Steilacoom

Steilacoom is a small port town situated on the shores of Puget Sound in Washington, positioned between the Nisqually River delta and Tacoma Narrows. The town center preserves 19th-century buildings and features waterfront parks that slope toward the water.

A merchant named Lafayette Balch founded the settlement in 1851 and secured its place as Washington's first incorporated town in 1854. This early founding during the territorial period established its role as a key trading point for the region.

The Steilacoom people, a Coast Salish group, had their main settlement in this area long before European arrival. Local place names and community stories still reflect this indigenous connection to the land.

The downtown area is compact and easily walkable, with buildings and parks clustered near one another. Visitors should check tide conditions before heading to the waterfront, as the water level changes throughout the day.

One church building here ranks among the oldest Catholic churches west of the Rocky Mountains. Another structure was among the first Protestant churches north of the Columbia River, revealing how early this location held religious importance.

GPS coordinates: 47.17037,-122.59629

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:24