Enjoyed the walk through. Not everything was open due to the pandemic, but we still enjoyed our visit.

Excellent museum with really knowledgeable and friendly staff. I learned history and heard stories straight from the reenactors. I even got to run a hundred year old bow saw to process wood the same way it was done ages ago to provide heating and cooking wood for the settlement.

As much as I understand the historic value and the importance of supporting culture, U$30 to get in seems like a little too much.

Great place to visit and learn about the old ways here in the PNW. In expensive and interesting things to see with the kids and explore the grounds. Come in the summer when more staff are here to interact more with living history. We will be back aging in the summer.

I have not been here in a good long while. As in it was free the last time. So to have it now charge admission was an unwelcome surprise. For the group I was with it was going to cost nearly around $80. Fort Nisqually is absolutely neat and I thought the kids would love it. But it is not worth that price point.

We explored around the living history museum and the store. Very friendly and welcoming staff that we chatted with. Cant wait to go back and see more of the characters in costume.

Super fun historic walk through, they even had people doing old timey stuff to show you how they lived. well worth the 8 bucks for admission

We had an awesome time at the museum, complete with a picture with Father Christmas. We will definitely be back. I would say that this museum is great for people of all ages; lots of activites and information. The employees and volunteers were very dedicated to their costuming and roles.

I absolutely loved Fort Nisqually! It was super neat to see the structure and all of the actors in the different shops. I would 100% go back for all of the activities!

Fun place. Loved the Museum. We had a couple Deer to visit with. Lets places great for kids to help teach them a little history also there are tons of an amazing trails through the forest that would be great for anyone.

So fun to learn about history! My kiddos loved grinding corn and going into the top of the tower.

Fort Nisqually is always doing something new and interesting. If youve already been to the living history museum, I highly recommend checking out their events. We discovered them last year and have already done the escape room (wonderful), homespun date night (came away with lots of handmade souvenirs), and the candlelight tour (incredibly interesting and they change it up every year). Really looking forward to new adventures by this museum.

Fort Nisqually is a great place for a family outing and it educational. My kids never complain about the lack of technology because they are so engaged by the museum and its wonderful volunteers!! This year we bought a family membership so we can go whenever we want!!

Highly recommended to see at least once. It gives you an idea on how people lived in the 1800s.

Staff very knowledgeable. Facilities stunning. Even saw a deer running through the fort. Stunning photo ops in front of the Fort.

We got there late in the day so we went in and enjoyed our shorter visit then we would like to have had. We would like to have stayed longer but we had to get going so we could find a hotel. We enjoyed visiting authentic places like this when we travel. This living history museum though seems to be relocated from its original spot but that doesnt matter to us. It has a great little gift shop. We sort of wish we lived in the area because it looked like they have all sorts of interesting events and programs going on.

Very informative and interesting look into life in 1850s Pacific Northwest!

Small fort Outpost recreation, but really good docents, they truly know their stuff!

A lovely little museum, still set up as a fort, with log cabins and people in period dress. Nice gift shop as well

It maintains the allure of the past, and my kids always have fun.

The history is living. I had a mini heart attack when I walked into the recreated store and a period dressed mannequin started to tell me about the latest beaver fur statistics.Beautifully restored exhibits brought alive by engaging re-enactors.

We love visiting this museum. Docents are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, they give you a view of local history from multiple diverse perspectives, and you always learn something new. We’ve gone to all their adult homespun happy-hours and learned new crafts, and recently went to the candlelight tour where the grounds are pitch black except for candlelight, and volunteers reenact a day in the life of the fort in the 1800s- you play a silent ghost of the future walking from scene to scene. This museum never gets old and the staff and volunteers are so thoughtful in their presentations.

Very interesting. Went with class school trip and learned a lot!

Got bored and brought the kiddos out on a beautiful sunny day. They were having a festival for Queen Victoria and they got to watch a may pole dance. We will be back for the next one as its a break out of jail festival.I highly recommend this as a place to get out and enjoy the day. Fun for adults and kids alike. Plus its just beautiful.

Moved the original buildings from Dupont to here and they look great. The fort walls encapsulate the feeling of the Era in time perfectly. The volunteers are in period dress and while we were there the blacksmith was making a fireplace poker to finish the set he had started earlier that day. He spoke with us about the work and the effort involved in making even the simplest looking items.There are some free range chickens that they sell the eggs from. And our son fed them some apple slices that a volunteer was passing out to the children.There is an eye spy game that they pass out in the gift shop where if your child can find all the items shown on the page (plants, animals, old timey things, the pictures vary) your child can turn it in at the gift shop for a prize.Seven year old thought it was fun and they have a military discount on tickets for service members.

Very informative. Loved the cats that greeted us as we came in. Staff was helpful. Daughter got to feed chickens and make candles. Definitely worth the tripp

Really cool living history! My favorite experience is the kitchen, but due to authenticity, they are not allowed to let you sample the foods (safety concerns of food prepared with authentic 1845 methods)

I have been a fan and visitor of Ft. Nisqually since the late 1950s. Recently they have renovated and brought it to life, with authentic displays and era specific craft participation exhibits. Well worth visiting!☆☆☆☆☆

This place is beautiful. Peaceful and serene. A great place for family gatherings of most any kind. The grounds are impeccably clean. Rest room facilities are nearby all sights. It would behoove any passerby to take the time to stop and see for themselves.

