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

George Francis Train

Photographed by Loren Skaggs, June 16, 2021

1. In Commemoration of George Francis Train's Record Around the World Trip

Inscription. In Commemoration of
George Francis Train's
Record Around the World Trip
Point of Departure and Return
March 19, 1890 - May 24, 1890
Time 67 Days 13 Hours

Erected by Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1890.

Location. 47° 15.26′ N, 122° 26.425′ W. Marker is in Tacoma, Washington, in Pierce County. It is in New Tacoma. It is on Broadway south of South 9th Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is set into the sidewalk, in front of the Pythian Temple. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 926 Broadway, 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. At

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least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Murray Morgan Bridge Rehabilitation (approx. ¼ mile away); Welcome Figure (approx. half a mile away); Commemorating Nihongo Gakko 日本語学校 (approx. half a mile away); The Shul: Talmud Torah - Sinai Temple (approx. 0.6 miles away); Dedicated to You, a Free Citizen in a Free Land (approx. 0.6 miles away); Then and Now: South End of the Thea Foss Waterway (approx. 0.6 miles away); Birthplace of Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tacoma.

Another marker is no longer nearby. In Honor of Rossell G. O’Brien (was about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed).

Regarding George Francis Train. George Francis Train (1829-1904) was an American entrepreneur, writer, and world traveler. Among his other accomplishments, he may have been the inspiration for the character of Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in Eighty Days." He made the original 80-day journey in 1870. In

Location of George Francis Train marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Loren Skaggs, June 16, 2021

2. Location of George Francis Train marker

Marker is set in the sidewalk in front of the Pythian Temple

1890, he sought to set the new record for around-the-world travel, starting and finishing from Tacoma. His goal was to promote Tacoma as a hub for global commerce -- and to win a wager with the local newspaper editor. He completed his journey in a record-shattering 67 days, 12 hours, and 1 minute.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2021, by Loren Skaggs of Tacoma, Washington. This page has been viewed 692 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on May 7, 2025, by Loren Skaggs of Tacoma, Washington. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 17, 2021, by Loren Skaggs of Tacoma, Washington. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.