The House That Is History: 502 N E Street and the Legacy of Tacoma’s Historic Seminary District In 1889, Washington was granted statehood, the Northern Pacific Railroad solidified Tacoma as the "City of Destiny," and a boomtown of timber barons, shipping magnates, and ambitious visionaries exploded along the bluffs of Commencement Bay. Standing prominently at the corner of North E Street and 6th Avenue, 502 N E Street isn't just a home that sits in historic Tacoma—this 1889 Q