ca. 1934. Two men share a table in the "Ben Johnson Coffee Shoppe" in the Tacoma Hotel circa 1934. On the wall next to them is the saying "Here's Wishing Us All More Friends And Less Need Of Them." The Tacoma Hotel, built on the bluff overlooking Commencement Bay, received much acclaim befitting its elegant structure. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935.

ca. 1934. A team of Budweiser Clydesdales delivers cases of beer to Tacoma Hotel in this circa 1934 photograph. The Clydesdales, in harness, have paused outside the entrance to the elegant hotel, one of Tacoma's most famous landmarks. Back then the Budweiser Clydesdales were a new sight, introduced to the public in April of 1933 to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. The Clydesdale horses were used for promotions by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co. They were hitched to red, white and gold beer wagons. Each horse was selected with certain characteristics and temperaments and each had to be a gelding. The Budweiser Clydesdales are still being used for commercials and promotions nearly eighty years after this photograph was taken. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_Clydesdales -article)

ca. 1927. This handtinted photograph of the Tacoma Hotel was taken circa 1927. Built in 1884, and considered by many Tacoma's showcase, the elegant hotel had welcomed many distinguished guests over the decades including Presidents of the United States, actors and sports idols. Magnificent views of The Mountain, Commencement Bay and the City Waterway greeted these visitors. The massive modified Tudor structure occupied an entire block in downtown Tacoma. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935 and not rebuilt. The Tacoma Hotel Annex at 904-06 A St. was remodeled after the fire to serve as the new Tacoma Hotel but never reached the acclaim of the original.