On February 19, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This action eventually led to the removal of some 110,000 Japanese-Americans to internments camps in remote areas of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. This little girl was photographed at Tacoma's Union Station as she and her family prepared to board a train to the Pinedale, California assembly center camp. 879 Japanese-Americans from the Tacoma "restricted area" left for Pinedale beginning on May 14, 1942. (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Army soldiers speak with a couple at Union Station. On May 17-18, 1942, 859 residents of Tacoma of Japanese descent were forced to leave their homes and board trains to the Pinedale "Assembly Center" near Fresno California. They were allowed to take a few approved possessions to their new "homes." This woman, dressed in her Sunday best for the trip, is transporting an irregularly shaped parcel and a First Aid kit, uncertain about the future. One of the soldiers inspects her package. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Miss Mary Fairhurst is pictured boarding a southbound train at Union Station for San Francisco, California where she has accepted a position with a nationally known concern. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril J. Fairhurst. (T. Times 8/26/1940, pg. 9)

Fairhurst, Mary; Union Station (Tacoma); Arrivals & departures--Tacoma--1940-1950; Farewells; Luggage; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On August 17, 1941, Tacoman Dwight Howell, Jr., the male Washington State entry in the national finals of the Ford Good Driver's League, and his mother, Mrs. D.E. Howell, set off from Union Station to travel East for the contest. They were pictured boarding the train for the trip to Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan. The Howells were being seen off by Leon Titus, 2nd from right, and an unidentified man. While in Michigan, the student drivers were given a series of driving tests over a six mile course laid out in downtown Detroit. They were also entertained by the Ford Motor Company. Dwight Howell won a $500 scholarship by placing third out of 49 contestants. (T. Times 8/15/1941, pg. 13-article; T.Times 8/26/1941, pg. 16-results)

Howell, Dwight; Howell, D.E.--Family; Union Station (Tacoma); Titus, Leon E.;

USO Union Depot. The United Service Organization Travelers Aid Service provided general information, assistance to new-comers and travelers, emergency overnight sleeping accommodations and activities for servicemen, military wives and others who were in need of services. View of five unidentified people in the Troop-in-Transit Lounge at the USO located in Union Depot on September 26, 1944. Background view of two murals featuring Paul Bunyan, painted by Tacoma artist, Peggy Strong. TPL-10380

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military personnel--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Murals--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During WWII part of Tacoma's Union Station at 1717 Pacific Avenue was set aside for use as emergency sleeping quarters by the Travelers Aid. This view, taken in September of 1944, shows the comfortable rest area set aside for women at the Depot. Cribs, twin-size beds with ruffled bedspreads, stuffed chairs and wooden chairs of all sizes were provided. The United Service Organizations - Travelers Aid Service provided general information, assistance to newcomers and travelers, emergency overnight sleeping accommodations for servicemen, military wives and others who were in need of services during WWII. TPL-10332

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Travelers Aid (Tacoma); Beds; Union Station (Tacoma);

Peggy Strong, with an unidentified man, looks up at one of two murals she had just completed. On Sunday afternoon April 9, 1944 the murals were unvailed at the Tacoma Union Depot. The murals depicted Paul Bunyan and Babe, his big, blue ox. The painting of Babe shows him pulling a plow and leaving behind a deep furrow that will become Puget Sound. The two paintings were commissioned by the Junior League. The larger mural, dominated by the massive figure of Paul Bunyan, included Mt. Rainier in the background. (T. Times, 4/10/44, p. 7).

