North End in Tacoma in Pierce County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Job Carr's Cabin
"Birthplace of Tacoma"
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 25, 2016
1. Job Carr's Cabin Marker
Job Carr, a recently discharged Union war veteran, came to Commencement Bay in 1864. In the winter of 1864-65 he began clearing land for a small log cabin near today's North 30th and McCarver in an area now called Old Town Tacoma. By 1869 Job Carr's preemption claim was platted as Tacoma City and had expanded to include a school, hotel, lumber mill and other businesses. During this period Job Carr's cabin served as the first Tacoma post office and polling place where he served as postmaster. In 1874 Carr became Tacoma's first Mayor.
This replica of Job Carr's log cabin is
an important memorial to the present-day
City of Tacoma. A small village grew
around the original cabin and gradually
developed into one of Puget Sound's
thriving ports. For many years, Carr's
cabin served as the community center
and sheltered many travelers and distinguished guests. Indeed Carr's cabin was
Tacoma during its earliest years.
Erected by Metro Parks Tacoma, City of Tacoma, Job Carr's Cabin in Old Tacoma Executive Council.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 47° 16.479′ N, 122° 28.097′ W. Marker is
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Puget Sound Region and in Greater Seattle. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Our First Settlers (here, next to this marker); Tacoma City (a few steps from this marker); Job Carr's Canoe (a few steps from this marker); Building the Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Ester Allstrum (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Job Carr Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Coming of the Railroad to Tacoma (within shouting distance of this marker); Job Carr Cabin Museum (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tacoma.
Other markers no longer nearby. Community Life in Old Tacoma (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Our First Settlers (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Job Carr Family (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. The marker is located in Old Town Park, a little to the east of the cabin (the Job Carr Cabin
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 25, 2016
2. Job Carr's Cabin Marker - wide view, with the Job Carr Cabin Museum in the background
Also see . . . Job Carr Cabin Museum: An Oral History (Job Carr Museum). (Submitted on October 9, 2020.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 25, 2016
3. Job Carr's Cabin Museum
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 25, 2016
4. Job Carr's Cabin Museum Dedication Plaque
Located out in front of the cabin.
Courtesy of the Job Carr Family Collection
5. Marker inset: Job Carr
Albert Henry Barnes (courtesy of the University of Washington), circa 1919
6. Job Carr cabin, Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, Washington, ca. 1919
"Built in 1865, it was disassembled and reconstructed in the park in 1918. On sleeve of negative: Oldest log cabin in NW at Pt. Defiance Park".
The cabin actually had two different locations in the park. Due to its poor condition, it was dissembled in 1988, and its constituent pieces were deemed unsuitable for constructing the replica cabin that is now the Job Carr Cabin Museum.
The cabin actually had two different locations in the park. Due to its poor condition, it was dissembled in 1988, and its constituent pieces were deemed unsuitable for constructing the replica cabin that is now the Job Carr Cabin Museum.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 628 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
