First Church of Christ Scientist, Tacoma

First Church of Christ, Scientist is a historic Christian Science church building dating from the early 20th century. The congregation was established in the 1890s and first worshipped in a smaller wooden church on the same site. The current building was constructed between 1908 and 1911 at a reported cost of about $45,000. Its first service was held on December 31, 1911, but formal dedication waited until 1921, when the building was fully debt-free.

Designed by Frederick Heath, the church reflects the Classical Revival style, with a balanced façade, temple-like form, and restrained sense of order. Heath also designed major regional landmarks such as Stadium High School, Stadium Bowl, Paradise Inn, and the National Realty Building. Here, one of his most notable features is the large stained-glass dome, later highlighted in a 2023 restoration presentation.

The building also has a place in local engineering history. It is noted as the city’s first house of worship built with hollow tile walls, an innovative but now seismically vulnerable construction method. For visitors, the church reflects early-1900s religious architecture, experimental building techniques, and the confidence of a growing city.