Every destination has its postcard highlights—Tacoma has plenty—but understanding a place means going deeper than the skyline or the Instagram angle. This Is Native Land, a new permanent exhibition at the Washington State History Museum, makes the case that to really know Washington, you have to understand the land—and the sovereign Tribal nations whose stories are inseparable from it.
Opening Oct. 19, 2025, the exhibition was shaped by more than 100 Native contributors from over 60 Tribes. Guided by three teachings—We are of the land and waters. With knowledge comes responsibility. Sovereignty protects people, lands, and waters—it shares contemporary Tribal voices through multimedia, artwork, and interactive displays.
The message is clear: Native history is not a chapter already written. Sovereignty, culture, and community are alive and thriving today, expressed through everyday acts both big and small.
This Is Native Land redefines how audiences see Washington. A mountain is not just a backdrop, a shoreline not just a view—they are living homelands. Beginning a multi-day trip here, with this grounding perspective, sets the stage for the wonders that unfold across Pierce County and beyond.
