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Location
Historic Fort Steilacoom
9601 Steilacoom Blvd SW
Lakewood WA 98498
For email or mailing address: Contact Us
Experience an 1861 Christmas at Historic Fort Steilacoom on Dec. 13, 2025
/in News/by fortsteilacoomStep back in time and experience Christmas as it was celebrated in 1861! Join Historic Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, from 4:30 to 8 p.m., as living historians bring the holiday season to life in the same buildings where it was celebrated 164 years ago.
Visitors will walk through candlelit scenes of re-enactors singing, dancing, dining, and exchanging gifts, just as the residents of Fort Steilacoom might have done in the first U.S. military post in Puget Sound. Visitors from 2025 will walk past and witness scenes as if the visitors are silent time travelers.
Though 1861 marked the beginning of the U.S. Civil War, Christmas at Fort Steilacoom was a time of celebration and social gathering, where soldiers, families, and friends came together in a festive spirit.
Ticket Information
Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youth. A family of up to two adults and four youth pays $15. Proceeds support the maintenance of Fort Steilacoom’s historic buildings. Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-at-historic-fort-steilacoom-1861-in-2025-tickets-1875537937459?aff=oddtdtcreator
This popular event often sells out, so advance purchase is highly recommended. You can check the Fort Steilacoom Facebook page for updates about tickets.
The final tour group departs at 7:10 p.m.
Fort Steilacoom is on the grounds of Western State Hospital, located at 9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA 98498. Be sure to use this address to locate the fort, as GPS may direct you to nearby Fort Steilacoom Park. After entering Western State, turn right, and look for the cannon shelter and lights. Tours start at the building furthest right of the four.
About Fort Steilacoom
Fort Steilacoom was the first U.S. Army post in Puget Sound, operating from 1849 to 1868. Now managed entirely by volunteers, it holds an essential place in the settlement and early history of Washington Territory. The Historic Fort Steilacoom Association is dedicated to preserving this heritage, acknowledging the complex history of the Fort, and including diverse perspectives in its storytelling.
Learn more at www.historicfortsteilacoom.org.
Oct. 19 program: “What is a Chief? How Native Values Can Teach Resilience”
/in News/by fortsteilacoomFort Steilacoom Museum Annual Meeting & Guest Speaker: John Halliday
Annual Old-fashioned Independence Day Celebration is June 29
/in News/by fortsteilacoomFort Steilacoom’s 3rd annual Old-fashioned Independence Day Celebration and free open house will be noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
This is a free, family-oriented event. 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 previous 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.