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33-496: Point Defiance Park offers something for all its visitors, both wildlife and people. Not all the wild animals are confined inside Zoo & Aquarium. From high bluffs overlooking the Tacoma Narrows people can watch bald eagles feed on salmon runs passing through on the strong tidal currents. Their calls can be heard from their nests in the old growth forest that is preserved and make up the northern 400 acres (1.6 km) of

66-492: A 2011 Great American Place. In 1964, Point Defiance Park was home to the fairytale and nursery rhyme based attraction known as Never Never Land. Created by Alfred Petterson, the park featured various figurine characters from fables such as Humpty Dumpty , Jack and Jill , and the Little Red Riding Hood . The park brought in visitors until 2001 when Metro Parks shut down operations. In September 2021, nearly

99-486: A decade after several figurines were destroyed in an arson fire, they were put up for auction. The money that was raised was used to support Metro Parks's historical assets and public art. The gardens remain today. Visitors find a Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, and Dahlia gardens surrounding the former superintendent's home. The home was built in 1898 in the year of the Yukon Gold Rush . The gardens are located near

132-693: A demolition and site cleanup plan to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality for their impact on the local residential area. Fined $ 3.6 million in 1996 for discharging lead and other pollutants into the Missouri River , ASARCO closed its Omaha plant in July 1997. After extensive site cleanup, the land was turned over to the City of Omaha as a 23-acre (93,000 m ) park. All of East Omaha , comprising more than 8,000 acres (32 km ),

165-553: A good place to spot the occasional humpback whale or orca. Point Defiance Park began as a military reservation after the Wilkes Expedition visited Puget Sound in the 1840s to map the bays and estuaries. Wilkes is thought to have said that with a fort positioned at the point, and at Gig Harbor across the narrows, one could "defy" the world. The high cliffs and prominent location were never used for military operations. In 1888, President Grover Cleveland authorized its use as

198-466: A public park. By 1890, streetcars brought visitors to wander among the gardens. In 1903, a waterfront pavilion was completed. By 1907 a seaside resort designed by Frederick Heath offered heated saltwater bathing in a pavilion called the Nereides Baths located on a bluff above the boathouse. Fort Nisqually is a replica of Hudson's Bay Company's presence in the region in the 19th century when

231-453: A rose garden; today gardens have expanded to include native plants, herbs, iris, dahlia, and fuchsia; volunteers contribute time and plants. Citywide 2005 Park Bond Program provides $ 5.5 million to improve Point Defiance Park; projects include restoration of the Pagoda, trail maintenance, soil decontamination and converting mowed turf to habitat plantings. More than 1,500 citizens have engaged in

264-486: A streetcar station. When buses replaced street cars throughout the West, the Pagoda became a waiting area for buses in 1938. In 1963 it was transformed into a center for flower shows and social gatherings. The Pagoda and Lodge were refurbished in 1988. The Pagoda and Lodge are rented throughout the year for weddings and receptions. In 2011 the Pagoda was heavily damaged in an arson fire but beautifully restored. The Pagoda in 2001

297-531: A weekend of re-enacting — in period dress — this early period of trade and travel through the region by dugout cedar canoe. In 2019, the city's second-division soccer team renamed itself to Tacoma Defiance in reference to the park. The park opened Frank Herbert Trail and Dune Peninsula in July 2019 to honor science fiction writer Frank Herbert , known for his Dune novels, who was born in Tacoma. The American Planning Association designated Point Defiance Park as

330-692: A year. ASARCO conducts solvent extraction and electrowinning at the Ray and Silver Bell mines in Pima County, Arizona , and Pinal County, Arizona , and operates a smelter in Hayden, Arizona . It also had a smelting plant in El Paso, Texas , operations of which were suspended. In 1975 it officially changed its name to ASARCO Incorporated. In 1999 it was acquired by Grupo México, which had begun as ASARCO's 49%-owned Mexican subsidiary in 1965. On August 9, 2005,

363-609: Is a mining , smelting , and refining company based in Tucson, Arizona , which mines and processes primarily copper . The company has been a subsidiary of Grupo México since 1999. Its three largest open-pit mines are the Mission, Silver Bell and Ray mines in Arizona. Its mines produce 350,000,000 to 400,000,000 pounds (160,000,000 to 180,000,000 kg) of copper a year. ASARCO conducts solvent extraction and electrowinning at

