Washington's Oldest 'Town Of Firsts' Is A Charming Gem With Pristine Puget Sound Views

They say you never forget your first. First car, first love, first home; we all have plenty of firsts to look back on. It's not a phenomenon limited to mere mortals; plenty of places are known for firsts. In fact, one town is known for so many, it's earned the moniker, "Town of firsts."

Steilacoom, Washington, claims a multitude of firsts, with one caveat: they're limited to what, at the time, was known as Washington Territory (which went on to become the state). Before sea captain Lafayette Balch officially founded Steilacoom in 1851, the area was named Scht'lǝqwǝm and home to the Steilacoom Tribe, who had to relocate to neighboring reservations when settlers replaced their land with the sites for many of these firsts. Those included the territory's first incorporated town, school district, and public lending library. It also became the site of the first port of Washington, which, along with the arrival of an electric railroad in the late 1800s, allowed visitors to enjoy the waterfront setting and wealthy new residents to build summer cottages there. But a few decades later, another railroad line was constructed along the water's edge, bringing down those summer homes and turning Steilacoom into something of a ghost town. By the 1950s, the town experienced a revitalization, thanks to the expansion of local landmarks like Fort Lewis.

Today, Steilacoom is small but mighty and, clearly, one of the best West Coast cities for history buffs. The town retains its historical charm with the Historical Museum Association preserving several legacy storefronts and landmarks, like a still-existing pharmacy dating back to 1895 and a wagon shop building that's at least 150 years old. And despite its waterfront's mixed history, the town once again boasts unspoiled views of the Puget Sound from multiple locales, from parks to coffee shops.

When people describe Steilacoom, there's one thing they all seem to recall with gusto: its views of the Puget Sound. Its elevated location helps; it sits atop bluffs once covered with the Fringe Cup perennial plants that gave the town its name. Although railroad tracks still run along the waterfront, they hardly obstruct the sight of sparkling blue waters and, in some places, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and a few of the populated islands placed within the Sound. Visitors can enjoy some of the best views from Pioneer Orchard Park, which houses the Steilacoom Waterfront Lookout Point, or from Steilacoom's Sound-adjacent beaches, like Sunnyside and Saltar's Point.

While Steilacoom is humming with history, it's somewhat quiet today. With an area of only about two square miles, it doesn't offer a typical downtown area and is limited in terms of bars and restaurants. What visitors might find lacking in nightlife, however, is more than compensated for with outdoor recreation and small-town charm. Explore Steilacoom's history with a self-guided walking tour, courtesy of the Historical Museum Association, which also hosts quaint seasonal events like a pumpkin walk and apple squeeze.

If nothing else, a visit to Steilacoom is a visit to the Pacific Northwest for a picturesque weekend with ample opportunity to observe nature. Among suburban homes, there are trailheads to the area's handful of hiking paths, like Farrell's Marsh North Trailhead, which sits within a residential cul-de-sac. The Marsh itself offers several trails accessible by both foot and bike, as well as glimpses of waterfowl in the wild. Of course, it also comes with history; hikers can see centuries-old wagon ruts in some of the pathways. For even more of Steilacoom's great outdoors, consider exploring the First Street, Fourth Street, and Backbone Trails.

Like much of the Pacific Northwest, Steilacoom experiences more than its fair share of rainy days. That's especially true between October and April, when the area tends to see its heaviest rainfall, potentially discouraging out-of-towners from visiting outside of summer and late spring. August experiences the most sunny days, making it a prime time to take in Steilacoom's idyllic views and outdoor activities, as well as the annual Steilacoom Summer Concert Series.

Given Steilacoom's small area, lodging options are limited. Within town, there's the quaint and highly-rated Above the Sound Bed & Breakfast, which doesn't have an official website or online booking system, requiring guests to call for rates and availability. Areas surrounding Steilacoom, like Lakewood, offer more options, including the higher-end Thornewood Castle: a historic property about 10 miles from Steilacoom that offers rooms, suites, and apartment rentals starting at $300/night. A more modest option is the Comfort Inn & Suites Lakewood, a 15-20-minute drive from Steilacoom, with rates starting around $135/night.

Reaching Steilacomm depends on the departure point. Seattle is within driving distance and generally takes about an hour by car. By train, the Tacoma, Washington, Amtrak Station receives arrivals from several destinations along the Pacific Northwest coastline — making for one of the best scenic long-distance train trips — and is less than a 30-minute drive away. For those traveling a further distance, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport is a major transit hub, only about 40 miles from Steilacoom.