The Stadium District is Tacoma's oldest residential neighbourhood, perched on the bluff above downtown with views over Commencement Bay and the Cascades. It takes its name from Stadium High School, a French chateau-style building that was originally built as a luxury hotel for the Northern Pacific Railroad but converted to a school after the railroad's finances collapsed. The school became famous as the filming location for the underwater pool scenes in the movie "10 Things I Hate About You."
The neighbourhood's late-Victorian and Craftsman houses have been well-maintained, making Stadium District one of the better preserved historic residential areas in the Northwest. The streets along the bluff offer some of the best views in Tacoma. A cluster of restaurants and bars along Broadway at the northern edge makes this a good evening destination.