What happened to ‘TACOMA’ sign at Titlow Beach? Don’t worry, it’s coming back
Eagle-eyed beachgoers frequenting Tacoma’s popular Titlow Beach might have noticed that the pilings with letters that normally spell out “TACOMA” have been missing for a while.
Don’t worry, they’ll be back this weekend.
Titlow Beach-based electrician and guerrilla artist John James Nelson, who is behind the “TACOMA” sign, told The News Tribune on Thursday that after 289 days the phrase might return to the waterfront as early as Saturday, “between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. at high tide.” Nelson said it will return no later than noon Monday.
“Just wanted to let ya know,” he texted The News Tribune.
Nelson removed the letters on July 29, 2025. Over the years, letters have fallen off and floated away or been targeted by rock-throwers on the beach. He’s tried to illuminate the letters with LED lights and glow-in-the-dark paint. He also displayed a lighted 253 heart there, before it was stolen and then returned in 2020.
Pending good weather, Nelson plans to return “TACOMA” to its home on the pilings via his kayak this weekend. To make it more secure he’s going to install PVC plastic mounts on the posts that don’t rust away. The letters will be thinner and coated with extra glow-in-the-dark paint that will show up better than in the past, he said. There will be metal spikes on the top to deter birds, because when they poop, Nelson has to clean up the sign so it continues to shine bright. Nelson plans to connect the letters with a bracket so if they do fall down, they won’t float away anymore.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to commemorate Tacoma, Nelson said Thursday.
“There’s not many places like this in this world,” said Nelson, who lives by Titlow Beach. “I just got this thrill of being able to express myself and make some kind of name for me doing something good in the community and helping my artistic side get out there. It was kind of dormant for a bit.”
Over the years Nelson has seen people take their graduation photos next to the sign. A couple years ago “The Bachelorette” reached out about including the “TACOMA” sign while filming Season 21 when lead Jenn Tran went on a hometown date with Tacoma native Marcus Shoerg, Nelson said.
“Really, it just comes down to the joy and the positive feedback makes me feel good,” he said.
