Lakewood is regarded by most as a working-class town. Its own website calls it a "host community to Joint Base Lewis-McChord." All well and good, but nothing about that identity screams "playground," though that is the theme for a new exhibit opening there. It may surprise you, then, to learn Lakewood's civic history began as the so-called "Lakes District," a getaway for wealthy Tacomans, including Weyerhauser lumber barons on Gravelly Lake. The town's playful origins are the reason for the new exhibit at its historical museum, which operates under the expertise of Lakewood Historical Society's Board President Becky Huber.

First into the area was the Tacoma Country and Golf Club.

"It was first started in 1894 by Alexander Baillie, who was a Scotsman," Huber said. "He brought the sport his homesick Scotsmen wanted, which was golf."

Import agents at the Port of Tacoma were so confused by golf clubs ordered directly from Scotland that they logged the clubs as farm equipment.

That course moved to American Lake in 1905. After a fire, "in 1910, they built ... the Grand Old Lady, (a new clubhouse that) had all the charm and importance they wanted," she said. "Of course, many of the members of that club were the founding fathers and businessmen and tycoons of Tacoma."

Two years later, only a year after the Indianapolis 500 was started, the Tacoma Speedway arrived. Originally a five-mile road race, the two-mile track would soon attract as many as 40,000 spectators per event. That speedway closed in 1922 and is now the site of Clover Park Technical College.

In 1924, the Elks Pavilion on Lake Steilacoom played host to trials for the Olympic Games. It's said Johnny Weissmuller could be seen swimming laps from the same dance pavilion that hosted such luminaries as Tommy Dorsey and Duke Ellington. That facility reopened as The Lakewood Ice Arena in 1938 and remained open as such for more than 40 years.

Fort Steilacoom, built in 1849, was converted into a mental hospital in 1871. Its crop farm is now Fort Steilacoom Park and a regional center for such activities as Lakewood's annual SummerFEST. Though amenities like the Lakewood Playhouse have been active for many decades, the city of Lakewood itself wasn't officially incorporated until Feb. 28, 1996.

The museum's "Playgrounds Of The Lakes District" exhibit is timed as a welcome to visitors coming from around the world for the U.S. Open, which gets underway on June 15 at Chambers Bay in University Place.

"We do not charge admission," Huber said, "though we certainly appreciate anyone who makes a donation."

The museum will have extended hours of noon to 6 p.m. from June 16-20.

"Playgrounds Of The Lakes District," exhibit open Wednesdays to Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Lakewood History Museum, 6211 Mt. Tacoma Dr. SW, Lakewood; donations accepted. 253.682.3480.