Stadium District

The Stadium District is one of Tacoma's oldest and most photogenic neighbourhoods, a leafy hillside above downtown and Commencement Bay that preserves the look of the city's first boom. Its anchor is Stadium High School, a Chateauesque building of brick and stone with turrets and steep roofs that looks more like a French castle than a school. The structure began life in the early 1890s as a grand hotel planned by the Northern Pacific Railroad, but the hotel burned before it opened to guests, and the shell was later converted into a high school that opened in 1906. Beside the school lies the Stadium Bowl, a natural gulch that was shaped into an open-air stadium in 1910. Its terraced seats and sweeping curve open directly toward the water, and the setting is one of the most scenic sports venues in the country. Fans of film know it as a location for 10 Things I Hate About You, shot here in 1999, and many visitors come to stand where the characters did. The school is a working public school, so interior access is limited to times when events or tours are arranged. The streets around the school hold gracious houses, apartment buildings and small commercial blocks from the early twentieth century. Porches, turrets, leaded windows and mature gardens line the avenues, and on clear days there are views across Commencement Bay to the Olympic Mountains. It is an ideal neighbourhood for a slow walk, since the hills are modest and the scenery changes at every corner.

Start at the school and stroll around its exterior to see the towers and entrance, then walk to the bowl. Because school grounds are in use during the day, stay on public sidewalks and respect any signs about access. After the school, wander along nearby streets, many of which have gentle gradients and shaded sidewalks. If you enjoy architecture, bring a camera for the mix of Victorian and Craftsman houses and the brick apartment blocks.

The district sits next to Wright Park, so the two can easily be combined. A good itinerary is to begin at the park and conservatory, walk up to the school and the bowl, then drop down toward the waterfront by car or bus. The neighbourhood has several cafes, a few restaurants and a sprinkling of independent shops, which makes it easy to turn a walk into a lunch stop.

Because this is a residential area, be considerate about noise and parking. Weekday afternoons can be busy when school lets out, and game nights at the bowl bring crowds and traffic. Early mornings and weekends are calmer. If you are interested in local history, stop at a plaque or ask at a local cafe, because many residents are proud of the district and happy to share a story or two about the school, the stadium and the old hotel.

For a fuller picture of the neighbourhood, look at how the streets climb from the bay. The district developed as Tacoma boomed after the railroad arrived, and the houses reflect the prosperity of merchants, shipping agents and professionals who wanted views and a short commute downtown. Many buildings have been carefully restored, and a few have been converted to inns or apartments.

A walk of about a mile covers the highlights, and you can lengthen it by looping around Wright Park. Afternoon light on the school's brickwork is at its warmest, and the stadium rim offers a sweeping view toward the water.