The thea foss waterway, formerly the city waterway, is a northsouth inlet of commencement bay separating downtown tacoma, washington, from the port of tacoma. Today the mixeduse development includes housing, retail and restaurants, recreation and education opportunities. Official survey lines and present status of the work in its various sections. Commencement bay, including thea foss waterway, was deemed one of the most polluted sites in the nation in 1983. Sources of chemicals seen in the waterway are generally related to practices or activities past. Members shall be civic or business leaders with experience in such fields as finance, real estate development, law or construction management and, to the extent possible, a majority of the. Another 112 words 8 lines of text covering the years 1284, 27, and 79 are included under the topic early foss history in all our pdf extended history products and printed products wherever possible. The westward at tacomas foss waterway peregrine sea. Foss waterway seaport venue, tacoma get your price estimate. Other areas of the thea foss waterway were capped with clean sediments to contain some of the contamination in place. Others are active in rowing on american lake in lakewood and are.
Several members of foss rowers are active participants in rowing on the foss waterway and the adjacent waters of commencement bay. The foss waterway development authority consists of seven members who are appointed by the mayor and city council. Thea foss started foss maritime company in 1889, offering tug boat services, rowboats and naphtha launches. The westward takes us deep into the maritime history of the. In tacoma, the former city waterway was renamed the thea foss waterway in honor of the tugboatcompany pioneer. Press release, october 2, 2017 foss waterway seaport is pleased to present 47 north, 122 west, an exhibition of paintings by shon frostad, october 9, 2017 through january 19, 2018. The project advocated by the atlantic deeper waterways association. The foss plan establishes public policy and design guidelines for all new public and private development in and surrounding the thea foss waterway. New hampshire had the highest population of foss families in 1840. As part of the cleanup project, habitat restoration sites were constructed at four new locations. This sixth edition is double the size of its predecessor and includes greatly enhanced coverage of anchorages, pilotage, and facilities. Development along the thea foss waterway, both upland and in water, is guided by a document titled thea foss waterway design and development plan and administered by the city of tacoma. The park offers access to the water for fishing, swimming, boating, and wildlife viewing harbor seals and sea lions. Aug 06, 2015 more than 56 parties have agreed to restore key salmon habitat on the white river, which flows through king and pierce counties in washington state, to resolve their liability for natural resource damages caused by hazardous substances released into the thea foss and wheelerosgood waterways in tacomas commencement bay, the justice department, national oceanic and atmospheric administration.
The thea foss waterway esplanade begins at thea s park along tacomas eastern waterfront. Over the past decade, local filmmaker and producer nancy bourne haley has been collaborating with the foss waterway seaport to create content and enhance the exhibits illuminating the thea foss and foss tug and launch company stories. Its source, near newburgh priory in what was the forest of galtres, is a spring adjacent to oulston reservoir sometimes called pond head reservoir, into which it. Restaurants near thea foss waterway restaurants in this area are known for american, seafood, italian, steak and french cuisines. The foss family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. Customize your own price, browse photos and special offers. Jun 26, 2017 the other country is a communitybased, sitespecific event, placing the memorable thea foss story squarely in its original and authentic setting. Our convenient location at the mouth of the foss waterway gives you easy access to commencement bay, ruston way. Getting on and off the kayak was the scariest part, as i really did not want to go swimming. It establishes public policy and design guidelines for all new public and private development in and surrounding the thea foss waterway. History of the gulf intracoastal waterway volume 83, issue 9 of navigation history nws. Your kids may want to check out the exhibits, which include examples of every kind of watercraft imaginable, but im guessing theyll head straight for discovery wharf. The foss waterway seaport was on the list of museums to visit in tacoma and was a treat to the history of boats and seafaring in the area. Each foss module has some text explaining its subject, aims, and methods.
Idea for a maritime wedding with an industrial edge, this lovely event space offers multiple spaces to say your i dos or celebrate your union. Earth history resources book paperback june 1, 2001 by foss author 5. Foss rowers was established in 2006 by a group of individuals interested in participating in and promoting the sport and activity of rowing and sculling in the tacoma region of the south sound. Uss amber pyc6, which had served as a patrol vessel in world war ii, was renamed the thea foss after being purchased by foss marine company. The new route more or less loops around the tideflats. Today foss is the largest tug concern on the pacific coast. Today, there are over 4,700 miles of navigable waterways. I have never been kayaking, and im terrified of the water.
