Attractions in DuPont WA

While the big cities like Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia may get most of the tourist attention in the Puget Sound, it is a mistake to overlook the smaller town of DuPont where it all started.

Much of our area's charm lies in true outdoor activities and adventures found in the many small towns lining roadways throughout the state. You won't find what we have to offer in other places in the Puget Sound like DuPont without having to drive hundreds of miles out into the backcountry--DuPont is located right off of Interstate 5 at Exit 118 and 119, between Tacoma and Olympia.

To see all of DuPont WA historical sites map, click here.

Open Sunday's 1pm - 4pm or by appointment

DuPont Historical Museum
207 Barksdale Ave.
DuPont, Wa. 98327
253.964.2399
info@dupontmuseum.com
http://www.dupontmuseum.com/

The DuPont Historical Museum was opened in 1977 and organized as a non-profit corporation in 1982 in recognition of the unique role the City of DuPont and its environs have played in the historical development and industrial legacy of the Puget Sound region.

New displays at the Museum covering Hudson Bay era, DuPont Village and DuPont Explosive Company. Come in and see artifacts dating back thousands of years plus some present day treasures including Chief Seattle's fishing pole! Hey, this is the Pacific Northwest and we do like to fish! The museum is housed in what was once our town's City Hall and before that it was the town Butcher Shop!

The Home Course (Golf Course)
2300 Hoffman Hill Blvd.
DuPont, WA 98327
866.964.0520
253.964-0520
www.thehomecourse.com

The Home Course's 18 holes have five sets of tees ranging from the forward tees at 5,506 yards, to middle tees at 6,139 yards, and back tees of 7,437 yards. The golf course is very walkable and was constructed by Weyerhaeuser with state-of-the-art-drainage technology to be playable year round.

Panoramic views of Puget Sound, the Olympics and Mount Rainier are present throughout the golf course. It will be a home for junior golf programs, environmental stewardship and turfgrass research. Each year, The Home Course will also serve as the venue for some WSGA and PNGA championships and United States Golf Association (USGA) national championship sectional qualifiers.

The course was designed by golf course architect Mike Asmundson of Scottsdale, Arizona. Asmundson, a graduate of the University of Washington, has constructed numerous courses in the desert southwest and in South America.

1833 Site - Fort Nisqually
(At The Home Course Golf Course)
2300 Hoffman Hill Blvd.
DuPont, WA 98327

The original (1833) and second (1843) Fort Nisqually sites are found with in the City of DuPont. These "forts" had no military character, but were commercial outposts of the Hudson's Bay Company. Orchards planted by their early occupants bear fruit to this day.

You can see this site located behind a fenceline just to the left of Hole #1 at The Home Course. Visit the DuPont Museum first to learn the history of this site and the 1843 site before venturing out to explore them.

In 1943, the buildings of Fort Nisqually were moved to their present location almost 30 miles away at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, WA.

1843 Site - Fort Nisqually
Between Palisade and Edmonds Village along Center Drive, before reaching Intel.

Ten years after the original site was placed, the residents of the fort realized that they should move a little more inland for a better environment and closer to the water source of the creek.

You can walk right through this area as a number of trails will guide you through the area, including some interpretive maps of where the buildings used to stand before being moved in 1943.

The location in shown in the lower right corner of this picture. It's a great place to hike or bike out to for a picnic.

Wilkes Observatory
Located in the most Northwest corner of DuPont WA!

In 1841, the bluff overlooking Puget Sound and the mouth of Sequalitchew Creek served as an observatory for a major U.S. scientific expedition. At what is now Northwest Landing, members of the expedition under Captain Charles Wilkes set up an observatory (Wilkes Observatory), charted lower Puget Sound and designated landmark names still in use today.

To actually reach this area, you need to go to the end of McNeil Street in Hoffman Hill, the head down the trail by the Parkview condos to find the side trail that will lead you out to the site. It is about a 30 min walk, 15 min by bike. Be careful of the steep, rocky hill at the beginning of the trail! On your way out to the site, you will see the glorious views of Puget Sound and look down upon the Nisqually Valley, the former docks used by the DuPont Company and if low tides you will even see a large boat that was submerged there many years ago.

Parks and Trails galore!
DuPont is highly known for its miles and miles of dirt, gravel and paved trails! Plus many outdoors playparks with swings, slides and other climbing equipment for kids.

This is the essence of Pacific Northwest adventure as DuPont has many trails throughout town all accessible and linked to major areas, including dozens of outdoor play parks

Click here to access the trail map!

Barksdale Station
A main shopping/professional district in DuPont WA just off I-5 at Exit 118.

There are professional offices, cafes and other businesses located here. The site is also growing to include more businesses including a new hotel.

DuPont Station
The central shopping district in DuPont WA just off I-5 at Exit 119.

Here you will find many restaruants, our town library, shopping and other lifestyle choices for your enjoyment. All of these ammedities are close by our local hotels too.

McNeil Station
Another shopping area in DuPont WA just off I-5 at Exit 119.

More ammedities await you in McNeil Station located right across the street from DuPont Station.