In the 1870s, four large coal veins were discovered and mined in the Carbon River valley near Mount Rainier. To transport the coal, Northern Pacific Railroad extended a rail line to the mining area, and a small village formed at its terminus. Named after Samuel Wilkeson, father of journalist and pioneer settler Frank Wilkeson, the town of Wilkeson was incorporated in 1909.
The nearby coal mines, sandstone quarries, and coke ovens supplied jobs for several thousand men. The local sandstone formations supplied the stone used to build the elementary school as well as to face the capitol building in Olympia. Then the coal veins dried up, and demand for coal dwindled. Many of the small mining towns that sprang up in the area are now gone, but Wilkeson has managed to survive.
Once known as the roughest mining town west of Butte, Montana, modern Wilkeson still offers a window into its past, including the historic Wilkeson Elementary School, the coke ovens, and the sandstone quarry. The town's side streets have fine examples of 19th-century architecture, most notably the 
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and Wilkeson Town Hall, both listed in the National Historic Registry.
Wilkeson Elementary School was commissioned in 1912, with classes starting September 1913. A long-standing fixture in the community, it's the oldest elementary school still in use in Washington and is also on the National Historic Registry.
About the cache: This cache is located on the corner of Wilkeson Elementary grounds with permission from the school. The cache is locked to keep the muggles out. Simply enter the code 4452 to gain entry.
2016 was the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and to celebrate, Visit Rainier and WSGA hosted the Visit Rainier Centennial GeoTour - 100 caches placed in and around Mount Rainier National Park. The geocaches highlighted the rich history, scenic wonders, quaint communities, and hidden gems of the Rainier region. Participants received geocoin and pathtag prizes for finding all the caches.
