Travel was hard going as this street scene from February of 1929 shows snow and slush on 11th Street, looking up 11th from Commerce. Buildings in view include French Drug Co. (1101 Broadway) and Fisher's Department Store (1104 Broadway). The harsh weather did not deter pedestrians and some sturdy vehicles.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; French Drug Co. (Tacoma); Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Snow--Tacoma;

Cars and trucks line both sides of the 1300 block of Broadway in this photograph from July of 1931. All the buildings on the west side of the street including the Goodwill Store at 1320 Broadway, the Hotel Victoria at 1316 1/2 and the Brenden Hotel at 304 South 13th Street have been demolished. This whole block is currently occupied by the Sheraton Hotel, 1320 Broadway, which opened in 1984. Photograph taken for W.H. Opie & Co. Bowen # 310-266

This photograph from May of 1928 shows the buildings on the east side of St. Helens Avenue from 7th Street looking south. Second in from the corner is the building that was shared by the News Tribune and the Tacoma Daily Ledger from 1918 to 1937. Built in 1910 by Darmer & Cutting for the News Tribune, the Ledger moved into the building when it was bought out by the Tribune in 1918. Both papers published independently from this building until the Daily Ledger went out of business in 1937. The News Tribune kept the name of the Ledger alive in the masthead of its Sunday paper until August of 1979, The Tacoma News Tribune and Sunday Ledger.

This is how the corner of South 9th & Broadway appeared in February of 1927. The Broadway Theater, 902-14 Broadway, was preparing for its grand opening on February 4th. It had previously been well known as the Tacoma Theater before being purchased for $450,000 in December of 1925, at that time the largest single realty transaction in the city's history. Extensive remodeling, including the loss of the familiar red exterior, cost the new owners another $150,000. There was a huge new sign, 40 feet high, with 3,000 bulbs that was visible for three miles. The theater would retain the "Broadway" name until 1933 when it became the Music Box Theater. Another of Tacoma's landmarks is clearly visible at right rear, the unusually shaped Bostwick Building with the Smith Flower Shop on the lower level. TPL-1602; G59.1-002 (TDL 12-19-25, p. 1-article on sale of theater; TDL 12-1-26, p. 1-article on remodeling; TNT 2-2-27, p. 9-article on signage)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Broadway Theater (Tacoma); Tacoma Theater (Tacoma);

This section of East 25th St. in 1927 contained several businesses located side-by-side. From L-R: Tacoma Biscuit & Candy Co. (601-605 E. 25th); Olympic Ice Cream Co. (615-617 E. 25th); Olympic Ice Co. (619-623 E. 25th) and the Carman Mfg. Co., a furniture and mattress factory, at 701-723 E. 25th. Several cars, including at least one delivery truck, are parked outside the buildings. G57.2-040; TPL-2405

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Biscuit & Candy Co. (Tacoma); Olympic Ice Cream Co. (Tacoma); Olympic Ice Co. (Tacoma); Carman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

This was 13th & Broadway in downtown Tacoma in 1928. The Merchants Hotel occupied the Durgin Block with Bagley Drugs on the ground floor. The building had been constructed in 1890 and had already undergone alterations. The Mayflower Cafe and Palmer Hotel were close by. Visible in the background is the Luzon Building at 1302-04 Pacific Ave., then occupied by the Wm L. Davis & Sons furniture store. TPL-9721; G59.1-024

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchants Hotel (Tacoma); Luzon Building (Tacoma); Bagley Drug Co. (Tacoma); Mayflower Cafe (Tacoma); Palmer Hotel (Tacoma); William L. Davis & Sons (Tacoma);

This is the east side of Pacific Avenue between S. 10th & 11th St. as viewed on October 2, 1928. The Bank of California (center, at 1011-13 Pacific) would be opening for business in six days. Designed by John Graham and built by the J.E. Bonnell & Son construction firm using Wilkeson sandstone and granite, the Italian Renaissance-styled building had stately Ionic columns. Tacoma's newest bank was flanked by the venerable Dougan Building (1007 Pacific) containing the Hotel Bennett and Western Union and the somewhat newer Dickson Building, home of the Shaw Supply Co. (1015 Pacific). G61.1-018

