fort nisqually living history museum

Fort Nisqually is a hidden gem within Point Defiance Park. It is a small, outdoor museum, but worth the visit. There are docents available who have tremendous knowledge about the fort. They allow you to walk into many of the old buildings, and even touch some of the items on display. In one of the homes, you can walk right into the dining room and leaf through the maps of the time. It was a far more hands on visit than any other living history museum that I have ever been to.

my dislike it was smaller than i expected, my like very interesting I liked the hands on and the knowledge of the historians.

The first time I went to Fort Nisqually, I was a chaperone for my daughter's elementary class. Though the information was abundant, the details were explained for an elementary class. So, I did what any history buff would do...go again, but this time, with just my family. My daughter was excited because she was able to discover things more in depth. I enjoyed because now I could actually hear the historian. My wife and son enjoyed it, because they learned a lot about where we live. The information was abundant and nearly every question we had that pertained to the history of Fort Nisqually and Washington in general was answered.One great thing about this place is the various things you can participate in. Different crafts and events are identified on calendar. Very reasonable prices and it is a great way to spend time with the family and learn something together.

A fun place to learn for the kids. The fort and the associated buildings are well maintained and interesting to learn about. The coolest part are the volunteers that play roles in the fort. We chatted with a lumberjack sharpening an axe, a blacksmith making nails, and a gentleman that taught and played parlor games with us. The hands-on and immersive nature of the experience was fun for my whole family. Highly recommend.

We enjoyed the history of the fort and surrounding are as presented by the park workers. They were dressed to the period of the fort and very knowledgable. Wow! Things have really changed since those days.

Fun for out-of-town visitors or locals young and old alike. Everything depicts the time period historically correct including the clothing of the knowledgable staff. Definitely worth a stop!

What sets this museum apart is that the volunteers and staff have enormous love and enthusiasm for the heritage of Fort Nisqually. The fort was established as a British outpost and its influence waned as the Americans came in. But the people of the time left journals and records that show what life was like, and the people here have a huge passion for sharing that history in authentic, lively ways. Because the attention is so personal, they can decide if a couple wants to be left alone, or if the couple wants to talk about cooking or guns or fashion, or if a family with children wants to talk about schools of the time or food or how kids used to spend their time, or what. There is a thriving community of homeschoolers who spend time at the fort, so there are often a lot of children and teens around. That makes it very different than the average museum where the median age of visitors and volunteers is 95. The mix of young, older and oldest makes is really feel like you're back in the 1850's. If you're at all open to learning about history outside of the traumatizingly boring books from grade school, come here. If that's how your emember history, this place will be as dramatic as a Scuba dive or a skydive; at Fort Nisqually, they create a new world in order to show you the old one.

This is a great place to go to see how things were back when you had to work for everything. There are live people in old style buiding to show you how things were made and why they did the things they did. I highly recommend it. It is kid and adult friendly.

There were two guides dressed in period clothing that were very well versed in the history of the fort to explain the buildings and exhibits. Very nice vegetable garden. Last time we went the entrance was fort, now there is admission fee of $6 per adult.

So everyone has proable visited a living history museum or been to a reactment at some point in their life but this one is at NIGHT and it takes the cake. So no flashlights, photography, strollers allowed but this only to preserve the mood and effect that you are in the 1855. They do have wonderful tour guides to fill you in and guide you around. You can even volunteer to be a reactor for the event but in advance. And they are really cooking eating playing and even working at night in tune with a festival that the fort would have been celebrating at the time. They bus a very short ride up but lots of parking at the fort and all money made goes to the fort to keep it running. They also bus you back but they set the mood with a tour guide and little non natural light as possible. But get there early even if you have will call tickets gives you time to park get tickets seen there little gift tent and get in line for the bus without having to rush. We left about an hour and 20 minutes early because they say to arrive 15 minutes early for bus but the extra time gave time for traffic talk and a bit of shopping. A very good family event but proable not for families with infant but small childern would probably love it as there are some kid actors there and they would get to see what kids did back then.

An old trading post for the Hudson Bay Trading Company-- there are several different restored buildings, including a working blacksmith shop and some gardens. There were several docents in period clothing ready to answer questions about the fort and its history. It was uncrowded and you're free to wander around anywhere you choose. From just outside the gates there is a view of the Sound. You can almost see the Tacoma Narrows.

By far one of the most educational, fun, entertaining, and inclusive forts I've ever been to. We were immediately greeted by wonderful hosts of the fort. It's extremely well maintained and there are TONS of activities that makes this fort a fun and hands-on place to visit. We paid $22 for two adults and four children, we paid the "family fee" which includes two adults and six children. Also a fun and exciting event that we were unable to attend since we were leaving town but it's called "Friday at the Fort" where it's a laid back fun time with local breweries and live music. All the proceeds go to educational opportunities at the fort. They also run a day-camp during the summer. Like I said if you have time please go and check this awesome fort out! Enjoy your visit!!!!!

Fort Nisqually is located inside beautiful Point Defiance Park. The views of the forests & Puget Sound along the Five Mile Drive are breathtaking. The Fort was an old fur traders' post. It has been re-created from old journals descriptions and takes you back in time.

I convinced my reluctant family to join me for a bit of local history immersion. The volunteers are awesome and love that they stay in character. We arrived right at opening, and were the only visitors there for the first hour, which meant that we had several of our personal tour guides (good for me, bad for the children; as the guide was very long winded and did not understand that children can not stand for 7 minutes while he explains building construction, etc). After sending the children with grandma to the awesome children's play area (they have many toys and activities that children in the 1800s played with), everyone began to finally enjoy themselves. Great site for authentic history, that you can feel a part of and interact with.

Living fort with inhabitants who are living life as it was in the 1800's. You can interact with them but they are not from our time. It was a fun and interesting visit. Lot's of history and you can watch a old lifestyle in action.