After the completion of a historic interpretation plan, public and stakeholder engagement effort, and public art process, the City of Tacoma is excited to announce the launch of the Prairie Line Trail mobile-friendly, interactive walking tour website at prairielinetrail.org. The site offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the historic significance of the Prairie Line Trail, a new linear park and multi-use path that follows the tracks of the terminus of the transcontinental railroad.
The new website allows readers to experience the trail from a desktop or mobile device, and includes information and photos about historic buildings, public art, local art and cultural institutions, as well as videos, historic records, and artist sketches related to the story for the City’s segments of the Prairie Line Trail. Intended for first-time visitors and long-time residents alike, this site provides an opportunity for users to experience this neighborhood in a new way.
“I am so thrilled to see Tacoma recognizing the value of our heritage and investing in our shared civic experience,” said Associate Planner Elliott Barnett. “We are grateful to the many collaborators, stakeholders, and community members who have helped make this project a success.”
The website also provides background information on five new public art pieces, which interpret different aspects of the corridor’s history. The website and the five new public art installations are funded by a $400,000 Washington State 2015-2017 Heritage Capital Projects Fund grant.
Three of the five new public art pieces are currently installed, with two other installations and additional signage to be completed within the next year. The installations address themes from Tacoma’s history, including the era of “rails to sails,” industrialization, changes in transportation, immigration, and Puyallup tribal history.
“The Prairie Line Trail is an exciting combination of history, neighborhood storytelling, and public art,” said Assistant Historic Preservation Officer Lauren Hoogkamer.
On October 19, as part of Tacoma Arts Month, the City will hold a dedication for the new art pieces, followed by a panel discussion with the project’s artists and historians at the Tacoma Art Museum.
For more information about the Prairie Line Trail project, visit cityoftacoma.org/PLT, or contact Associate Planner Elliott Barnett at Elliott.Barnett@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5389.
– City of Tacoma
