Military History Audio Tour

Learn about the military history that shaped the Seattle region with this free audio tour.

You’ll visit the site of a fort established in the mid-19th century, pass utility boxes wrapped in original, military-themed artwork, and stop at a world-class museum featuring real, vintage military planes and exhibits that dive deep into the nation’s history.

As you make your way through Tukwila, SeaTac, Des Moines, and the surrounding area, you’ll discover a side of Seattle Southside that’s easy to miss from the road: a landscape shaped by service, strategy, movement, and memory.

Long before this region became known for its airport, waterfront, global dining, and easy access to the greater Pacific Northwest, it played a role in broader military and wartime stories. Some places you’ll visit are tied to defense and transportation. Others reveal the experiences of people who lived, worked, trained, traveled, or waited here during moments of national and global change.

This tour is designed as a journey through place-based history. You’ll hear stories connected to airfields, industry, neighborhoods, shorelines, memorials, and community landmarks — each one offering a glimpse into how military history is woven into everyday surroundings. Learn more about the Des Moines Memorial Drive, Military Road, The Museum of Flight, the Seike Japanese Garden, and other important locations in the Seattle area that had an impact on the growth of our country and the lives that were sacrificed.

Along the way, we invite you to look closely. Notice the roads, waterways, rail lines, hills, and open spaces. They are more than scenery. They are clues to why this area mattered, and why its stories are still worth telling.

So start your engine, settle in, and get ready to explore the military history of Seattle Southside — one stop at a time.

Get the Tour

You can access the free audio tour via this mobile-friendly link or by downloading the app.

App Store
Seike Japanese Garden at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden.

Thank You

We could not have built this tour without the support of the following people:

Barbara McMichael
Dan Wend
Chris Plyman
Rose Clark
Karen Meador
Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Association
Nancy McKay and the Highline Heritage Museum

POW/MIA Memorial Living Plaza at Washington Memorial Park Cemetery in SeaTac

Book a Hotel Room Near Your Favorite Sites

Find rates and rooms for your military history adventures in Seattle Southside.

You may also be interested in

App Store