Tacoma, Washington: Please Stand for our National Anthem
A plaque marks the spot where, on Oct. 18, 1893, Gen. Rossell O'Brien began the custom of standing for the Star Spangled Banner.
- Address:
- 754 Broadway, Tacoma, WA
- Directions:
- The plaque is bolted to a wall on the west side of Broadway, about a hundred yards north of S. 9th St. It's just to the left of a doorway that's just to the left of a vintage toy shop.
- Admission:
- Free
Visitor Tips and News About Please Stand for our National Anthem
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
A plaque commemorates Rossel G. O'Brien, who originated the custom of standing for the Star Spangled Banner in 1893.
[Edward E, 06/04/2012]Nearby Offbeat Places



Latest Tips Across Roadside America
Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.
Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!
Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.
Rossel was the mayor of Tacoma at the time, so his opinion carried some weight. Not only did he stand, he proposed that everyone else should stand, too. His Civil War veteran buddies quickly adopted the practice, and soon it became a national custom.