A "before" photograph used to show the modernization at the Olympus Hotel. Former double rooms were rebuilt into one with private baths and showers. Massive beamed ceilings were covered with a modern, fireproof layer (three quarters of an inch thick) of sheetrock. Wiring was changed completely and new lighting fixtures were added. New and larger windows were provided in most rooms. Work was completed in 1951. Ordered by Paul Sceva. (TNT 5/23/1951, p.23)

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Then & now comparisons;

Kelley's Motel, built in 1936, along the Seattle-Tacoma Highway (Highway 99). The motel's units have been built in an L-shape next to a residence along the highway.

Kelley's Motel (Fife); Motels--Fife;

Mirror Room in the basement of the Olympus Hotel. Dining room with dance floor and stage with band equipment, surrounded by tables. Ordered by Mr. Turril. Original building by Carl August Darmer and Otis Cuttting, Architects, 1909.

Hotels--Tacoma; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Dance floors--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Candy Nook in the Winthrop Hotel, featuring greeting card stands on the right and rear sides with glass candy cabinets on left wall behind cabinets.

Hotels--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The "New" Tacoma Hotel in the Savage-Scovell Building on "A" Street. Building by Heath and Twichell, Architects, 1908. For Mr. Bryer Little.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Heath & Twitchell (Tacoma);

View of "New" Tacoma Hotel from the southeast, main facade and south side wall. Duncan's Tacoma Hotel Garage to the south of hotel, Tacoma Savings and Loan (Bowes) Building to the North. Hotel (1908) and Bowes (1909) by Heath and Twichell, Architects.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Heath & Twitchell (Tacoma);

Exterior view of downtown Tacoma. In a photograph taken on September 24, 1951, looking southwest from 9th and A Streets, are a number of prominent Tacoma buildings. The multi-story "new" Tacoma Hotel and corresponding Duncan's Tacoma Hotel Garage are sandwiched between financial institutions, the Tacoma Savings & Loan and the Bank of California. After a fire destroyed the main Tacoma Hotel, its annex was remodeled in 1936 in the Savage-Scofield Building. The Bowes Building, also designed by architects Heath & Twitchell, was built in 1908 and housed the Tacoma Savings & Loan; it was later added to the National Register. Also visible are the large Puget Sound National Bank building, General Paint, Washington Building, and the Rust Building.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Heath & Twitchell (Tacoma);

The "Corral Room" at the Olympus Hotel. Wood siding, a rough beam ceiling and pastoral paintings give this banquet room a rustic feel. The impression of being in a barn is assisted by the painting of a horse peeking out a stall door. The table, chairs and flooring are very simple. The Corral Room was also used as a coffee shop and served cocktails.

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The wide lobby and lounge at the Winthrop Hotel has been decorated in a grand style. The windows have been draped with light-colored fabric, pulled back with braid and tassels to allow plenty of daylight into the room. Several large sofas have been placed below each window and in the center of the room. Desks have been placed near columns on the left and a few side chairs have been spaced around the edges of the room to allow plenty of open space for people to congregate. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling and a figured carpet covers the floor.

Lobbies--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Banquet tables have been prepared in the Cystal Ballroom at the Winthrop Hotel. Tables that would seat ten have been covered with white table cloths and set with table ware, cups and saucers and napkins. The room is lit with daylight coming in through the tall windows, chandeliers and sconces. The head table has been set on a dais along the right side with flags behind it. An American flag hangs at the far end of the room.

Hotels--Tacoma; Ballrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Daffodil Room at the Winthrop Hotel provides a less formal luncheon and dining area. Semi-circular booths line the left side of the room while a long bench with seats on both sides runs through the center of the room with tables and chairs on either side of it. A counter with swivel seats can be seen in the right-hand corner. Tables are provided in the rear of the room. The draperies and the carpet have a daffodil pattern to match the theme of the room. Chandeliers provide lighting.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

W.L. Stoddard designed the Winthrop Hotel and it was built in 1924 and dedicated May 15, 1925. It was named for explorer and writer Theodore Winthrop, author of "The Canoe and the Saddle" which helped popularize the Northwest. The hotel was to be a civic center.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

ca. 1938. Presidential Suite at Winthrop Hotel with dining set for 8 in center and sofa, several chairs, and stools for sitting. Building by W.E. Stoddard and Roland Bohrek, Associated Architects, 1924.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Exterior of the Olympus Hotel. The hotel was built in 1909 at a cost of $65,000. It was designed by Darmer & Cutting, Architects. In 1951, it was considered one of the Northwest's best hotels. It was the home of the supper club The Mirror Room and the cafe Frontier Room. The hotel closed its doors in 1974. It was remodeled and opened as apartments in 1978.

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lumbermen's Banquet. Tacoma Hotel. "New" Tacoma Hotel Dining Room with seventeen men seated and standing behind dining table. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Card rack at Winthrop Hotel, Rust Craft Publications. Since Christmas trees, fir boughs and pine cones decorate the back wall over the many rows of Christmas cards and the photograph is dated in July, this must have been an advertising set up, possibly for a catalog.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Greeting cards; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The view down Pacific Ave from the intersection of around 17th Street, where the streetcar tracks intersect on the road. Most prominent are the Hotel Lewis, on the left, at 1522 Pacific Ave and Hotel Croft, on the right, at 1519 Pacific Ave. The Hotel Croft was owned by Lee Croft who would later become Pierce County Sheriff. Also on the right hand side can be seen Schoenfelds on Pacific at 15th and the Puget Sound Bank building at 1119 Pacific Ave. The photograph was taken to record the Schenley's Red Label billboard for Sunset Advertising in Seattle.

