Historic Tacoma, a preservation advocacy organization, has received two grants to begin restoration of the Knights of Pythias Hall, located at 926 Broadway, in downtown Tacoma. The 1906 structure, listed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, was designed by prominent local architect Frederick Heath. Historic Tacoma received a $1,000 grant from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s Valerie Sivinski Washington Preserves Fund and a $2,000 grant from the Colonial Dames of Washington’s new Historic Preservation Grant Program. The Tacoma Lodge of the Knights of Pythias is providing $3,000 in matching funds.

Restoration of the most damaged parts of Castle Hall, the large formal auditorium on the second floor, will begin late this summer. Local artisans will clean and restore painted panels, restore water-damaged plaster, and re-paint surfaces in the southeast balcony of the hall. The first phase of the effort will serve as a demonstration project to support fund-raising and grant-writing to complete the $50,000+ Castle Hall restoration.

Historic Tacoma and the Tacoma Lodge of the Knights of Pythias have entered into an agreement through which Historic Tacoma seeks grant funding for rehabilitation of the building, in exchange for use of the facility for Historic Tacoma events. This past May, National Preservation Month, Historic Tacoma hosted a series of lectures in Castle Hall, addressing historic housing styles, window restoration, landscaping Craftsman houses, and period appropriate lighting. More than two hundred people attended the popular series.

Historic Tacoma is a private not-for-profit grassroots organization dedicated to preserving Tacoma’s architectural legacy through education and advocacy. Historic Tacoma advocates for the thoughtful preservation and rehabilitation of historic structures, sites, and neighborhoods, while urging policy makers, developers and citizens to consider the value and unique qualities of historic structures.

The Knights have been a vital part of the downtown Tacoma community for over 125 years. Today the Knights continue to promote friendship, benevolence, and charity through their community service and charitable works.