Puyallup Historic Tour

Karshner Memorial Museum

 309 4th St NE  Local Historic Register

Dr. & Mrs Warner Karshner founded Paul Karshner Memorial Museum (1930) in honor their son who died of polio in 1924. It is a curriculum-based teaching museum, housed in a one-story brick school building.

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Puget Sound Electric Railway Substation

 454 E Main  Local Historic Register

The Puget Sound Electric Railway built its mainline between Seattle and Tacoma around 1903, with a branch line to Puyallup. The Powerhouse building was constructed in 1907 as a substation for the Puget Sound Power and Light Company; it was also used to provide power to the southern end of the line until PSER pulled the plug on its rail operations in December, 1928. The substation continued to provide power to the local community well into the 1950's. The building has since been converted to a restaurant.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

 Powerhouse history 

 Local Historic Property Inventory Report 

Harris Building

 1102 E Main  Local Historic Register

Built in approximately 1949, the Harris Building was originally used as a veterinary clinic by Dr. William F. Harris. The 4,000 sq. ft. structure remains largely unchanged and contains later additions of a 500 sq. ft. dog run and 700 sq. ft. of horse stalls. Dr. Harris operated his clinic from 1949-1996 and his work represented a special element of the city's cultural, social and economic history.

 Local Register Nomination 

Meeker Mansion

 312 Spring St  National and State and Local Register

Completed in 1890, this building was constructed as the residence of pioneer Ezra Meeker and his family. The 17 room Victorian mansion was designed by Ferrell and Darmer, Architects, of Tacoma.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

 Puyallup Historical Society at Meeker Mansion 

Peace Lutheran Church

 214 E Pioneer  State Historic Register

This building was constructed in 1892 as a Unitarian Church, and in 1990 was transferred to the Peace congregation trustees and became the Peace Lutheran Church. As the oldest church facility in Puyallup it is also home to one of the oldest, continuously worshiping religious bodies in the community.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

Pihl Brothers Building

 101 S Meridian  Local Historic Register

Constructed in 1911, the Pihl Brothers Building is a great example of the low-scale masonry buildings that make up the commercial core of downtown Puyallup. The Pihl Brothers operated a general store, grocery, and feed store in the building until the 1920's, when it was bought by John H. Pohlman. In 1926 the building underwent renovation and then housed the Pohlman's variety store until his death in the mid-1950's.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

 Local Historic Property Inventory Report 

Knight Building

 300 N Meridian  Local Historic Register

The Knight Building was constructed in 1910 by Edward Knight as part of the downtown commercial core. Knight started auto-related businesses, including a garage/auto repair shop and a truck sales business. In the mid-1920's, the Muller-Harkins Motor Company occupied the first floor of the building.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

 Local Historic Property Inventory Report 

Transit Building

 107 W Stewart  Local Historic Register

The Transit Building was built in 1908 to house the Puyallup-Tacoma Transit Company. It located its offices, depot and garages along Stewart Avenue and was the first bus service in Puyallup. Frans O. Lundberg, a Swedish immigrant and one of the three original owners, became successful and continued to own and operate the company and bus services in the area until the 1940's, when he sold it to the Blue-Gray Line.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

 Local Historic Property Report 

Karshner Building

 124 S Meridian  Local Historic Register

The Karshner Building was constructed for Warner Karshner, a prominent Puyallup citizen and doctor, who also acted as the city's Health Officer. In 1942, Karsher sold the building to Streator H. Beall. The Karshner building is part of the commercial core and was added to the local register in 2000. 

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

 Local Historic Property Inventory Report 

Tribune Building

 200 S Meridian  Local Historic Register

The Tribune Building was constructed in 1909 for Robert Montgomery, founder of the Puyallup Valley Tribune. This building housed the newspaper presses and was originally a single story tall, the second story was later added in 1912.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

 Local Historic Property Inventory Report 

Christ Episcopal's Church

 210 5th St SW  National and State Register

Christ Episcopal's first service was held on December 26, 1926. The church was later enlarged in 1957, and a new bell tower was added in 1960.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

J.H. Lotz House

 1004 2nd Ave NW  National and State Register

This early Puyallup residence was built by John H. Lotz in 1891. Lotz was a local builder who started the first Carpenters Union in Tacoma.

 DAHP Historic Property Information 

Benkovich House

 518 9th St Sw  Local Historic Register

The Benkovich House possesses integrity by retaining distinctive characteristics of a period and of a method of construction. Constructed in 1924, it represents an unaltered example of a Craftsman Bungalow style house. This truly American style was extremely popular across the country during the early 20th Century. The Benkovich House offers a rare intact exterior that clearly showcases the design elements of this period. 

 Pierce County Council Findings of Fact 

Puyallup Assembly Center - Camp Harmony

 110 9th Ave SW  State Historic Register

Camp Harmony, the local name for the Puyallup Assembly Center, U.S. Wartime Civil Control Administration, was occupied for a few months in 1942 following the outbreak of WWII. In all 7,548 persons of Japanesed ancestry were evacuated from their homes to the Center before being transported to Relocation Centers outside the U.S. West Coast. This was done as a wartime security measure and included all persons of Japanese ancestry, citizen and non-citizen alike. No marker or monument recalls this incident in American history but it is important to remember the police powers of the state during national emergencies and the demonstrations of loyalty by this racial minority.

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