ca. 1889. This photograph was taken shortly after the Bostwick Block was completed in 1889. Designed by early Tacoma architect O. P. Dennis, the Bostwick was remodeled in 1924. At that time, the wood-clad exterior was faced with "Duralite" stucco as seen today with its newly painted facade.

Hotel Bostwick (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1885. Photograph of "The Tacoma" (Hotel) shortly after it was built - before any of the later additions were added. The massive hotel, focus of much civic pride, opened on August 8, 1884. It had cost more than $250,000 to build, an enormous sum at the time, and was the design of architect Stanford White in 1881 who, according to Murray Morgan's South on the Sound, had been commissioned by the Northern Pacific Railroad and Tacoma Land Co. In subsequent years, several additions and renovations were made to further extend the hotel's reputation as "the finest west of the Mississippi and north of San Francisco." The Tacoma Hotel even boasted of having for a time a tame bear named Jack who spent time in the hotel lobby and was a drinker of beer. The elegant hostelry attracted many prominent visitors who enjoyed breathtaking views and luxurious furnishings. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935 and never rebuilt.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1884. The Tacoma Hotel, 913 A street, with its commanding view of the Tacoma tideflats, was one of the best hotels north of San Francisco. Designed by the famous architect Stanford White, it had its official opening in August of 1884. The scaffolding at the north end of the building suggests that it was still under construction when this photograph was taken. Note the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks crossing the almost completely barren tideflats; mills and manufacturing structures had yet to be fully built. The body of water at the left is the Puyallup River as it flows unfettered into Commencement Bay. The massive Tacoma Hotel was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935, and was never rebuilt; its annex would be remodeled and called the "new" Tacoma Hotel in January, 1936.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

ca. 1890. The Arlington Hotel was an impressive sight on Pacific Avenue for forty years before its demolition in 1930. Built by Jim Dorsey with architectural plans by C. Langlois in 1889, the hotel was first listed as 2023 Pacific Avenue before its address was later changed to 1955 Pacific Avenue. The 3+ story structure was built primarily of wood and contained multiple windows. A sample room was installed for the benefit of traveling salesmen to show their wares. Imported and domestic wines, liquors and cigars were available for purchase. Some of the hotel's staff, including the bartender in long apron, and the hotel watchdog, posed at the front entrance in this circa 1890 photograph. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-2; BU-11870

Arlington Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1890-1900;

On Wednesday July 12, 1899, 375 members of the National Editorial Association and their wives arrived in Tacoma for a short visit. They were met at the Tacoma depot by a reception committee consisting of members of the Tacoma Press club, various citizens, and the Tacoma Military Band. After breakfast at the Hotel Tacoma, the editors were taken by barge to the Point Defiance waterfront where their visit included a clambake. It was anticipated that entertaining the newspaper men and their wives would cost a substantial amount of money, and plans were made to raise the required $700. The Military Band was directed by Julius Adler and played daily concerts at Tacoma Parks, travelling from site to site on a tiny private streetcar. Their uniforms consisted of dark trousers and scarlet coats with bright blue trim. This photograph was recently donated by Ann Jorgensen and is from the Alta Scofield Collection/TPL (TNT 6/25/1950, PG. D-11, names of band members in caption)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Tacoma Military Band (Tacoma); Military bands--United States;

ca. 1870. Beginnings of Tacoma City circa 1870. Photo taken by Anthony Carr, who was Old Tacoma's first photographer. Cabin nearest the two trees on the left is Job Carr's cabin and his farm is in the foreground. The Steele Hotel, Tacoma's first hotel, is the "large" L-shaped building at left of center. (Photo donated by Ron Karabaich) (Caroline Gallacci & Tacoma Historical Society: Old Tacoma, p. 11)

Steele Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1870-1880; Carr, Job--Homes & haunts;

Boat show at Hotel Winthrop. The first major Tacoma Boat Show in several years was held the week of August 17-22, 1948 in the lobby of the Hotel Winthrop. Western Boatbuilding displayed their Torpedo Flyer speed boat, and Pleasurecraft brought a fully rigged sailing dingy with a 19-foot mast. There were several models of boats on display including a cabin cruser built by Western Boat along with Chinese sampans and junks.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Boats; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motorboats--Tacoma; Sailboats--Tacoma; Models;

Ellensburg Drill Team taken in Junior Ballroom, Hotel Winthrop, Mrs. L.B. Smith. Twenty-two women wearing matching floor-length gowns and nineteen men wearing white shirts and ties pose with four American flags.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Drill teams; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Undated photograph of unidentified gardener at the original Tacoma Hotel. Photograph was taken probably in the 1920's or early 1930's; the hotel was destroyed by fire in October of 1935.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Gardens--Tacoma--1920-1930; Gardening--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of unidentified gardener at the original Tacoma Hotel. Photograph was taken probably in the 1920's or early 1930's; the hotel was destroyed by fire in October of 1935.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Gardens--Tacoma--1920-1930; Gardening--Tacoma;

ca. 1925. Five men with floor sanders prepare the floor of the main lobby of the Winthrop Hotel prior to its Grand Opening May 16, 1925. The five men walk in a line, sanding down the new floors in the building. The Winthrop was designed by W.L. Stoddard with Roland Borhek serving as associate architect. The Citizens Hotel Corp. was founded in April of 1922 to come up with a plan for a grand hotel for the growing city of Tacoma. It was named for explorer and writer Theodore Winthrop. (WSHS) BU-12153

