Spanish Steps (Tacoma, Washington)

Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps in 2015
The Spanish Steps in 2015
LocationTacoma, Washington, U.S.
Spanish Steps (Tacoma, Washington) is located in Washington (state)
Spanish Steps
Spanish Steps
Coordinates: 47°15′28″N 122°26′27″W / 47.25778°N 122.44083°W / 47.25778; -122.44083

The Spanish Steps, also known as the Spanish Stairs,[1] are stairs in Tacoma, Washington's Old City Hall Historic District, in the United States. Modeled after Rome's Piazza di Spagna, the stairs were built in 1916 to connect Broadway and Commerce.[2] The stairs are adjacent to the Elks Temple,[3][4] and have served as a fire escape for the building.[5] Since McMenamins began operating in the building, the stairs have housed a cafe and patio.[6]

According to the Daily Journal of Commerce, "The staircase is an important east-west pedestrian connection within the north end of Tacoma's downtown. The Spanish Steps serve as an access point to transportation facilities, including those for Pierce Transit and LINK light rail, which connects with the Sounder commuter rail line."[7]

The stairs were restored in 2011.[2] Fodor's has called the Spanish Steps "famous".[8][9]

  1. ^ "Spanish Steps: HISTORIC STRUCTURES REPORT" (PDF). City of Tacoma. December 2004.
  2. ^ a b Cleveland, Peggy (2022-09-01). 100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die. Reedy Press LLC. ISBN 978-1-68106-393-5.
  3. ^ "The Notes of Spanish Steps | Tacoma Daily Index". Tacoma Daily Index. 2009-09-30. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  4. ^ Peterson, Dave (2019-07-08). "McMenamins Elks Temple". Northwest Travel Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  5. ^ Allison, Ross; Nordheim, Teresa (2014-09-15). Tacoma's Haunted History. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4396-4730-1.
  6. ^ Tjossem, Donald R. (2019). Tacoma. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4671-0312-1.
  7. ^ Oden, Betty (2010-03-12). "Spanish Steps Historic Rehabilitation". Daily Journal of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2013-06-09. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  8. ^ Fodor's Bucket List USA: From the Epic to the Eccentric, 500+ Ultimate Experiences. Fodor's Travel. 2021-10-12. ISBN 978-1-64097-464-7.
  9. ^ Fodor's Pacific Northwest: Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, & the Best of Oregon and Washington. Fodor's Travel. 2020-09-15. ISBN 978-1-64097-305-3.