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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Historic smokestack demolished

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

TACOMA – A piece of Northwest history crumbled Sunday morning when demolition crews toppled a 500-foot smokestack at Blair Waterway.

The smokestack was part of the former Kaiser Aluminum smelter plant that operated for roughly 58 years. Sunday’s demolition will make way for new development the Port of Tacoma plans at the 96-acre industrial site.

The original smelter plant was built in 1942 and operated by the Olin Company.

The concrete and steel smokestack was built in 1968 during plant expansion. Kaiser bought the plant after World War II and curtailed production in 2000. The Port of Tacoma bought the site in December 2002.