Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday | May 13-15, 2025
12:00 PM, 6:00 AM (Self-Guided) & 6:00 AM (Self-Guided)
“Future Forward, Rooted in the Past,” is our take on the conference theme, a guided walking tour to explore several of Tacoma’s iconic sites. Get set for a delightful blend of historic facts and anecdotal stories behind our area’s innovative renovations, opportunities lost, and properties under actualization. Sprinkled with personal observations and local lore, our journey will include Downtown’s Prairie Line Trail, Union Station, and recognizable Old City Hall. For the latter leg, a quick ride on the light rail will lead to the nearby Stadium District to look across Stadium Bowl, silent star of the classic movie “Ten Things I Hate About You.”
Our tour will wrap up in time for coffee – a perfect opportunity to peel off to hit one of many nearby restaurants, grab a to-go snack from Stadium Thriftway, or take in the beauty of Wright Park. (For those who prefer to head right back, a guide will be ready to accompany a small group.) This experience offers an entertaining glimpse of ways the City of Tacoma is honoring its heritage while looking forward to the future!
Start Point / Distance / Duration
Meet up near Hotel Murano’s front entrance.
Distance from Hotel Murano to Stadium Thriftway: approximately 3 miles of walking light hills; approximately 4 miles round trip.
A short stint on the link is part of the guided route to the Stadium District. It is available for part of the return trip back to the hotel.
Limited to 40 attendees on a first come/first served based. Free Link day passes distributed at the rally point.
Guide Bios
Landscape Architect Stuart Johnson (AHBL) has deep roots in our area. Graduate of Steilacoom Historic School District #1 and 15-year resident of Tacoma’s Proctor District, Stuart is also an arborist who cherishes the untold stories witnessed by historic and legendary trees.
Architect Holli Smith (TCF) has lived in Tacoma’s Stadium District, 6th Ave Business District, and University of Puget Sound Neighborhoods for nearly three decades. Her fascination with historic buildings fuels her captivation of lives lived by those who came before us.