The Boys from Tacoma: The Fabulous Wailers

— by Abbi Kanouse-Schaefer The Fabulous Wailers were a garage band formed in Tacoma, Washington in 1958 and are an integral part of the area’s musical history. Often considered one of the first garage bands, The Wailers and other local groups of the time laid the foundation for the grunge scene in the Pacific Northwest. In Tacoma and beyond, The Wailers were an inspiration for … Continue reading The Boys from Tacoma: The Fabulous Wailers

A Dome of our Own

— by Reyna LaMere A man by the name of E. Taylor Gardner was ahead of his time in 1925. Gardner was a Tacoma engineer and architect.  His vision of a great Tacoma stadium made the newspaper on December 17, 1925. He proposed “a great indoor auditorium under the world’s largest pillarless roof, capable of accommodating gatherings of thousands…” Gardner was a dreamer and a … Continue reading A Dome of our Own

Small Town Start for an Icon of the 20th Century

— by Stacey Bugg In 1903, an American legend was born in a small town barely known outside the Pacific Northwest. The town of Tacoma was up and rising and had grown from its mere 100 residents at the time of its founding in 1872, to approximately 37, 000 residents in 1900. It was in this town of Tacoma on May 3rd, 1903 that Harry … Continue reading Small Town Start for an Icon of the 20th Century

Dusty Old Jewel

— by Stephanie Constable Our beloved Tacoma tends to get a bad reputation. Known for an unavoidable unpleasant smell, high crime rate, and having many rundown areas, we are often considered to be the wayward younger sibling of Seattle who could never quite find their way. While many people will set aside these shortcomings and look toward the brighter spots of our city, it is … Continue reading Dusty Old Jewel

Nirvana’s Forgotten Tacoma Connection

— by Quinten Stewart As a lifelong resident of the Northwest who grew up outside of the Puget Sound region, it always rubbed me the wrong way that my favorite band was so strongly associated with a city which they had little connection to. I am, of course, talking about Nirvana. The grunge band has become an icon of Seattle, but looking back on their … Continue reading Nirvana’s Forgotten Tacoma Connection