Developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tacoma's historic North End offers a wide variety of architecturally significant homes - from modest workman's cottages to grand mansions. Anchored by the University of Puget Sound, Proctor and the 6th Avenue Business District, the North End features a wonderful mix of locally owned shops and restaurants including Source Yoga, Asado, The Table, Metropolitan Market, Peaks and Pints, Cactus, Compass Rose, Chalet Bowl and the historic Blue Mouse Theater - the oldest continuously operating movie theater in Washington State.
The North End offers easy access to Point Ruston and the waterfront, with miles of paved walkways, stunning water views, picnic areas, a public market and a fishing pier. The area's natural assets also include Point Defiance Park - a 702-acre urban oasis with a zoo and aquarium, extensive gardens, an old growth forest, hiking and running trails and a saltwater beach.