The Long Road to Cityhood
It took more than one try to turn a suburb into a great city!
One day in 1996, Pierce County awoke to find itself with a brand-new second-largest city (sorry, Puyallup!)
The change may have happened overnight, but the process leading to it took considerably longer. More than twenty years (and three elections), in fact, elapsed between cityhood boosters' first attempt at persuading their fellow suburbanites to incorporate Lakewood and the final successful push in 1995. And by nearly all accounts, it's paid off in a big way.
It's only fitting, therefore, that the Lakewood History Museum's latest exhibit, which opened Saturday, Feb. 27 (one day before the city's official 20th birthday), pays tribute to those who worked hardest to realize the dream—while also taking an up-close and objective look at all sides of the issue as it was presented at the time.
Turn-out was excellent for the ribbon cutting and included a number of current dignitaries, as well as veterans of the cityhood fight, among them a former mayor and the current city manager. Free refreshments, including a beautiful cake made specially for the occasion, topped off an afternoon that was both fun and enlightening.
If you missed the party, don't worry—the exhibit will be available for viewing for months to come during the Museum's regular hours: noon to 4 pm, Weds thru Sat., at 6211 Mt. Tacoma Dr. SW in Lakewood Colonial Center.