Murals--Tacoma; Strong, Peggy; Paintings; Union Station (Tacoma); Junior League (Tacoma);

Community Chest Travelers Aid at Union Depot. Women are cleaning the location for the new men's lounge. The women's lounge will contain a nursery where mothers can care for their children's needs. (T.Times, 11/10/1943, p10)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Under the leadership of Albert W. Taylor, illustrious potentate of Afifi temple, members of the director's staff attended the Shrine Directors Association of North America's annual meeting in San Francisco. The group is seen here on March 23, 1952 as they prepare to board their train at Union Station. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 3/26/1952, p.19)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960;

College of Puget Sound. The Loggers are ready to travel to San Jose, California, to play the San Jose Spartans October 1, 1948. L-R, Co-Captain Dick Hermsen, Yell Queen Cynthia Harris, Yell Duke Ed Hager, Coach John Heinrick, and Co-Captain Dick Brown are standing on the platform at Union Depot along with other people waiting for the train. The entire team would make the trip to get plenty of practice before the start of the Evergreen Conference season starting the next week. (T.Times, 10/1/1948, p.10)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heinrick, John; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

College of Puget Sound students were getting ready for the upcoming homecoming football game against the San Jose Spartans in early October of 1947. The CPS Loggers would have their first post-war pep parade before the big game on Saturday. View of CPS students greeting the San Jose football team that has recently arrived at Union Depot (T. Times, 10/10/47, p. 7).

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reunions--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Tacoma's traffic signal crew install newly designed signals at the crosswalk in front of the Union Depot train station on Pacific Avenue. Linemen Les Heineman and Bill Hansen adjust one of the new traffic signals while foreman Carl Somer balances a second signal which will also be hung above the street. Watching the installation are lineman helper Clare Gross, left, and Police Sgt. Bob Marshall, right. Other traffic revisions in downtown include the elimination of diagonal parking. (T. Times, 3/7/47, p. 1).

Traffic signs & signals--Tacoma; Streets--Tacoma; Crosswalks--Tacoma; Pedestrians--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

An unidentified young woman glances over her extensive train ticket at Union Station on January 23, 1954. She is dressed in a suit from Andrews Women's Apparel and stands between her two suitcases. Her outfit is complemented by a small hat and gloves. The distinctive window of Union Station can be seen behind her.

Andrews Women's Apparel (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960; Luggage;

ca. 1975. 1975 Richards color stock footage. Encroaching shadows seek to wrap themselves around the landmark Union Station located at 1717 Pacific Avenue. In 1975 the station still served as an Amtrak passenger terminal. Efforts were made to restore the station to its former glory with the proposed $14,000,000 "Depot Galleria" shopping/transportation complex; however, these plans were stalled. Also visible in this aerial view is the multi-storied Albers Mill, located to the rear of the station at 1821 Dock St. TPL-7982

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980; Albers Bros. Milling Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1975. 1975 Richards color stock footage. Aerial view of rear of Union Station, 1717 Pacific Ave. as seen in 1975. Fast-forward 30+ years later and the landscape has changed drastically. SR-705 is now where the railroad tracks once ran. The parking lot to the left of the station is now the location of the Washington State History Museum; the Federal Courts are located to the north in a new wing. The five-story building on Pacific Ave. on the extreme left of the photograph is now the University of Washington Bookstore. TPL-2402

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Fred S. Stover, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), upon his arrival in Tacoma on July 11, 1926. Mr. Stover, a prominent businessman from Butler, Penn., (L in picture) is met at Union Station by commanders of local posts. Shaking hands with Mr. Stover is W.A. Gartley, Wild West Post No. 91 commander; standing between them is Paul J. Roberts, South Tacoma post commander. Mr. Stover is on a tour of the Pacific Northwest in the interest of Foreign Veterans. Tacoma would be his temporary headquarters as he would take a tour of the city and trout fishing his first day here, then go to Seattle to meet with veterans there on July 12th. His plans included visits to local veterans hospitals and a banquet in his honor. (TNT 7-11-26, p. 1)

Stover, Fred S.; Roberts, Paul J.; Gartley, W.A.; Veterans of Foreign Wars (Tacoma); Shaking hands--Tacoma;

A radioman stretches his microphone toward President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, center in profile, who looks over the large crowd gathered at the Union Depot. He was preparing to leave on the Great Northern Railway for a tour of the Grand Coulee Dam project site. The small children behind the railing are his grandchildren, Anna Eleanor (nicknamed Sistie) and Curtis (Buzzie) Dall. The men are believed to be, left to right, Senator Homer T. Bone, Harold Allen, the President's son James, Tacoma Mayor George Smitley (waving to the crowd) and the President's bodyguard (in hat.) ALBUM 1.

