Tacoma Population 2010: 198,397, #111 in U.S., #3 in Washington 1950: 143,673, #65 in U.S. Tacoma is in the Seattle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Setting Tacoma,
a port on Commencement Bay at the southern end of Puget Sound, had its first permanent settlement
in 1864 and was incorporated in 1875. The University of Washington Tacoma is located downtown. Buildings Tallest building: 1201 Pacific, 1970 (338 feet) List of tallest buildings Stores Tacoma has no downtown department stores. Trains Amtrak's Coast Starlight goes north to Seattle and south to Portland, Oakland, and Los Angeles. The Amtrak Cascades goes north to Vancouver, British Columbia, and south as far as Eugene, Oregon. Amtrak uses a small 1980s-era station. The historic Union Station (1911) is now used as a federal courthouse, and the rotunda is rented out for special occasions. Tacoma Link (2003) is a two-mile light rail system that serves downtown. Sounder commuter rail (2000) covers 82 miles between Tacoma, Seattle, and Everett. Museums The Washington State History Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum, and the Museum of Glass are located downtown. |  Downtown Tacoma Theaters
The Grand Cinema is downtown. The Pantages and Rialto theaters (both 1918) are restored
movie
theaters that now have a variety of concerts and plays, including the
Symphony Tacoma, the Tacoma Opera, and touring Broadway shows. Sports The Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, play at Cheney Stadium (1960), west of downtown. The Tacoma Dome (1983) hosts sporting events and concerts. Convention and Visitors Bureau
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