Four buildings at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum are closing temporarily as Parks Tacoma begins a restoration project focused on accessibility and preservation. Work is expected to start in mid-October and continue into spring 2027.
The project covers the kitchen, sale shop and two bastions. Though they help tell the story of the 1850s fort, these buildings are reconstructions built in the 1930s. Their age and design have made repairs—and easier access for visitors—an ongoing challenge.
The kitchen and sale shop are set for an unusual fix: contractors will temporarily support and lift each building, remove its timber foundation, then install a concrete foundation at ground level. The change is intended to create step-free entrances, making both buildings more accessible to visitors using wheelchairs.
Those two buildings will also receive new siding, roof shingles, gutters, windows and doors. Their chimneys will be rebuilt or reinforced with steel flues. The bastions, which once served defensive purposes, are scheduled to get new roof shingles.
The work will affect what visitors can explore. The kitchen, sale shop and both bastions will be closed during construction; that includes the southwest bastion’s staircase, which offers an elevated view of the fort. Contractors will temporarily remove sections of the palisade to reach the buildings, so visitors may see parts of the work from elsewhere on the grounds.
Parks Tacoma expects construction to wrap up in spring 2027, with a reopening celebration planned for summer. The agency has not announced a date for that event. You can find project updates and more about the restoration on Parks Tacoma’s Fort Nisqually project page here.
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