Wonderful volunteers who reenact daily living in the fort

So fun and reasonably priced! A great look into the history of the region.

Very nice and educational. Enjoyed it very much. Its affordable too.

Beautiful still after all these yrs! They havent touched it at all. And the gift shop is very reasonably priced!

It was a special historical place that you can only find in the north west. Great for family day trips.

The reenactors are very fun to chat with and knowledgeable about the area. Some of the blacksmith items are made by a blacksmith there and sold in the gift shop. Its a really interesting historical spot we just decided to check out since we were at the park. You can go into one of the towers and kids loved that, just wish others hadnt carved their names into the wood inside.

Went there as a kid. Loved..was freeee then. But, still nice

Beautiful stop, stuff for kids and adults. Could use some more actors so hey reenactors, get out there, its an awesome location.

We visited Fort Nisqually as an unplanned visit. So we ended up getting there as they closed. While we were able to look in, we didn’t get the full tour. As we walked outside the Fort Walls, Dave (one of the “costumed interpreters”) walked us out. We ended up spending an hour with him as he gave an impromptu tour of the grounds, history and tales of the after hour parties. I love this and will come back for one of those Mead parties. Dave is amazing and I highly recommend spending time with him!!! We had so much fun, and Dave made the experience!!!

We visited Fort Nisqually as an unplanned visit. So we ended up getting there as they closed. While we were able to look in, we didn’t get the full tour. As we walked outside the Fort Walls, Dave (one of the “costumed interpreters”) walked us out. We ended up spending an hour with him as he gave an impromptu tour of the grounds, history and tales of the after hour parties. I love this and will come back for one of those Mead parties. Dave is amazing and I highly recommend spending time with him!!! We had so much fun, and Dave made the experience!!!

Great family outing or with visitors. Historically significant frontier fort.

It was closed when we were there, but looks like it is a great place.

A really cool and unique place to go see and its live as well you get to talk to the people of that time era great for family and friends of course if you have never been its worth it. Come check it out!

Dedicated staff and volunteers ensure this place is a vibrant living museum with fun things to learn about woodworking, smoking meats, raising chickens, heritage garden, Mystery Room events, Festivals. There is always something great happening.

Very interesting. They have fun events as well. If your a Family and you go more than once its worth becoming a member.

Lots of fun. Helpful and friendly staff. Lots to do for kids as well

Adorable and well done historical frontier fort. Extremity knowledge and friendly staff, small crowds. Easy daytrip with convenient access to picnic areas and walking trails.

This is one of the best place to go with your family. The people who work there were so nice to us they took their time to talk to us about the history of the fort. We are definitely going back there next time

Compared to other historical locations I love, this one is quite small but its very well kept and educational. Good for families to spend an hour or two.

We have been to the evening reinactment as well as the escape room. This is an amazing place. I wish I had visited sooner.

This Fort was fantastic, there were so many people who had such knowledge of the day to day experiences of those that lived there in the past

This was an amazing experience. Kids lived it. Makes you feel like you went back in time.

A wonderful experience for our family. Very well maintained historical site with fabulous well stocked displays. The period actors really made our day there. They were all so pleasant to talk with.Darryl gave us some great historical information about the site and the involvement of the Hudsons Bay Company here which was fasinating to us Canadians. Dave was great too for extra local information showing us what Cypress wood smells like.Madison was the one that really made the visit fun for our kids introducing them to period appropriate games that were really, really fun! We even bought one of the games to bring home in the gift shop.She was a delightful young lady!Very reasonably priced and a wonderful place to bring your family.

Great living museum. The staff were funny, informative and went out of their way to make this an enjoyable experience. Two of the buildings are originals and the rest look just as authentic. Dog friendly (just carry your pooch or tie up outside the two original buildings - dogs welcome in all other buildings). Parking is a little tricky even though we visited in winter.

This was a very nice step back into history. Not a theme park or ride, just a nice way to spend the afternoon and not a lot of money. Not only that there were planned activities scheduled for up coming days and evenings. I learned things I didnt know and bought some inexpensive gifts. Quaint but a nice addition to the fresh air and sunshine.

Love love love this museum. Alot of history and the historians there actually dress up like in that time.

All of Point Defiance Park is simply amazing. Fort Nisqually is iconic and has been here forever. They sadly took down Never Never Land, which was right next door to the fort. I drive 5 mile drive several times a year and think back in nostalgia about my childhood, family and friends. Amazing place, take your family, go have an awesome picnic.

The escape room challenge is really fun! Go with people you love, not people you want to love

Great staff and well conceived program.

Great place to wander, please talk with the staff! Friendly and love to share what they know!I enjoy seeing what they are working on next.

