• The Forum - Visitors commence their journey inside the historic Olympus Hotel building, home to The Forum, located in the heart of Tacoma’s original Whiskey Row. Here, the guide introduces the frontier tale of Tacoma’s founding, when railroad workers, sailors, and lumbermen frequented the saloons of this thriving port town. Surrounded by the ambiance of one of Tacoma’s most storied buildings, guests enjoy a classic “beer and a buddy”—a Rainier tall boy paired with a shot of whiskey—reflecting the working-class drinking culture of the time. As the experience begins, the guide brings history to life with dramatic recitations and performances of Robert Service poetry, setting the stage for an evening of history, storytelling, and Tacoma’s rugged beginnings.
• McMenamins Pub at Elks Temple - The tour concludes inside the historic Elks Temple, a magnificent 1916 building that now houses multiple bars and hidden spaces. At this final stop, guests visit one of the building’s unique bars while the guide delves into Tacoma’s experience during Prohibition—when saloons were forced underground, bootlegging flourished, and the city’s “open” character was challenged but never fully vanished. Guests will hear stories of speakeasies, enforcement efforts, and how Tacoma’s drinking culture adapted during the era. Guests enjoy a final drink while reflecting on how Prohibition reshaped, but never erased, the social life of Whiskey Row.
• Odd Otter Brewing Company - Guests visit a local craft brewery in the heart of downtown Tacoma to explore the city’s rich brewing history. Here, the guide traces Tacoma’s beer culture from early frontier saloons and working-class taverns through Prohibition and into today’s craft revival. Guests will learn how brewing was intertwined with the daily lives of lumbermen, sailors, and railroad workers who helped shape the city. Guests enjoy an included pint of locally brewed beer while hearing how Tacoma’s brewing traditions have evolved yet still reflect the independent spirit of its past.

• Historical Narration and Storytelling
• Alcoholic beverages

• Tips and Gratuities for Guide

This is not your average bar or brewery tour—it’s a storytelling adventure set in Tacoma’s historic Whiskey Row. Through engaging live narration and the poetry of Robert Service, participants will delve into the lives of the railroad workers, lumbermen, and sailors who helped build this frontier town. With drinks provided throughout, the experience combines history, ambiance, and performance to create something immersive, memorable, and distinctly Tacoma.

The evening kicks off inside the historic Olympus Hotel building, where guests can enjoy a cocktail, beer, or wine at the Forum while discovering how Tacoma evolved from a rugged railroad outpost into the “City of Destiny.” From there, the tour explores Whiskey Row, revealing tales of saloons, vice districts, and the personalities who shaped early Tacoma.

The journey also includes a visit to the unique interior of the remarkable McMenamins Elks Temple before concluding at Odd Otter, Tacoma’s most whimsical brewery, where an exciting game wraps up a truly unforgettable evening.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.