Fort Nisqually Factor's House
United States historic place in Tacoma, Washington. Added to the National Register in 1970, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
Fort Nisqually was an important fur trading and farming post of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Puget Sound area, part of the Hudson's Bay Company's Columbia Department. It was located in what is now DuPont, Washington. Today it is a living history museum located in Tacoma, Washington, USA, within the boundaries of Point Defiance Park. The Fort Nisqually Granary, moved along with the Factor's House from the original site of the second fort to this park, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Built in 1843, the granary is the oldest building in Washington state and one of the only surviving examples of a Hudson's Bay Company "post-and-plank" structure. The Factor's House and the granary are the only surviving Hudson's Bay Company buildings in the United States.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA |
| County | Pierce County |
| Listed | Apr 15, 1970 |
| Listed for | Exploration and settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 70000647 |
| Type of place | trading post |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 2 buildings |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA |
| Website | fortnisqually.org ↗ |
| Coordinates | 47.3035° N, 122.5326° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Tacoma | 104 listed places in Tacoma → · walking tour → |
| Nearest national park unit | Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park · 22 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Picnic Vista 30 miles · Hamma Hamma Cabin 34 miles · Interrorem Cabin 34 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 8 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Pierce County
Local history books for Tacoma
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Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Washington
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Fort Nisqually Factor's House listed on the National Register?
Apr 15, 1970. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Can I visit Fort Nisqually Factor's House?
Yes. Fort Nisqually Factor's House is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website.
Source: Official website
Where is Fort Nisqually Factor's House?
Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. The nearest national park unit is Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 22 miles away.
Source: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
What does the Fort Nisqually Factor's House listing include?
The listing counts 2 contributing resources. Those are 2 buildings. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Fort Nisqually Factor's House?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Fort Nisqually Factor's House?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Fort Nisqually Factor's House?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Picnic Vista, 30 miles away. Hamma Hamma Cabin is 34 miles away, and Interrorem Cabin is 34 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Fort Nisqually Factor's House?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is there a wildfire near Fort Nisqually Factor's House right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest West Fork, 46 miles away.
Source: Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 70000647. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.