North End in Tacoma in Pierce County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

People of the Water

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2023

1. People of the Water Marker

Inscription. Coast Salish peoples such as the Puyallup Tribe have long relied on these waterways for transportation, trade, and food. Their villages once lined the shores of Puget Sound along today's Ruston Way.

Fishing and canoe culture remain vital parts of tribal life. Today thousands of people from different tribes participate in the annual Canoe Journey, paddling to various locations around the Salish Sea to celebrate their ancient traditions.

Early Tacomans relied on waterways for survival. The lumber and shipping industries brought prosperity to the region, and many immigrants who settled here found work at the sawmills along the shoreline of Commencement Bay.

The sounds of mill machinery and steam whistles made up the soundtrack of life for generations of mill workers.

"We had a lot of happy years, and we had some hard times, too."
Ralph Dickman II

Erected by MetroParks Tacoma.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 47° 16.661′ N, 122° 28.226′ W. Marker is in Tacoma, Washington, in Pierce County. It is in North End. It is on Ruston Way. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2423 Ruston Way, Tacoma WA 98402, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cutting Edge Technology (a few steps from this marker); Restoring the Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Dickman Mill Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Top of the Ocean (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ester Allstrum (approx. ¼ mile away); First House in Tacoma (approx. ¼ mile away); Job Carr Cabin Museum (approx. ¼ mile away); Tacoma City (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tacoma.

Other markers no longer nearby. Community Life in Old Tacoma (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Our First Settlers (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Dickman Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2023

2. Dickman Mill

The remnants of Dickman Mill are found in the eponymous park in Commencement Bay near this marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 7, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.