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Dougan Building (Tacoma); Dickson Building (Tacoma); Shaw Supply Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Hotel Bennett (Tacoma); Western Union Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Broadway in downtown Tacoma is festive with decorations as Christmas, 1928, draws near. This is a view of the street looking north from about 12th Street. Fisher's, "Tacoma's Own Store," and the Rhodes Brothers Department Store are on the left; the 12-story Fidelity Building towers over the other buildings on the right. Signs for the Hotels Warburton and Ritz and the McMillan Bros. drugstore can be seen on the right. TPL-1581; G59.1-022

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fishers Department Store (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Hotel Warburton (Tacoma); Hotel Ritz (Tacoma); McMillan Brothers (Tacoma); Christmas decorations;

This is a slice of Pacific Avenue south from 7th St. as it appeared on March 11, 1929. Among the many businesses on the near right are the Ajax Electric Co., the Keystone Hotel and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Across the streetcar tracks on the left are the Olympus Hotel, Provident Building, and Brotherhood Bank in the Washington Building. Photograph ordered by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. TPL-2745; G61.1-026;

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Keystone Hotel (Tacoma); Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

1923 downtown Tacoma street scene. This was Pacific Avenue near 12th St. in January of 1923. This view, looking north, shows the Delmonico Hotel on the right at 116 1/2 South 12th next to the familiar spire-topped Puget Sound Bank Bldg. (formerly National Realty Bldg.) Further in the background on the right is the uncompleted Scandinavian-American Bank Bldg. which would later become the Washington Building. Across the street on the left are numerous businesses including the Palace Hotel, Chicago Dentists, and the Dickson Bros. Co. G61.1-038

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Delmonico Hotel (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

View of Pacific Avenue looking south at 10th St. Streetcars and buses are blurred as they scud by along Pacific Avenue on a wintery day in 1923. Prominent among buildings is the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank structure on the left; it would not be completed until 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and named the Washington Building. The spire-topped Puget Sound Bank Bldg. (formerly National Realty Bldg.) can be spotted beyond at 11th & Pacific. Among other businesses on the left are the Peerless Grill, Argonaut Hotel, Union Tailors, Parker E. R. System Dentists and Thomas Billiards. Across the street at 950 Pacific is the Rust Building. TPL-5837; G61.1-030 (photograph has been damaged on the left)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

11th Street street scene. This is a view of 11th St. looking east toward the 11th St. Bridge and the tideflats in January of 1924. Strolling up and down the steep street are several groups of people. On the photograph's left are the Rhodes Brothers Department Store, the Fidelity Building, the Rust Building, and the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank building (later to be completed and called the Washington Building). On the right in the foreground at 11th & Broadway is the Stone-Fisher Department Store which would have its name changed to the Fisher Co. store in 1925 and later on, the Bon Marche. G57.1-140

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Fishers Department Store (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

9th & Broadway business district -downtown Tacoma- as seen in March of 1925. On the left in the center is the Fidelity Building, 949-55 Broadway. Built in 1890 as a six-story structure, an additional six stories were added in 1909. On its left is a portion of the Rhodes Brothers Department Store; on its right is the smaller Rust Building and the Washington Building, still under construction. G57.1-135

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is South 11th St., looking east, from Broadway in April of 1925. The 11th St. Bridge (now called the Murray Morgan Bridge) is visible in the distance. On the left are the Fidelity Building, Rust Building, and nearly completed Washington Building. Across the street from the Washington Building is the Peoples Department Store and closer to the bridge, the Perkins Building at 11th & "A." G57.1-143

