Fort Nisqually

This review is on my short romp around outdoors as I was there yesterday near sunset below freezing temps. I would recommend reading other reviews by people who actually spent more time there and saw the inside of the museum.
Fort Nisqually is located inside Pt. Defiance which is at the outermost tip of Tacoma. Follow signs for the zoo, which is also in Pt. Defiance.
I didn’t venture indoors, but roamed around the grounds. It’s a beautiful property. I learned they have activities and events here, many kid appropriate, to teach the history of the area.
The fort is going to be closed this month and reopen in March after some remodeling. I saw online today they have a quiz to give them feedback on how to make it better. I plan on coming back after it reopens and it’s warmer.

I was not expecting a lot, but I think I am glad I stopped. For now $ 6.00 entrance fee for adults was not too bad. I found the few dressed up «fort employees? /​members?» dressed nicely in time appropriate clothing.
It helped that it was a beautiful sunny day to your spirits as you go in and out of these buildings. The only person who I think needs to dress up in time appropriate clothing would be the person in the entrance/​gift shop. This is the person who you pay your entrance fee to. She was nice, but she seemed bored. Probably was but she should not show it.
I will recommend this side trip to others.

It’s truly an amazing experience to come here and learn about what it was like in our history’s past. To actually get the opportunity to see what living looked like back then… what they wore, how they furnished their homes, what they did for work, how they washed their clothes, etc… is truly amazing. It’s a great place to take your children to learn. My dad used to always take me here when I was young… back when it was free. Sucks you have to pay to get it now but it’s completely worth it.

We hit it during «encampment time». what a thrill! It was a great educational day. Its a must for families.

Point Defiance Park has so many gems and Fort Nisqually is just one of them. It truly is amazing to learn about history, and how people from all over converged here to do business, to trade, to live and coexist. For a nominal $ 5 entrance fee, you get to tour their small but beautiful grounds, meet a few reenactors/​park ambassadors in period attire, and learn a thing or two about the past from them. I particularly enjoyed visiting the «Sale Shop» where it feels like you were virtually transported back in time.
It’s a fascinating place for kids and adults. I highly recommend a visit while you’re in Point Defiance.

Nicely kept and preserved

More than Five Stars! My kids and my grandkids like the Ft. Nisqually activities. It is enchanting to go back with the renactors and experience life as it was in the very early days at the fort by the fireside and in the kitchen with the garden beside it. Kids who don’t know or understand the history of our country may not enjoy it or who depend on Star Wars type of entertainment probably won’t either. The renactors have studied our countries history so that they can protray accurate history. They do a great job, we rarely want to leave there. In fact during Candlelight we are just waiting for someone to invite us to join them at the fireside.

I am surprised the other Unilocalers had such rave reviews about this place.
First off, I was so excited to visit a «living fort» since I’d never been to one.
I read that there were reenactments, people dressed in original clothes, yada yada. When I got there, such was not the case.
We had one makeshift tour guide sort of dressed the part, who showed us two houses that normally remained locked. Inside the homes were mostly replicas of what «would’ve been close to the original» for that time period.
I was expecting to see the real, original shi*! So, after learning that most of the items were bought off ebay, I felt like I was in an antique store where the items were not for sale and the «antiques» were questionable.
If you’re a true history buff, you probably will find a lot of errors with this place. I am not, however, and I was still a bit disappointed, but… I had high expectations of this place.
It’s not very expensive, so go take a look if it will satisfy your interests.
Oh, and if you have kids… there’s not much to do for them. There were a couple in my little tour, and they were bored out of their minds!

I really enjoy wandering around when they’re closed…
…and…
Well done, Fort Nisqually.

Every person visiting me from out of town is forced to visit here upon my command (under a Fascist itinerary) –so be forewarned. A bit of history whether you want it or not.
This past Summer they finalized on the last two structures, one is hiding the fort’s introductory area and intriguing gift shop, the other is hiding a hall which can be rented for a reasonable fee. The staff are well-​rehearsed in what they are reenacting down to the smallest details. The holiday events are especially enchanting. FYI, this was the last piece of Britishdom left in the lower 48 states prior to it being politely asked to cease operations in 1869.
Now if someone would just restore its neighbor, «Never-​Never Land» back to it’s 1960s splendor all would be balanced in the Universe.

I remember going here for Elementary school field trip.
Place is full of history.

A nice place but the price was too much for what you got. It is a reconstruction of a for (i.e. not authentic original) and there was only 1 helpful and knowledgeable employee working (there was plenty of employees but only one was helpful and knowledgeable). It was a good experience for my boys but in all not worth the price.

Five stars. We spent about 90 mins at this great little museum which was about the right amount of time to see everything and still not be dying to leave. The volunteers that work there will answer all of your questions and really make this place extra special. Worth a stop on anyones tour.

Fort Nisqually is a great activity for younger kids. I went here quite a few years back and enjoyed it as a child. They have a walking history tour where there are people dressed in authentic garb from the mid 19^th century and they demonstrate cool things that went on in the fort way back then. Take your kids on a sunny day and have some fun, you just might learn something.

Living history is a blast and the characters here know how to make the past come alive, right down to the French trader with the accent. During the summer this is a great experience. Go in the middle of the day to see and hear the firing of the cannon. There are lots of things for kids to do, from making rope grommets to learning how to start a fire with tinder. Mine had a blast. Poking around the general store was amazing. They have a great selection of authentic merchandise. The blacksmith shop was actually working and everyone was in period costume. Many well kept buildings and EVERYONE knows their history. Very reasonable entrance fee. Highly recommended.