“It’s super sad, it was one of the coolest pieces of leftover construction. The graffiti was amazing and added so much character to the school but now it’s gone,” said senior Manny Pastor.

The pit behind Steilacoom High School, according to the Chambers Creek Foundation, was previously part of a paper mill in the late 1900s and the old concrete structures

became the location for much comradery among students and local graffiti artists. As of last Tuesday, Dickson Demolition and Abatement began tearing down the pit hoping to finish by the end of this week. All the walls and concrete surrounding the pit are now reduced to rubble and leave no trace of the colorful graffiti and art that veiled the walls both inside and out.

“The pit was a place a lot of people went to, it was a place to hangout, to feel “risky”, to get that adrenaline rush scared of getting caught but it was fun to be at. The conversations and people you’d find back there were fun,” said junior Konrad Graver.

Just over one month ago, a 40-year-old woman fell 15 feet into the bottom of the concrete pit according to an August 2024 article from the Tacoma News Tribune. “From what I understand it is because someone fell in,” said a construction worker from Dickson about why they may have been hired to currently deconstruct the pit. They are planning to “slope it so it is safe,” he said. 

“I miss the pit so much man, from going to the pit on nature walks for my Plants and Wildlife class and looking at not only the beautiful art from talented painters but also how the art blended with the surrounding forest that gave this unique aura to it that you can’t find in any area,” said junior Kaimana Akana.