Old Town and Point Ruston

Nicely sited on a gentle rise overlooking Commencement Bay, Old Town was originally established in the 1860s by speculators hoping to capitalize on its proximity to the terminus of the Transcontinental Railway. Development was curtailed to some extent in favor of development in New Tacoma (what we now call downtown), but Old Town continued to thrive as a successful Slavic/Swedish fishing village. Retaining much of its original seaside charm, the neighborhood is now home to an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants including The Spar (Tacoma’s oldest saloon), Old Town Bicycle, Northern Fish Company and the upscale Silver Cloud Hotel. Old Town and its newly developed neighbor to the north, Point Ruston, probably take greater advantage of the waterfront than any other neighborhoods in town. Point Ruston has risen like a phoenix from the site of an old copper smelter and is now an extremely desirable destination offering high end waterfront condos, upscale eateries and a state of the art multiplex cinema.