Tacoma Historical Society Tacoma Historical Society

Many Tacomans will remember Juan Perez, who played the piano at the Tacoma Nordstrom store for 27 years. UW Tacoma student Nathan Hiatt recorded this episode in remembrance of Perez, who left a long-lasting impact on the Tacoma community.

Hiatt created this beautiful tribute as the final project for T ARTS 225: Musical History of Tacoma, taught by Kim Davenport at the University of Washington, Tacoma. At the time he took the class in Autumn 2023, he was a senior majoring in Arts, Media and Culture.

Join Tacoma Historical Society for our May monthly program presented by THS Communications Manager and Tacoma Historian, Kim Davenport. Kim shares the story of how her family tree of ancestors came to Tacoma via the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Sponsored by the Port of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities and Amtrak. With thanks to Tacoma Creates for support of our programming.

THS Communications Manager Kim Davenport is joined on Nettie Asberry's porch by Karin Choo, Executive Director of Northwest Sinfonietta, and Klair Ethridge, Executive Director of Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center (TUPAC) to discuss their exciting upcoming celebration of the legacy of Nettie Asberry.

Northwest Sinfonietta's season finale on May 20 and 21, 2023 brings live music and dance together in 'This Land.' Partnering with Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, the program features a new ballet celebrating the life and story of Tacoma icon Nettie Asberry.

Tickets: nwsinfonietta.org

Saturday, May 20 at 7:30pm, Rialto Theater, Tacoma

Sunday, May 21 at 2pm, Pioneer Park Pavilion, Puyallup

Discount code for May 20 performance with support from Tacoma Creates: 1219 Nettie

In honor of Women's History Month, THS Communications Manager Kim Davenport interviews Kimberly Klontz, a longtime BNSF engineer and leader in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen 238 in Tacoma.

Kimberly has an interest in railroad labor and mechanical history dating back to her childhood, when her family volunteered at several railroad museums in the local area. She developed an interest in labor history by listening to the older volunteers talking about their experiences on the railroad. She was fortunate have met one of the last motormen for the Tacoma Trolley system, several women who had hired out as operators for the Northern Pacific Railroad during the second world war, and numerous men who worked on the railroad in a variety of positions from entry level labor to upper management. Most had worked for the Northern Pacific, Milwaukee Road or the Burlington Northern. She continues to have an interest in preserving railroad labor history, and volunteers at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives.

Learn more about the history behind the "Great Big Baked Potato," a long-time staple of Northern Pacific Railway dining cars, on our blog here: https://tacomatales.org/2023/02/04/the-great-big-baked-potato-song/

We are delighted to announce the first episode of a new virtual series, Tacoma's Family Table, hosted by THS volunteer Rose Mattison. The inaugural episode features guest Abby Woods, owner of Trini Plate. Abby shows us how to make a holiday favorite from Trinidad, Pastelle.  Jump over to our YouTube channel to watch the video for this episode!

We all have food in common. Most of us get together around the table with friends and family to celebrate birthdays, gather for holidays and sometimes to mourn and support each other through difficult times. Tacoma’s Family Table uses food and the stories and traditions connected to that food to forge connections, build understanding and relationships, and tell the rich, varied and unique history of our city through its citizens and share that history with the public.  

With thanks to Tacoma Creates for support of our public programming.