Hotel Lewis (Tacoma); Hotel Croft (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The view down Pacific Ave. from the intersection of around 17th Street, where the streetcar tracks intersect on the road. In the foreground left is the Depot Service Station at 1548 Pacific Ave. Further down Pacific is the Hotel Lewis, 1522 Pacific Ave. The photograph was taken to record the Schenley's Red Label billboard for Sunset Advertising in Seattle. (filed with Argentum) For additional photographs of this stretch of road, see D8807 image 3.

Hotel Lewis (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Depot Service Station (Tacoma);

ca. 1939. The view down Pacific Ave from the intersection of around 17th Street, after the streetcar tracks were removed and street was repaved. This is almost the same exact same view as A7875 image 1 after the paving was complete. Most prominent are the Hotel Lewis, on the left, at 1522 Pacific Ave and Hotel Croft, on the right, at 1519 Pacific Ave. The Hotel Croft was owned by Lee Croft who would later become Pierce County Sheriff. Also on the right hand side can be seen Schoenfelds on Pacific at 15th and the Puget Sound Bank building at 1119 Pacific Ave. (original photograph was unnumbered, number was assigned for cataloging purposes)

Hotel Lewis (Tacoma); Hotel Croft (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Winthrop Hotel, new sample furniture on display in rooms 505, 522 & 525. The room has been decorated for the discriminating traveler with a patterned embossed carpet, floral drapes, full bed with chenille bedspread, dresser, a desk/vanity and a variety of tables and chairs with numerous lamps. A bench has been placed at the end of the bed to hold an open suitcase or for sitting. A long coffee table, however, has been placed blocking a door.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Furniture;

Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel, ca. 1939. Neon sign for the Roxy (Pantages) on right. Tower of the old City Hall building in background left. (filed with Argentum)

Hotels--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel, ca. 1939. The tower of the old City Hall building can be seen in the background left. (filed with Argentum)

Hotels--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel, ca. 1939, from Commerce St. (filed with Argentum)

Hotels--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. In May of 1925, the Tacoma Hotel at 913 A Street was nearing the completion of a $150,000 remodel and renovation. One of the additions to the venerable hotel was what the News Tribune at the time described as a nine hole golf course on the east lawn overlooking the bay. There was not room enough for a true nine hole course; the hotel's course appears to be a large putting green. In the background, the glass enclosed dining room can be seen. The Tudor style hotel, originally built in 1884, was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935. (TNT 5/13/1925, pg. 4; TDL 4/12/1927, supplement pg. 6) (WSHS- negative A842-0)

Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Putting (Golf); Golf--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers;

ca. 1926. A group of guests practices their putting on the miniature golf link of the Tacoma Hotel. The nine hole course was part of a $150,000 renovation completed in 1925. It was located on the east side of the hostelry on the lawn overlooking the bay. The Tudor hotel was renowned all up and down the Pacific Coast for its beauty. It was built in 1884 and was designed by Stanford White. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935. (TNT 5/13/1925, pg. 4; TDL 4/12/1927, supplement pg. 6) (WSHS- negative A843- 0)

Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Putting (Golf); Golf--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers;

A number of Tacoma landmarks are on view in this image of Saint Helens Avenue from September of 1954. The historic Bostwick Building at right foreground then housed the Brant Hotel with Reed's Hats below. Built about 1890, it stands out because of its unusually wedge shape design. To the left of the photograph in the 700 block of Saint Helens is the Caswell Optical Co., a longtime occupant, with a large billboard for Heidelberg beer positioned on its rooftop. The 17-story Medical Arts Building (now the Tacoma Municipal Building) next door stands much taller than its neighbors.

Brant Hotel (Tacoma); Reeds Hats (Tacoma); Caswell Optical Co. (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Billboards--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1926. The central building in this picture is 1113 Broadway, viewed from Broadway Street. In 1926, one of the building's tenants was L.R. Clark, dentists, as indicated by the large signage on the building. Upstairs at 1113 1/2 Broadway was the Ritz Hotel, in operation from 1914-1953. On the left side of the picture is McMillan Brothers, owned by Everett and Alfred McMillan. They owned three stores that offered the strange combination of druggist (ground floor) and musical instrument dealers. They also sold pianos, phonographs and records. The music department was located on the second floor at this location. To the right of the picture, at 1115 Broadway, is a ground floor Piggly Wiggly store, at one time the location of the Queen City Market. (WSHS- negative A874-0)

Hotel Ritz (Tacoma); McMillan Brothers (Tacoma); Piggly Wiggly (Tacoma);

Group of 35 businessmen planning United Tacoma Day sales at the Winthrop Hotel - ordered by Mr. Fetteroff of Chamber of Commerce. Photograph was taken in October of 1939. (filed with Argentum)

Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Mr.and Mrs. Alber's room at the Bonneville Hotel. Mr. Alber in chair by window alcove, couch and desk on left, daybed and chair on right. Building designed by Charles N. Daniels, Architect, as Hotel Rochester, circa 1888. The building was demolished in 1966. (filed with Argentum)

Bonneville Hotel (Tacoma); Apartment hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bay windows--Tacoma;

This group portrait was taken in August of 1925 of the annual National Bank of Tacoma picnic at DeKoven Inn in Lakewood. DeKoven Inn was located on the east side of Lake Steilacoom, about 30 minutes from Tacoma. The photograph is of a large group of people seated at three picnic tables placed among fir trees, with a house, tent, outbuilding, and water tower in background. The Inn itself, which was formerly a boys' school, burned down on August 2, 1925. The dance and banquet hall was saved and became the new center of operation, catering primarily to day parties. Much of the land previously occupied by the Inn was subdivided and sold as lots for summer homes. (WSHS) (TNT 8/13/1925, pg. 23)

DeKoven Inn (Lakewood); Picnics--Lakewood--1920-1930; National Bank of Tacoma--People;