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    Job Carr Cabin Museum

    Our Mission

    Through diverse perspectives and interactive experiences, the Museum uses Job Carr’s story to open the door to Tacoma’s history for students and our community.

     

    Job Carr Cabin Museum is housed in a replica of Tacoma's first permanent non-Native residence, on land that traditionally belonged to the Puyallup people. It was built in 2000, near the original site of Carr’s frontier home.

    With our interactive living history museum and programming, we educate students and visitors about the people, industries, and events that shaped our neighborhood – and Tacoma as a whole. We aim to portray an accurate account of Tacoma’s non-Native settlement's history and its effects.

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    Who was Job Carr?

    Job Carr, the first non-native permanent settler of Tacoma, was born in Gloucester County, New Jersey, on July 2, 1813. As a young man, he moved to Indiana, where he met and married Rebecca Pitman. They had four children: Anthony, Howard, Maggie, and Marietta.

     

    When the Civil War began, Carr’s strongly- held abolitionist sentiments triumphed over both his pacifist Quaker religion and his forty-seven years, and he joined the Union Army, along with both his sons. He was wounded twice, the second time seriously, and his wife brought him home to Indiana to recover. He had served almost three years.

     

    After his recovery he moved to Iowa, where he bought a fruit tree nursery, but his wife refused to come with him. They later divorced.

     

    When Job heard that the government had authorized construction of a railroad to the Pacific Northwest, he decided to seek his fortune on the shores of Puget Sound. He sold his nursery, bought a team of oxen, and aimed his wagon west. He arrived in Olympia, Washington, in late 1864. He was fifty-one years old.

     

    One of Job’s favorite stories was about how he found the land he chose to claim on Christmas Day. He and several companions went fishing near Gig Harbor, paddling their canoe along the shoreline of Commencement Bay upon their return. Seeing a portion of land that was gently-sloped with low-bank waterfront access, Carr stood up in the canoe and shouted “Eureka! Eureka!” He knew he’d found his new home.

     

    Job claimed 168 acres on the gamble that the railroad would choose to locate its terminus there. He began construction of a log cabin, meanwhile living under a shelter of cedar bark with his yellow cat, Tom.

  • Museum Videos

    Step inside for a glimpse of Tacoma's past

    The museum welcomes visitors of all ages!

    Supporting Tacoma's communities since 2000.

    What is the state of the Cabin? Find out how we have been serving our community and Tacoma's elementary students.

    Find our more about Job Carr and the Museum in this

    profile video from KBTC Public Television.

  • Cabin Leaders

    We are led by a dedicated Board

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    Officers

    Dana Peregrine

    President

    Erin O'Donnell

    Secretary

    Dan Beasley

    Treasurer

     

     

    Directors

    Jason Allen

    Tyler Carr

    Andrea Welsh

    Rick Carr

    Honorary/Advisory Member

    Karen Poole

    Honorary Member

    Staff

    Christopher Uebelhor

    Executive Director

    Holly Stewart

    Program Manager

    Kristin Luippold

    Volunteer & Visitor Services Coordinator