Presidents; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Union Station (Tacoma); Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Visits of state--Tacoma--Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Dall, Anna Eleanor; Dall, Curtis;

On October 1, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made an early evening speech from the back of his train at Union Depot. The train made a 15 minute stop to allow the President to board. Roosevelt was being picked up after an automobile trip around the Olympic Peninsula and a motorcade from Olympia to Tacoma. It was estimated that over 50,000 Tacomans lined the street and crowded Union Station to catch a glimpse of the popular President. The President's next destination was the site of the Grand Coulee Dam project. Visible behind the President on the train car deck are believed to be Tacoman Harold Allen, the President's son James Roosevelt, Tacoma Mayor George Smitley and the President's grandson Curtis (Buzzie) Dall. At the time of this photograph, he was in his second term as President. He died April 12, 1945, during his fourth term, of a cerebral hemorrhage. (T. Times 10/02/1937, pg. 9) TPL-1999 ALBUM 1

Presidents; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Union Station (Tacoma); Visits of state--Tacoma--Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945;

Chicago-Milwaukee Railroad officials and christening of the Olympian. A large crowd gathered to see the Olympian Hiawatha, Milwaukee's new diesel liner, christened on June 28, 1947. Its inaugural trip to Chicago was June 29, 1947. The new train cut the time of the Tacoma to Chicago service to 45 hours, 14 hours faster than formerly. (T.Times, 6/27/1947, p.1) TPL-9765

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Chicago-Milwaukee Railroad officials and christening of the Olympian. Dignitaries at the Union Station. Mr. M.H. McEwen, Seattle, Western Traffic Manager, addresses the crowd gathered to christen the Olympian Hiawatha on June 29, 1947. All members of the train's crew wore fancy dress for the occassion. Others on the platform are, L-R, Mrs. Harold A. Allen who christened the train, Joshua Green, Seattle, Pioneer Transportation Executive and Capitalist; F.N. Hicks, Chicago, Passenger Traffic Manager, L.K. Sorensen, Seattle manager, J.B. Johnson, fireman, R.V. Hanicker, engineer, Mayor C. Val Fawcett and R.B. Craig, conductor. (T.Times, 6/30/1947, p.1) TPL-9764

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Johnson, J.B.; Hanicker, R.V.; Craig, R.B.; McEwen, M.H.; Sorensen, L.K.; Green, Joshua;

Junior League Peggy Strong's paintings at Union Depot. Thousands of people gathered at Union Depot in April of 1944 for the unveiling of two murals done by Peggy Strong. The Junior League presented the two murals to the Union Depot. View of massive Paul Bunyan figure. According to a reader, this mural and the accompanying mural of Babe the Blue Ox still exist and are hanging on the wall of the Wheelock Student Center dining hall on the campus of the University of Puget Sound. (T. Times, 4/10/44, p. 7).

Murals--Tacoma; Strong, Peggy; Paintings; Union Station (Tacoma); Junior League (Tacoma);

Leon Titus was allowed to ride in the cab of a 122 foot long locomotive, this train makes the Seattle--Tacoma--Portland run daily. Leon would get to ride to Seattle and back to Tacoma. Mr. Titus has been a longtime enthusiast about railroading. View of Leon Titus dressed in his train-wear, he is standing with the Union Pacific train conductor (T.N.T., 5/9/48, p. A-13). TPL-9868

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Businessmen--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Titus, Leon E.;

Members from Daughters of the Nile, Tacoma's Egyptian Patrol of the Zora Temple, were getting ready to board a train en route to Phoenix, Arizona. The women would be attending the supreme session of the Daughters of the Nile. They are boarding Northern Pacific Railway's Cascade Limited at Union Depot. Eunice C. Miller is the Captain of the Egyptian Patrol and Lillian M. Shotwell is the current Nile Queen. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 5/21/48, p. 1).

