Tacoma Nature Center — Attraction in Tacoma

The Tacoma Nature Center, located in Tacoma, Washington, is a natural preserve and educational facility dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and conservation. Here’s a brief history of the center:

Origins and Early Development

• 1950s - 1960s: The concept of a nature center in Tacoma began to take shape in the mid-20th century. The idea was rooted in the desire to preserve natural spaces within the city and provide an area for environmental education. The area around Snake Lake, a natural wetland, was identified as an ideal location due to its rich biodiversity and proximity to urban areas. • 1971: The Tacoma Nature Center officially opened its doors to the public. The initial development included trails around Snake Lake and educational programs aimed at engaging the community with the natural environment.

Expansion and Growth

• 1980s - 1990s: Over the next few decades, the center expanded its facilities and programming. The visitor center was established, offering exhibits, a meeting space, and educational resources. The center also began to host a variety of environmental education programs for schools and community groups. • 2008: A significant renovation and expansion project was undertaken, which included upgrading the visitor center, improving accessibility, and enhancing the trail system around Snake Lake. The expansion was part of a broader effort to increase the center’s capacity to serve the community and protect the natural habitat.

Present Day

• The Tacoma Nature Center is now a well-established facility with a range of programs and activities. It offers nature camps, guided tours, and workshops on topics like native plants, wildlife conservation, and sustainable living. The center also plays a key role in local conservation efforts, particularly concerning the preservation of wetlands and wildlife habitats. • The center is managed by the Metro Parks Tacoma, which continues to invest in the upkeep and improvement of the facilities and natural areas. The Nature Center remains a popular destination for both residents and visitors, providing a peaceful retreat and a space for learning about the natural world.

The Tacoma Nature Center’s history reflects the city’s commitment to environmental stewardship and education, ensuring that natural spaces remain an integral part of the...

Perfect “nature hike” place with my kids when I’m trying to get them outside! There’s 3 parts to this center: kid zone, inside the center for learning, and then hiking trails that are actually in the forest.

The kids play zone is wonderful and my young kids’ absolute favorite. It’s adventurous enough with trails circling around mini ponds, a waterfall, a play ground with a tunnel slide, a treehouse, a rock climbing spot… they definitely feel like they have their own forest and world and are explorers. The best part in my mind is that it’s all fenced in, which is comforting as a parent.

If you cross the parking lot, you can access hiking trails that are totally stroller friendly (unpaved but nicely packed gravel/dirt). There’s a big loop and a half loop. The half loop crosses over a bridge with ducklings and turtles… my kids LOVE it. The big loop is a full mile (I think). I would also totally go here without kids and enjoy the trails.

The center inside is donation based- so bring quarters and some cash so you can contribute, because places like this are amazing. There are some turtles, fish, a toad, and other wildlife in cases that kids can see up close, some fun kid activities like puzzles, magnet walls, and play log tunnels, and then learning stuff for the older kids. There’s also a gift shop. The center part is closed on the weekends, FYI.

This is one of our favorite Tacoma spots!...

This is such a cute little nature spot especially for the kiddos first of all it's completely free okay completely free hello that's a reason enough to go right there.

But then they also do have this nice playground area right at the beginning in front and it is made from wood and rocks. It's really pretty cool looking if you reference to my pictures you will then see what I'm talking about.

Then inside there is a gift shop and a room that has turtles in it with a bunch of other animals that have been preserved.

The turtles are alive and they also have frogs that are in this viewing room that are alive too. It's a pretty cool little room. They have another room which has like a bunch of different animals fur and they let you feel them with the back of your hand.

It was just such a joy we went there for a school field trip for the school day but I would come back again with my family it's a neat little spot.

They even have a little lunch area that's covered so you can have a little picnic lunch too so that part was cool. We had lunch there and spent the day there.

Thanks Tacoma nature center it was such a joy to spend the day in nature at such a lovely establishment.

Shout out from Larchmont Elementary School

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