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396-629: Is a common place for fishing year round. Chinook salmon and squid are two of the most popular catches during the fall. The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is open year round. From 1964 to 2010, the Camp 6 Logging Museum operated in the park. Tacomans appealed to President Grover Cleveland in 1888 to repurpose Point Defiance from a military reserve to a park; in 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation giving city full title to park. The park's first superintendent, Ebenezer Roberts, asked schoolchildren in 1895 to donate rose clippings to start

429-625: Is part of the park's recreational facilities. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is a 1.1 mile 4 minute drive from the Pearl Street entrance to Point Defiance Park. Roughly 15 minutes walking. In the fall of 2009, Tacoma Public Schools opened the Science and Math Institute (SAMI) , a science- and math-centered magnet high school within Point Defiance Park. SAMI features classes on the beach, pagoda, forests, and Zoo. Metro Parks

462-579: The Bunker Hill Mining Company . ASARCO eventually controlled 90% of the U.S. lead production, essentially becoming a smelter trust . On January 11, 1916, sixteen ASARCO employees were killed and mutilated by Pancho Villa 's men near the town of Santa Isabel, Chihuahua . It was one of the incidents that sparked the Mexican Expedition , a United States Army attempt to capture or kill Villa. Based in Tucson, Arizona ,

495-643: The United States Exploring Expedition , named the strait simply Narrows . Its name was formally set as The Narrows by Henry Kellett during the British Admiralty chart reorganization of 1847. 47°17′N 122°32′W  /  47.28°N 122.54°W  / 47.28; -122.54 This Pierce County, Washington state location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . ASARCO ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company)

528-627: The United Steelworkers . ASARCO has 20 superfund sites across the United States, and it is subject to considerable litigation over pollution . After emerging from bankruptcy in 2008, it made a settlement with the government of $ 1.79 billion for contamination at various sites; the funds were allotted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for cleanup at 26 sites around the country. ASARCO

561-661: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment sued ASARCO for damages to natural resources in 1983, the EPA placed the ASARCO Globe Plant on its National Priorities List of Superfund sites, with ASARCO to pay for the site's cleanup. In 1972 ASARCO's downtown Omaha plant in Nebraska was found to be releasing high amounts of lead into the air and ground surrounding the plant. In 1995 ASARCO submitted

594-459: The EPA, in close coordination with ADEQ, to enter an agreement with ASARCO to conduct remedial actions..." After emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008, ASARCO made a settlement with the government of $ 1.79 billion for contamination at various sites; the funds were allotted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for cleanup at 26 sites around the country. A final settlement for $ 1.79 billion

627-759: The English trading company had trading forts stretching from Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River , Fort Nisqually on south Puget Sound near the Nisqually River and continuing to the Far North to Fort Yukon on the Yukon River in Canadian territory which later became the state of Alaska . In recent years, Fort Nisqually programs invite community members, including local tribal members, to

660-601: The Ray and Silver Bell mines in Pima County, Arizona , and Pinal County, Arizona , and operates a smelter in Hayden, Arizona . ASARCO's smelting plant in El Paso, Texas , was suspended in 1999 and then demolished on April 13, 2013. Before closing, the plant produced 1,000,000,000 pounds (450,000,000 kg) of anodes each year. Refining at the mines as well as at a copper refinery in Amarillo, Texas , produce 375,000,000 pounds (170,000,000 kg) of refined copper each year. ASARCO's hourly workers are primarily represented by

693-513: The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Corpus Christi , Texas under then-president Daniel Tellechea. As of 2019, ASARCO operates two primary locations in the United States, a mining and smelting complex in Arizona and a copper refinery in Amarillo, Texas . ASARCO has been found responsible for environmental pollution at 20 Superfund sites across the U.S. by the Environmental Protection Agency . Among those sites are: After

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726-543: The company grew to conduct mining , smelting , and refining of primarily copper. Open-pit mining is primarily utilized as the most efficient method of recovering this metal; the company's three largest such works are the Mission, Silver Bell, and the Ray mines in Arizona. The company had also operated in silver mining in Idaho. Its mines produce 350,000,000 to 400,000,000 pounds (160,000,000 to 180,000,000 kg) of copper

759-767: The early 1980s. In 1996 the United States joined the suit. In 2008 after emerging from bankruptcy, ASARCO LLC settled for $ 452 million for contributions to this site. This was part of a nearly $ 2 billion settlement (see below) with the US for a total of 26 sites. In 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency released the results of soil and air tests in Hayden, Arizona , taken adjacent to the ASARCO Hayden Smelter. The results showed abnormally high amounts of pollutants that violate prescribed health standards. Arsenic, lead and copper were among

