Point Defiance Park: 100th Anniversary Special

Point Defiance Park has sparkled as the crown jewel of Tacoma's Public Parks. "The Point" has provided visitors with an urban oasis, forested refuge and gathering place for occasions both monumental and leisurely. Through rare photos and film take a journey through Point defiance, it's history and significant heritage.

[@plightfoot42]

When I was a little girl back in the 1940s my grandfather would take me to the park to watch the swans. I would save up my allowance as I grew up a bit and take the Pt. Defiance bus out to the park, walk up the hill to the stables and rent a horse for $1.50 an hour. I would hang out all day grooming the horses I adored being around. Then in the late afternoon I would walk back down the hill and catch the bus home. I was probably about 12 or so when I did that. I can still remember the wonderful smell of the leather seats on the bus and of course the horse barn and it's inhabitants. The architect of the ground's keeper called The Lodge, Mr. Darmer, had a home next door to my grandparents summer home on Vashon Island. When my grandparents gave the house to my parents I remember going over to the Darmer's and enjoying the hammock on their front balcony. I loved visiting them. I was a preteen at the time. They were very kind people and I loved visiting with them.

[@conniebaker1958]

So many memories here 😊

[@rodgazinya]

Things have sure changed. Never Never Land is gone, Owens Beach was just redone and the outer loop is now closed to cars.

[@cece3194]

Are you kidding me? No driving the Five Mile Drive? Bureaucratic bs.

[@cece3194]

I remember going to Pt Defiance in the 60's and 70's with my parents and brother. Sometimes we took the ferry boat from Seattle to Vashon island and then another ferry to Pt Defiance. It was so exciting. My absolute favorite part was Never Never Land but I was always rushed through (if we even went there) so my brother could get to Fort Nisqually. I guess that was considered more important. Anyway we would then go to Camp 6 which for some reason I thought was a very creepy place. I loved the zoo too although I think it's sad to cage up animals. I remember those wolves pacing around their pen. Terribly sad. Beautiful area. Please keep tent cities and gangs OUT. Thank you.

[@NWguy83]

I remember watching this on Click back in the late 2000s

[@tailovecraft2240]

For all those Peoples that’s drives from Downtown Tacoma , through Ruston way and then through Point Defiance Five Mile... y’all need to share this videos with your fam!

[@bigdogbrown8106]

Five mile drive is such a beautiful park?!!

[@douglasholden3169]

@@bigdogbrown8106 get the ?!! drive through again, now. Walked the quiet carless drive, and met a few connected angels the barefoot one. Born Raised, Bah bred and spoon fed DinEy ComCast FaceMask Newds Point Defiance is My Back yard sometimes home. :O Well feels like the squatter run off for a near decades back and shh tell no one the NArrows Passages and Commencement bays views , holds much of my life , most the best parts all around, TaCOMA, 49 years. should have been friends with Carr's family stead o just pedalling up and down the hill 1971- October Fall Winter agh ler gee's cleavers meat Swung for peace. Thanks Point Defiance Really. Picked tons of litter and glass plastic that, confetti at the Owens watched them have fun Pinyatta's then two three still find some maybe confetti plastic shores of Puget Sound even Tacoma's Ruston Waterfront huh. pick trash and cycled all over the park before NO Bikes and etc cliff trails knew them all and the back side , my favorite below that dog park. Now I know what those slabs of concrete were back there huh. Thanks I guess Thumbs up- Tacoma, Metro- love uh habe relationship. Thankful for much and much still kinda gotta let go, Om