To this end foss rowers adopted the following initial statement of purpose at its june 2006 meeting. These are seen as a valuable part of britains landscape. If you do want to get into the city, a pedestrian walkway, the 500 foot chihuly bridge of glass, is located along the route which can take you over the tracks and freeway into town. The thea foss waterway design and development plan the foss plan is the citys blueprint for the future of the waterway. Foss waterway development authority city of tacoma. The other country is a communitybased, sitespecific event, placing the memorable thea foss story squarely in its original and authentic setting. Tacomas waterfront has been undergoing a transition, and i intended to explore the new working waterfront museum at foss waterway seaport, wondering if any ships would be moored there. Foss tug became the preeminent towing company in puget sound. Early history of the foss family this web page shows only a small excerpt of our foss research.
The city removed or capped in place sediments contaminated by more than a century of environmentally insensitive practices, and restored marine habitats around the foss and other areas of commencement bay in partnership with agencies, organizations, property owners. Thea foss, a young norwegian immigrant and her husband, andrew, turned one rowboat into what eventually became a world class fleet. Foss rowers is an active participant in this ongoing planning process. It started in tacoma, washington when thea foss bought a used rowboat, hoping to rent it out to help with the familys finances. In the case of waterway guide, the first shot was fired in 1947 when planning began for a 200page book that was printed by marina publishing house in wilmington, n. The thea foss waterway walkway is between the water and railway lines so you dont even notice the heart of tacoma so nearby. A brief history of the river foss the river foss has seen many changes over the years, especially in its lower reaches around the city of york. Thea foss waterway esplanade washington trails traillink. Foss waterway seaport tacoma 2020 all you need to know. Jul 17, 2012 the crew are the from the group, women on water, known as the wowers, who row the verite on mondays from the sea scout base located on the east side of the foss waterway in the tacoma youth. Its an important story to tell, seaport executive director wesley wenhardt said. First on the waterways, an exhibit exploring the history of the puyallup and their intimate connection to the salish sea and the puyallup river.
Amberley publishing provides a fresh approach to regional and general history. The foss waterway seaport is proud to present the puyallup people. Linked from the module detail, as well as from the module overview, which comes from the scope and sequence. Experience tacoma and the beautiful pacific northwest on a foss harbor marina kayak or standup paddleboard. Cablestayed bridge over tacomas thea foss waterway opens. She was the reallife person on which the fictional character tugboat annie originally portrayed on film in 1933 by marie dressler may have been very loosely based. The balance of humanity and nature and the degradation and rebirth of the thea foss waterway and commencement bay people of the region the story of human progress. Our convenient location at the mouth of the foss waterway gives you easy access to commencement bay, ruston way, point defiance park and many other scenic destinations. Marine trade, railroads and sawmills made foss waterway an industrial center. Fact sheet for source control on the thea foss and wheeler. More than 56 parties have agreed to restore key salmon habitat on the white river, which flows through king and pierce counties in washington state, to resolve their liability for natural resource damages caused by hazardous substances released into the thea foss and wheelerosgood waterways in tacomas commencement bay, the justice department, national oceanic and atmospheric.
Founded in 1889, the foss story is a quintessential example of the american dream. Ten years of clean water thea foss waterway tacoma. Thea christiansen foss 8 june 1857 7 june 1927 was the founder of foss maritime, the largest tugboat company in the western united states. Hotels near foss waterway seaport, tacoma on tripadvisor. Thea foss waterway is approximately three and one half miles of continuous shoreline off commencement bay adjacent to the city of tacomas downtown.