792-483: The most egregious pollutants found in Hayden. As a consequence of the contamination, the EPA proposed to add Hayden, Arizona, to the list of Federal Superfund sites. This action would provide funding to clean up the contamination. ASARCO fought the action, supported by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano , who said: "I am asking that the EPA delay final decision on listing until March 31, 2008. This would provide ample time for

825-570: The park for picnics, weddings, organized runs, and other special events. In 2022 Five Mile Drive’s outer loop became pedestrian and bicycle only. The park has an off-leash dog park; fee-based attractions include Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Fort Nisqually. As the largest urban park in Pierce County , the network of roads and trails weaving through the forest preserve provides a quiet retreat for joggers, cyclists, and hikers. Trails are marked with symbols. The outer loop of Five Mile Drive

858-719: The park's 2005 Park Improvement Bond planning since the process began in 2008. Tacoma Narrows The Tacoma Narrows (or the Narrows ), a strait , is part of Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington . A navigable maritime waterway between glacial landforms , the Narrows separates the Kitsap Peninsula from the city of Tacoma . The Narrows is spanned by the twin Tacoma Narrows Bridges ( State Route 16 ). An earlier bridge collapsed shortly after it opened. In 1841 Charles Wilkes , during

891-636: The park's main entrance on the approach to the Zoo & Aquarium. It is sited on a bluff looking down on a waterfront containing the boathouse, Anthony's Restaurant and Washington State Ferry landing providing access to Vashon Island . Other public gardens on site include the Native Plant, Herb, Fuchsia, and Iris gardens. The prominent feature of the Japanese Garden is the Pagoda , built in 1914 as

924-629: The park. In winter, sea lions migrating from California feed in the swirling tides beneath the Gig Harbor overlook on the northernmost point of the peninsula. Harbor seals are abundant near on the east facing beach approaching the point. Seal pups are frequently observed north of Owen Beach in late summer and early fall (humans and their dogs should keep their distance to avoid spooking the pups). The park also provides habitat for mule deer, red foxes, coyotes, pileated woodpeckers, Douglas squirrels, and raccoons. Point Defiance’s beaches and bluffs are also

957-400: Was also the prior home of the figurines from Never Never Land before the arson fire. After a century of depositing slag into the waters of Puget Sound, Asarco's Tacoma Smelter created a peninsula to form the park's protected harbor. The Tacoma Yacht Club and Dune Peninsula Park sit on the peninsula's promontory as a guardian of snug harbor. A public boat launch at the entrance of the harbor

990-717: Was approached by the school district and gave them space for portable classrooms on the site of the recently evicted Camp 6 Logging Museum. The school has a concept and schedule similar to the district's other Magnet high school , Tacoma School of the Arts (TSOTA). The SAMI institute features classes on natural sciences and mathematics. SAMI is an early introductory to the STEM classes and possible school routes and lifestyles. In addition to old-growth forest with 450-year-old Douglas fir (Mountaineer Tree) are 250-foot vertical bluffs exposing rich geology. Groups and individuals regularly gather at

1023-665: Was declared a Superfund site. As of 2003, 290 acres (1.2 km ) had been cleaned. In 1991 the Coeur d'Alene Tribe filed suit under CERCLA against Hecla Mining Company, ASARCO and other defendants for damages and cleanup costs downstream of what has been designated as the Bunker Hill Mine and Smelting Complex Superfund site. Contamination had affected Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Saint Joe River, as well as related waters and lands, and cleanup had been under way since

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1056-612: Was founded in 1888 as the American Smelting and Refining Company by Henry H. Rogers , William Rockefeller , Adolph Lewisohn , Robert S. Towne, Anton Eilers , and Leonard Lewisohn . From 1901 to 1959, American Smelting and Refining was included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average . In April 1901, the Guggenheim family gained control of the company, and in 1905, bought the Tacoma smelter from

1089-574: Was permanently closed to cars in 2022, creating a quieter experience on pedestrian forest trails and a more carefree path for bikes and pedestrians on the paved road. There are many hiking trails along Pt. Defiance's bluffs and through its forest, including trails with sweeping views of Vashon Island , Dalco Passage , Gig Harbor , and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge . The road network also passes by Fort Nisqually . On Owen Beach you can find kayakers, people fishing, and beach goers. The Marina

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