Great place for all ages to know how people lived and worked many years ago

Super awesome, lots of cool information. The best part is that its not crowded AT ALL. I was at the zoo on a sunny Sunday and there was an insane amount of people, literally no open parking spots, and the same day, after I was done at the zoo, I walked here and there was almost nobody. Its crazy fun and underappreciated.

Went for burkes birthday! Loved it stayed for 4 hours

Great docents, nice place to while away a rainy afternoon.

Very impressive! And its maintained with love.

The best part of my vacation

Nice weekend event fo kids

Did the candlelight tour with my soon to be husband. We both love history.. It was honestly a wonderful date.. Got to hold hands.. Have little discussion about things we saw and heard... It was cold so we bundled up and expected the rain cause its Washington. Altogether i would like to do it again...

Definitely worth a visit. Little boys will love the forts watchtower and theres a costume dress up area for girls and boys. Do it!

Go here The park department knows what they are doing. Learn, take a lot of pictures. History at its very best.

There are more events at Fort Nisqually than ever before. The staff and volunteers really bring history to life in a fun and approachable way. Not just for kids, this is a great experience for grown-ups, too. We enjoy Friday at the Fort concerts. Great food trucks and fun music.

Amazing. It would have been better if kids didnt have flashing shoes on.

Did the candlelight tour and it was fantastic especially if you like history!

Awesome experience for the entire family. Great volunteers and tons of stuff to do.

I loved this place since i was a child. It was a joy to bring not only my children for the first time, but my girlfriend who; despite being a lifelong Tacoma resident, had never been before.

Making Bacon class was very interesting and the rewards of my labor tasted great 10 days later! Ill be making my own bacon from now on!

Totally awesome, a very realistic representative of life back then. A great place to bring kids, lots of fun. Good for summer or spring weekends, you can spend all day or just a little while. Tons of fun to go and play, a great way to learn more about life back then and also have fun at the same time. You can go there and do what people did back then, you can even dress up like the way they did back then. You can also buy trinkets from the gift shop, and see what things might have been in a shop back then.

Really cool place, really feels like youve morphed back in time... Lots of cool stuff to see

Nice place. Would have been nice to see the location on a map that was there.

The staff are so friendly and approachable and love what they do and love to answer your questions

This place is a lot of fun, especially for kids and history buffs. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Informational and fun! Super fun look into history!! Went with my daughter for a field trip. Kind instructors

Was a nice way to spend the afternoon. The employees were very very knowledgeable and accommodating. We felt very welcome.

Its a fun and excellent learning experience. The volunteers are enthusiastic about the fort and theres quite a few activities.

Great place to re-live a forgotten era!

The best museum of its kind in the area! Come experience life as it was in Washington 160 years ago. For an even better experience, check out their calendar and go during an event weekend.

Cool little place along 5 mile drive. There weren t a lot of actors dressed in period clothing and all that, which is what we kind of expected (we visited on a Friday too). But maybe thats the norm. Either way, my children and I enjoyed visiting. Its worth the stop if youre in the area already.

Went there with my son and sister and her son and our mom Grandma our mom had dementia the Museum historic stuff she loved it especially the toys and I bonding time with my nephew and son and our mom and sister and everybody that work there were was very nice.

My friends and I did the Escape Room and it was so much fun!

It was interesting. You dont have anything to do in Tacoma. This is the right place for you:)

Great place to see. The employees are in clothing appropriate for the time period. Has buildings with furnishings. Blacksmith makes items that are purchasable in the gift shop. The general store has an extremely knowledgeable person inside.

Small but located in a beautiful park by the ocean. Adults admission was $8.50. And star staff are lovers of history. Recommend visiting!

Awesome fort, shows pretty cool history. Plus some bonus trails around for a good walk.

This is a lovely little place to stop and get information about the past of the fort little memorabilia can be bought here some for just pennies on the dollar.

Did the candlelight tour for the 1st time with a group of 7. 5 of them being children. This was a very organized event from parking, to check in and the big bus that shuttles you to the museum. Only thing that made it a little less enjoyable was the group size. It made it difficult at times to see what was going on in certain buildings/scenes. I would recommend doing this at least once, especially if you have children.

It was a lot of fun watching the youth get hands on training and education at the camp.

The fall Candlelight Tour was a very cool experience. My 2nd grader really enjoyed this trip back in time. It is like being a ghost from the future watching the past. Scenes from a specific date in history are set up around the fort from the cold and muddy campers exposed to the elements to the rich military elite in their cozy home. A shuttle bus takes you from the zoo parking lot to the fort and an usher then leads you around the fort. You have a few minutes to look in on each scene. Just be warned that the candlelight tour is very authentic -- there are no modern paths and there really is only candlelight (and a small flashlight with your usher) to see by so may not be great for folks who dont see well in the dark and arent sure-footed. Also, there is quite a bit of campfire smoke. We enjoyed it so much, we would have liked to have a little more time to watch each scene playing out.

Very fun. Great learning experience for everyone.

Loved the buildings and the history of the place. Very friendly and helpful staff

Its great. I will change this to 5 stars if there was more activities and we can take stuff home.

Neat place to visit with my Daughter. Very nice little gift shop and friendly lady behind the counter.