This was how the Cliff House Restaurant on Browns Point, center front, appeared from the air on June 23, 1964. Perched on a hillside overlooking Tacoma's waterfront, the Cliff House Restauant provided its customers with fine cuisine and scenic views. Originally built as a tavern in 1925, it was later remodeled and rebuilt after a massive fire in 1958. Houston "Hugh" O. Smith was still the owner in 1964.

Aerial photographs; Aerial views; Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Interior of Cliff House Restaurant. A busy floral patterned carpet greets customers of the remodeled Cliff House Restaurant in this February, 1960, photograph. Near the entrance is the kitchen/serving area where an enormous black fan catches the eye. It would provide excellent ventilation of cooking odors. The kitchen area appears well equipped with shiny metal appliances.

Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Dining room of Cliff House Restaurant. Empty tables with starched tablecloths and napkins await diners of the remodeled Cliff House Restaurant on February 15, 1960. Picture windows facing the Tideflats have their shades removed to the side so that patrons can enjoy the beautiful views. A display of large ferns complements the leafy pattern of the dining room carpet.

Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Exterior of Cliff House Restaurant. Large windows of the Cliff House provide its patrons with outstanding views to complement the restaurant's fine cuisine. Built originally as a tavern in 1925, it was later operated by Buz Erhart & Frank Gillihan. The restaurant was remodeled and rebuilt after a 1958 fire by Houston "Hugh" Odum Smith.

Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

The Cliff House restaurant at 6300 Marine View Drive N.E. still has the same commanding view of Commencement Bay and Tacoma's skyline as it did in February, 1960 when this photograph was taken. It was originally built by W.R. "Bill" Keyes in 1925 as the Cliff House Tavern. That building burned to the ground in 1958 when a beach fire got out of control and the flames spread up the bluff. Hugh O. Smith purchased the property and built a new Cliff House (the one shown here), but instead of a tavern, he built a restaurant. The building has been remodeled several times, first in 1977 and again in 1988.

Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;