Some of the popular local menu items include calamari appetizers, oyster shooters, creamy polenta, salmon and asado. Bought a sevylor quikpak k1 inflatable kayak and took it out for the first time today. The crew are the from the group, women on water, known as the wowers, who row the verite on mondays from the sea scout base located on the. For the purposes of the plan, the boundaries to the northwest begin just to the north of the 4th street. Special 26m 46s one of the many museums that call tacoma home is dedicated to displaying the citys rich maritime heritage. Powerboat reports since 1979, this book has been the piloting guide of choice for the tens of thousands of boaters traversing the 1,094mile intracoastal waterway between virginia and florida each year. The deepwater port began to boom in the 1870s, sailing ships and steam tugs called in. From the foss waterway seaport website the mission of the foss waterway seaport is to celebrate tacomas rich maritime heritagepast, present and future. The museum is located on the historic thea foss waterfront in the centuryold balfour dock building, a rehabilitated warehouse that is listed on the national register of historic places. The sea, and the language of universal symbols created to navigate its vastness, are the subject of this show.
Watercraft rental foss harbor marina in tacoma, washington. Foss waterway seaport venue, tacoma get your price. The thea foss and wheelerosgood waterways sparkle with new life today, thanks to a historic cleanup led by the city of tacoma. I ran into the westward and found a very active, if fledgling, area in transition from a formerly gritty and deteriorating industrial waterfront. This was about 41% of all the recorded fosss in the usa. Inland waterways and rivers general history discover. New show at foss waterway seaport portrays history and. The economic energy growing along the thea foss waterway today is reminiscent of the areas role in tacoma more than 120 years ago. But this dock was right at water level on one corner, so it. She expanded with rowboats, naptha launches and steam tugs.
The family continued to operate the company, eventually named foss maritime, for many years. Puget sounds maritime heritage, education and event center, where families, students and. Thea foss launches future tugboat firm on the tacoma. Jan 11, 2003 the family continued to operate the company, eventually named foss maritime, for many years. Founded in 1996, the foss waterway seaport museum celebrates tacomas rich maritime heritage past, present, and future. She was the reallife person on which the fictional character tugboat annie originally portrayed on film in 1933 by. The tacoma city council formed the sevenmember foss waterway development authority board in 1996 to oversee development and marketing of the publiclyowned foss waterway properties.
This is the ssi wdf webcontent version of the page provides basic information about a particular module. History foss waterway seaport was founded in 1996 as the commencement bay maritime association to carry on the work begun in the early 1990s by life on the sound founders phyllis harrison and mike vlahovich to create community space to celebrate the art, culture, crafts and skills of puget sounds maritime community. Thea foss, the waterways namesake, founded the foss maritime company on the inlet in 1889. In the early 1990s a bold step was taken by city of tacoma leaders when they decided to take a principal role in the cleanup process and reclaim the heart of the city. Army resources support center, institute for water resources, 1983. Nov 29, 2010 the working waterfront maritime museum is part of the foss waterway seaport, and it tells the maritime history of the tacoma area as well as plenty about all things boat.
Puget sounds maritime heritage, education and event center, where families, students and entire communities. Often called tacomas best kept secret, the foss waterway seaport offers soontobewed couples with a beauty wedding venue that is equal parts rustic and romantic. Foss waterway seaport welcomes classic boaters from the. The foss waterway seaport is puget sounds premier maritime heritage, education and event center where families, students and entire communities come to discover, explore, work and play. First on the waterway is a new and permanent exhibit at the foss waterway seaport. Restaurants in this area are known for american, seafood, italian, steak and french cuisines. They are appreciated for their industrial heritage, for their contribution to urban landscapes and for their atmosphere of peace in a busy world. The working waterfront maritime museum is part of the foss waterway seaport, and it tells the maritime history of the tacoma area as well as plenty about all things boat. With significant support from the puyallup tribe, this exhibit is sure to expand your knowledge about the tribe through a variety of. The thea foss waterway design and development plan is an element of the citys long range comprehensive plan and the master program for shoreline development and was developed pursuant to the authority conferred by the washington state constitution. In 1840 there were 158 foss families living in new hampshire. It was built so that the port of tacoma could develop blair waterway, first by taking down the old and toonarrow 1953 blair waterway drawbridge, and next by dredging the waterway, which runs parallel to thea foss waterway. The 10 best hotels near thea foss waterway in tacoma. May 11, 20 from the foss waterway seaport website the mission of the foss waterway seaport is to celebrate tacomas rich maritime heritagepast, present and future.
381 584 646 146 92 674 30 1377 1168 1378 1042 653 427 1146 1284 1496 38 1310 459 1025 357 333 1488 32 1228 1051 976 435 612 1112 1397 1145