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Luggage; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Passengers--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Daughters of the Nile Zora Temple No. 5 (Tacoma)

College of Puget Sound's National Professional Music Fraternity, the Beta Delta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, had recently installed new members for the coming school year. Mary Jo Frlan (left) and Alda Heath (right) were returning to Tacoma in late June of 1948 after having represented their fraternity in a national meeting. View of Alpha Iota fraternity girls leaving Union Depot after returning from their summer travel.

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Frlan, Mary Jo; Heath, Alda; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sigma Alpha Iota (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Members from Afifi Temple and their spouses would be traveling to Denver, Colorado to attend a Shriner Director's meeting. The club members would be traveling aboard Union Pacific's "Portland Rose", they would be returning on April 4, 1949. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 3/29/49, p. 2).

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroads--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma);

The Elks Band was playing and majorette Gloria Ellexson was performing while club members waited on July 7, 1949 at Union Station for the train taking them to the national convention in Cleveland, Ohio. The Tacoma Elks ritual team, which held the state championship, together with coach Russ Barlow, would also compete in Cleveland. It was reported during the convention that Gloria Ellexson, a student at the College of Puget Sound, had been named national champion drum majorette. Ordered by Harry Lynch, Elks Club. (TNT, 7/6/1l949, p.10; TNT, 7/13/1949, p.1)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Marching bands; Bands--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ellexson, Gloria; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma's semi-pro Coast Ice Hockey League team, the Tacoma Rockets, were returning from a series of five games, all of which they won. They were the first team in club history to win five straight. The Rockets had an upcoming game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Tacoma State Armory. View of Tacoma Rockets at Union Depot, names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 15). Founded in 1946, the Rockets ceased operations in 1953.

Ice hockey--Tacoma; Athletes--Tacoma; Luggage; Travel--Tacoma; Coast Ice Hockey League (Tacoma); Tacoma Rockets (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The beautiful Miss Washington and Miss Wisconsin were visiting Tacoma's Big Bear Stores, they were promoting apples and cheese week. Everyone was invited to participate in the fun, free samples would be available. View of Miss Washington, Libby Aldrich (right) of Kelso, Washington and Miss Wisconsin, Marveen Fischer (left) with an unidentified man at Union Station; Wisconsin cheese barrel in background (T.N.T., 10/14/49, p. B-3).

Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Fischer, Marveen; Aldrich, Libby;

Charlotte Doud (at left) and Catharine Strong leaving for trip to California. Boarding train at Union Depot on January 8, 1940 with group of well-wishers or others waiting to board the railroad car. The women were going there to attend the Beverly Hills wedding of Mary Roberts and Alexander Baillie Ripley, former Tacomans, and Miss Strong would be the maid-of-honor. After the wedding Miss Strong and Miss Doud would take an apartment in San Francisco for the season. (T.Times 1-13-1940, p. 5-alt. photo)

Doug, Charlotte; Strong, Catharine; Union Station (Tacoma); Travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On May 17, 1942, 418 Tacoma citizens of Japanese ancestry gather at Union Station prior to being shipped to the Pinedale "Assembly Center," an internment camp near Fresno California. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 allowing the military to shortcut civil liberties and remove anyone they considered potentially dangerous from any area considered to be at risk. On March 2, 1942, the Western Defense Command unveiled its plan to banish all people of Japanese ancestry from the entire West Coast and incarcerate them in internment camps. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1; TNT 5/18/2003, pg. B8+ by Stan Flewelling)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);