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Photographer Marvin Boland peered out of one of the top floors of the Puget Sound Bank Building (1117-19 Pacific Avenue) on April 13, 1925, to capture the view of several massive buildings nearby in the midst of the downtown business district. The Rust Building, 950 Pacific, is the lighter-colored building across from the smaller Equitable Bldg. (1102-04 Pacific). Next to the Rust is the taller Fidelity Building with an actual address of 949-55 Broadway. On the far left in the photograph is the Rhodes Brothers Department Store. TPL-1907; G8.1-010

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is Pacific Avenue at South 12th St. looking north as pictured in June of 1926. Prominent downtown buildings right to left are: the National Bank of Tacoma, built in the Italian Renaissance style, at 1123 Pacific Avenue (later site of the Tacoma Art Museum), Puget Sound National Bank Building (1117-19 Pacific), building at 1115 Pacific built as annex to the Puget Sound National bank Bldg. (then called National Realty Bldg.), Bankers Trust Building, Peoples department store and at the far left, the 17-story Washington Building with Brotherhood Bank sign on rooftop. BU-12645

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; National Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Peoples (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Exterior view of Puget Sound National Bank Building in July of 1926. This block of Pacific Avenue was home to many prominent businesses including (L-R) the Washington Building, Peoples department store, the Bankers Trust Building, building at 1115 Pacific Ave. built as annex/addition to the National Realty Bldg., Puget Sound National Bank Building and the National Bank of Tacoma. When completed in 1910, the 16-story Puget Sound National Bank Building (then called the National Realty Building) was the tallest on the West Coast and the first built on the West Coast to withstand earthquakes. It was also the first in Tacoma to use cantilevered beam construction. Puget Sound Bank purchased the building in 1920. Some 80+ years later, Heritage Bank now occupies the structure. G61.1-041

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); National Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A large crowd of curious spectators gathered on Pacific Avenue outside the Charles F. Lewis (Hats) store on Saturday, June 7, 1924, to await the unveiling of the "Mystery Car." One man is crouched next to the shrouded hood, perhaps in preparation to flip off the car's covering. The "Mystery Car," type unidentified, proved to be a car finished at the Tacoma Duco Co. with the new Duco finish which was becoming popular nationwide. The Duco finish was now appearing on the latest models of cars direct from the factory. TPL-5552; G32.1-058 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-15-24, G-11)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Pacific Avenue at South 9th St. looking south. Barricades from the Consumers Central Heating Co. are positioned in the center of South 9th St. Street construction and/or repair were occurring during this part of August, 1924, in this area. Notable downtown buildings visible include the Provident Building (917 Pacific Ave.), the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank Bldg (later called the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave.) and Puget Sound National Bank (1117-19 Pacific Ave). G61.1-037

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Barricades--Tacoma; Provident Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

This is how the east side of Pacific Avenue, near South 10th & 11th Sts., appeared in September of 1924. Buildings were tightly built side-by-side with no space in between for parking lots. From L-R were: First Mutual Savings Bank's Deposit Vaults (1005 Pacific); Western Union Telegraph Co. (1007 Pacific); Keystone Printing Co., Peerless Grill and the Tourist Hotel Annex (1009 Pacific); and Shaw Supply Co.'s three-story brick building (1015 Pacific). The Tourist Hotel Annex would be demolished later to make way for the Bank of California. G61.1-019 TPL-10075

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tourist Hotel Annex (Tacoma); Western Union Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Keystone Printing Co. (Tacoma); Peerless Grill (Tacoma); Shaw Supply Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1892. East side of Broadway between South 9th and South 11th circa 1892. Stores include Taylor's Millinery at 913 South C (now Broadway) and the Lawrence Brothers Hardware Store at 915-917 South C. Upstairs in the hardware store building were offices for Shank & Murray, (John Shank, Frederick Murray) attorneys. The Tacoma Bazaar, decorated with dual awnings, was adjacent to the Lawrence Brothers store.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Taylor's Millinery (Tacoma); Lawrence Brothers Hardware (Tacoma); Tacoma Bazaar (Tacoma);