For a century, Tacoma residents have headed to the end of Sixth Avenue for the beach, lagoon and open space at Titlow Park. On Sunday, October 4, the West End Neighborhood Council is throwing the park a birthday party. The free Titlow Centennial Celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The day begins with a tree planting ceremony at 10 a.m. At 11, Pretty Gritty Tours will give a talk about Titlow’s history. Visitors can also help decorate a community-made mural, try a photo scavenger hunt with prizes and play a history-themed Agents of Discovery game throughout the event.

The centennial marks the park district’s acquisition of the property in 1926. The lodge, though, tells an older story. It opened in 1911 as part of the Hotel Hesperides, a waterfront resort built by Aaron Titlow at a time when this stretch of shoreline felt far removed from downtown Tacoma.

Guests could arrive by steamer and look out over Puget Sound from the hotel’s balconies. The resort offered a dining room, tennis, swimming in the lagoon and boat outings. What is now a familiar neighborhood park was once designed as a destination for travelers.

The hotel eventually closed, and the property began its next life as public parkland. The building reopened as Titlow Beach Lodge in 1928 and changed substantially over the decades, including the removal of its top two stories. It remains part of the park today, along with the beach, trails, play areas and lagoon that generations of Tacoma families know.

The Titlow Centennial Celebration is at Titlow Park & Lodge, 8425 Sixth Avenue, on Sunday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. See the full celebration schedule and park history at Parks Tacoma. Parks Tacoma here.

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