Love is in the air as we prepare to officially open the extended T Line in Tacoma!
One of the most beloved romantic comedies of the late 1990s - “10 Things I Hate About You” - was filmed in the city. It's a coming-of-age film based on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”
Stadium High School provides the backdrop for many scenes, including an iconic musical number filmed in the Stadium Bowl.
So, inspired by the movie, here’s our list of the things we love the most about Tacoma:
1. The T Line (duh)
Ok, maybe we’re biased, but we do love the T Line! Especially because it will soon double in length and connect more people to more places in Tacoma.
Check out this website for more details on the opening.
2. The urban legends
Have you heard that the largest octopus in the world lives under the Narrows Bridge? It’s one of our favorite myths (or is it?) about the city.
The “King Octopus” legend inspired “Gertie’s Ghost,” a Sound Transit-funded public sculpture by artists Sean Orlando and David Shulman.
3. The views
When the mountain is out, there’s almost no better place to be than Tacoma. You can also get amazing views of Commencement Bay and the waterfront from almost anywhere in the city.
4. The art
So many great artists hail from Tacoma, including Dale Chihuly and Bing Crosby. And there are so many great artisans to support as well.
Art is incredibly accessible from the T Line – from museums to public murals to theater venues. And we’re adding public art to the new stations by Kenji Stoll.
5. The shopping
Speaking of supporting local… Throughout the years of construction, Sound Transit has sponsored a “Loyal to the Local” campaign spotlighting business owners throughout the T Line corridor.
And if you’re looking for a cool shopping center not only near the T Line, but Sounder as well, check out Freighthouse Square for stores and restaurants.
6. The parks
From Point Defiance to People’s Park, there are so many outdoor areas to explore in the city.
The historic Wright Park is accessible from the expanded T Line. The park is home to an arboretum, sport courts and is a popular place for groups and communities to come together for rallies and marches.
Did you know Metro Parks Tacoma was created to steward Wright Park and its famous observatory?
7. The nicknames
Tacoma has so many great nicknames: the City of Destiny, Grit City, T-Town and more.
8. The architecture
The Narrows Bridge is probably the first structure that comes to mind when you talk about Tacoma architecture. But there’s so much more, including of course, Stadium High School.
And who can forget the Tacoma Dome, a great venue for sports, shows and events that looks straight out of “Star Wars"?
There are also many beautiful historic structures, including Union Station.
9. The history
Transit in Tacoma has a fascinating origin story – and we celebrated 20 years of T Line service in 2023.
You can read more about that in our recent blog post.
What’s your favorite piece of Tacoma history? Let us know on social media – we’re at @SoundTransit.
10. The community
Beautiful buildings and interesting history are great – but what makes a place is its people. We love the Tacoma community and can’t wait to celebrate the new light rail service with you soon!
We asked some locals what they love about their neighborhoods. Hear what they said: