The Radio Club of Tacoma (RCT) was founded in 1916 and is one of the oldest amateur radio clubs in the United States. We've been affiliated with the ARRL since 1920. Even when the FCC shut down the Amateur Radio Service during WWII, the Club remained active, even though the operators could not transmit. Today, the Club typically has 350-400 members. RCT is unusual both in longevity and in its ownership of real estate that was purchased in 1957. The property consists of a two story house - the "Clubhouse" - and an adjacent lot used for parking and various outdoor radio activities.
Take a virtual tour of our clubhouse, or stop by for our open house any Saturday from 10 AM until 2 PM.
(Please be paitent while our 'virtual tour' room pages are being renovated.)
- The Lou Simmons Memorial Room
- The William R. Shimmin Memorial Training Room
- Doug DeMaw Circulating Library
- Chef Paul's Kitchen
- The Clifford J "Doc" Spike Memorial Antique Radio Museum
- The Oakman Research Library
- The Jerry Seligman Memorial HF Radio Room
A group of collaborators, led by Dr. Doug Oakman AD7AV, combed the RCT archives of minutes, notes, photos, and scrapbooks to produce the History of the Radio Club of Tacoma From the Beginning Until Just the Other Day. You can also download the e-book here.
In 2016, the Radio Club of Tacoma celebrated the 100th anniversary of our founding. Check out the early history of our club and our centennial celebration!
Check out "The Living History Project" interviews with notible Radio Club of Tacoma members!
Take a trip back in time to the 1955 Field Day with the Radio Club of Tacoma
