound.”
“These items provide a fascinating glimpse into the life of a soldier stationed at Fort Steilacoom,” said military historian and museum volunteer Alan Archambault. “While not military issue, the powder horns and flask suggest Mahon’s involvement in hunting, a vital skill for survival in the frontier environment.”
After leaving the Army in 1850, Private Mahon became a pioneer settler in what is now Parkland, Washington. His story is emblematic of the countless soldiers who transitioned from military service to civilian life, contributing to the growth and development of the state.
The Mahon family, including his wife Elizabeth, an Army laundress, and their children, played a significant role in the early history of Pierce County.
“The donation of these artifacts offers a unique opportunity to honor their legacy and connect with the thousands of military veterans who have called Pierce County home since that time,” Neary said.
The artifacts are on display during the fort’s regular open hours, 1 to 4 p.m. on first Sundays of the month. Tickets to tour all four buildings from the first U.S. Army post in Puget Sound are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tour-historic-fort-steilacoom-museum-tickets-405453441157 Historic Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, on the grounds of Western State Hospital. is the only ‘first fort’ of its kind to be managed entirely by private volunteers.
2nd annual Old-fashioned Independence Day Celebration is July 7
/in News/by fortsteilacoomFort Steilacoom’s 2nd annual Old-fashioned Independence Day Celebration and free open house will be noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.
Last year, people told us they appreciated a free, family-oriented event. So we’re doing it again, in honor of the 175th anniversary of our founding this year! View our historic U.S. Army post and see four of the oldest buildings still standing in Washington.
You’ll find:
You can see photos of last year’s fun here.
We’re on the grounds of Western State Hospital. The hospital’s front lawn was a parade ground for U.S. Civil War soldiers. Use the street address, 9601 Steilacoom Blvd SW to find us.
Confessions of a Living History Performer: Secrets to Making the Past Come Alive
/in News/by fortsteilacoomLiving 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 thriving living history community.
In a talk that will take you “behind the scenes,” Haas will share snippets of some of her programs, tell of the joys and challenges of creating historic personas, and give tips and tools for doing your own historic reenactment.
Enjoy these entertainingly informative “Confessions of a Living History Performer” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Historic Fort Steilacoom, 9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood.
Her talk in celebration of Women’s History Month is the first of several events commemorating the 175th anniversary of the U.S. Army’s arrival in Puget Sound and the founding of Fort Steilacoom. Fort Steilacoom operated from 1849 to 1868 before the buildings and grounds became what we call today Western State Hospital.
Throughout her career, Haas has interpreted the lives of dozens of unsung, famous or infamous people. Here are just a few of them:
The talk is free; donations are welcome. At Fort Steilacoom, volunteers keep the past alive through the support of donors like you. It is the only ‘first U.S. Army fort’ of its kind in the nation managed entirely by volunteers.