Cleaning personnel; Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (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;

National Bank of Tacoma Annual Picnic at De Koven Inn. DeKoven Inn was located on the east side of Lake Steilacoom. Many people at picnic tables. The Inn itself burned down August 2, 1925; the dance and banquet hall was saved and became the new Inn. The family owned operation was downsized and much of their property on the Lake was subdivided and sold as residential. (filed with Argentum) (TNT 8/13/1925, pg. 23)

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

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);

ca. 1926. Winthrop Hotel, circa 1926, sitting room of the Presidential Suite. Building design by W.L. Stoddard with Roland Borhek as associated architect, 1925. In 1922, a group of concerned citizens got together to raise funds and make plans for a grand hotel for Tacoma. The Winthrop was built at a cost of over two million dollars and had its Grand Opening on May 16, 1925. The Presidential Suite, with the pictured 18 x30 foot living, or sitting, room was the most elaborate accommodation at the hotel. (filed with Argentum)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Winthrop Hotel, circa 1926, same sitting room as in A1301 image 1, the sitting room of the Presidential Suite. Writing desk that folds up into cabinet against wall right. The suite was finished in mahogany with paneled plastered walls.(filed with Argentum)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Over 300 telephones scheduled to be installed at the new Hotel Winthrop posed around the two person switchboard. A desk telephone will stand on a table in each guest room. The Winthrop is the first hotel in Tacoma to have this type of instrument furnished throughout. The installation will require over 71 miles of lines, running through a 2 ft x 4 ft shaft extending perpendicularly from the basement to the private branch switchboard on the roof garden floor. These phones will bring the total number of phones in Tacoma to over 23,000. TPL-460 (TNT 5/16/1925, pg 3) print filed under A 1003

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Telephones--1920-1930; Telephone switchboards;

ca. 1926. Winthrop Hotel, circa 1926, general view of interior, main dining area flowing off from lobby. When the hotel opened in May, 1925, the main dining room and lobby/lounge were seamlessly blended into a space 40 feet wide and 120 feet long. The hotel was managed by D.M. Linnard, Inc. and recognized for its quality of accommodations and service. (filed with Argentum)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dining rooms--Tacoma;

Washington State Associated Master Barbers of America banquet held January 1927 at the Hotel Winthrop. (WSHS)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Washington State Associated Master Barbers of America (Tacoma); Banquets--1920-1930;

Genevieve Brophy (left) and Anna Fuchs, employees of the main central office of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co., sit at the new Hotel Winthrop switchboard surrounded by 300 desk telephones. After the telephones and switchboard were installed, the Hotel Winthrop became the first Tacoma hotel to have a telephone in every room. The switchboard was located on the roof garden floor of the hotel in a private room set apart from public view. It was staffed by four young women and chief operator Mrs. Johanna Hicks, who maintained the hotel's service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (TNT 5/16/1925, pg 3) negative A1001-0, TPL-9971

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Telephones--1920-1930; Telephone switchboards; Brophy, Genevieve; Fuchs, Anna;

Genevieve Brophy (left) and Anna Fuchs, employees of the main central office of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co., show off the new switchboard at the Hotel Winthrop. They are surrounded by a few of the 300 telephones being installed at the Winthrop. When the installation was complete, the Winthrop became the first Tacoma hotel to have a telephone in every room. The switchboard was located on the roof garden floor of the hotel in a private room set apart from public view. (TNT 5/16/1925, pg 3) (WSHS, also Argentum)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Telephones--1920-1930; Telephone switchboards; Brophy, Genevieve; Fuchs, Anna;

ca. 1926. Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel from the southwest, circa 1926. Building designed by W.E. Stoddard and Roland Borhek, Associated Architects, in 1924. On the right is the Pantages Theater and on the left is the Bostwick Building. (filed under Argentum)

Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pantages Theater (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Ladies Travelers Society at Tacoma Hotel. Sixteen women pose for the camera; most of them wearing wide brimmed hats that shield their faces. (WSHS)

Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Ladies Travelers Society (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;

ca. 1925. Artist's rendering of design that would later become the Winthrop Hotel, 773 Broadway, designed by architect W.L. Stoddard and associate architect Roland E. Borhek. The hotel opened in May of 1925. The image appears to be reversed, since "New Tacoma Hotel" is printed backwards near the bottom of the drawing. (filed with Argentum)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

L.C. Smith & Co. banquet held at the Olympic Hotel, Seattle. February 1927. (WSHS)

Banquets--Seattle--1920-1930; L.C. Smith & Co. (Seattle); Hotels--Seattle;

ca. 1925. The Hotel Winthrop, viewed from Pacific Ave. looking west. The construction in front of the Hotel is the Motoramp Garage. It was constructed at 745 Commerce on the site of the Hotel Donnelly. The Hotel Winthrop opened in May of 1925 and the Motoramp opened in August of 1925. (WSHS) BU-12083

Construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motoramp Garage (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Eldridge Buick Company banquet at the Olympic Hotel, Seattle. (Argentum)

Olympic Hotel (Seattle); Eldridge Buick Co. (Seattle); Banquets--Seattle; Hotels--Seattle; Automobile dealerships--Seattle;

ca. 1935. Exterior view of Winthrop Hotel from the southwest. Building by W.E. Stoddard and Roland Borhek, Associated Architects, 1924. (filed with Argentum)

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