View of downtown Tacoma's business district on Pacific Ave. In 1972, businesses on one side of Pacific Ave. included Dammeier Printing (Print NW), the Olympus Hotel, the Security (Provident) Building, the Washington Building with the giant neon Bank of California sign on its roof, and Puget Sound National Bank. In the foreground of this November 22, 1972, picture is the Olympus Hotel: it offered free television in every room and entertainment in the Frontier and Mirror Rooms. Built in 1909, the Olympus would close its doors as a hotel in November of 1974, later undergoing several changes in use of the property. Photograph ordered by Western Union, Seattle.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Security Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

ca. 1972. Downtown Tacoma wished its residents "Seasons Greetings" during the 1972 Christmas holidays with a lighted banner spanning Pacific Ave. Schoenfeld's, Puget Sound National Bank, and the Washington Building with the red neon Bank of California rooftop sign are some of the major businesses on the right side of Pacific, looking north. Bimbo's Italian Restaurant, Tacoma Rescue Mission and American Federal Savings are on the left.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Christmas decorations; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Washington Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma);

ca. 1972. Downtown Tacoma wished its residents "Seasons Greetings" during the 1972 Christmas holidays with a lighted banner spanning Pacific Ave. Schoenfeld's, Puget Sound National Bank, and the Washington Building with the red neon Bank of California rooftop sign are some of the major businesses on the right side of Pacific, looking north. Bimbo's Italian Restaurant, Tacoma Rescue Mission and American Federal Savings are on the left.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Christmas decorations; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Washington Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma);

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. Intersection of South 9th & Broadway. The venerable Roxy theatre is on the left; a double bill of "Summer of 42" and "Play It Again Sam" advertised during the 1972 Christmas holiday season, or shortly thereafter. LeRoy Jewelers and Woolworth's are also on the left of the photograph, further down on Broadway. Sherman Clay & Co. (pianos) and the Singer Co. are on the right side of Broadway, next to the enormous tree decorated in lights.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1970-1980; Sherman Clay & Co. (Tacoma); Singer Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. Pacific Avenue at night during the 1972 Christmas holiday season or shortly thereafter. This view looks south; the Security (Provident) Building, Washington Building and Puget Sound National Bank are on the left with the Park Plaza North parking garage and the Rust Building, purchased in October of 1972 by American Federal Savings & Loan, on the right.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Parking garages--Tacoma--1970-1980; Rust Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Security Building (Tacoma); Christmas decorations;

ca. 1974. By 1974, Seattle-First National Bank had been in the Pierce County market for five years. It had purchased the main office and branches of the Bank of Tacoma. This view of the bank building with its familiar "1" sign was taken from the Pacific Avenue side. Commonwealth Title Insurance Co. is on the left (with flag) and Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan to Sea-First's right. The Rust Building (now known as the American Federal Building since the purchase of the building by the American Federal Savings & Loan Assn. in October, 1972) is at the far right.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seattle-First National Bank (Tacoma); Commonwealth Title Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. This 1979 photograph shows the deterioration of the Commerce side of the buildings located at, left to right, 1523 Broadway and 1519-21 Broadway. The buildings are studded with broken windows and plants growing from crevices. The buildings have since been demolished and this is now the site of the Convention Center.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Building deterioration--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. The historic Waddell Building, 1502-04 Pacific Ave., circa 1979. The structure was built in 1890 by builder James Waddell. It has been remodeled and in 2004 it was incorporated into the Marriott Hotel.

Waddell Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. The historic Waddell Building, 1502-04 Pacific Ave., circa 1979. The structure was built in 1890 by builder James Waddell. It has been remodeled and in 2004 it was incorporated into the Marriott Hotel.

Waddell Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Shrubs grow from crevices of the historic Waddell Building, 1502-04 Pacific Ave., circa 1979. The structure was built in 1890 by builder James Waddell. It has been remodeled and in 2004 it was incorporated into the Marriott Hotel.

Waddell Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. The ground floor of the historic Waddell Building, 1502-04 Pacific Ave., circa 1979. The structure was built in 1890 by builder James Waddell. It has been remodeled and in 2004 it was incorporated into the Marriott Hotel.

Waddell Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Undated copy of customer postcard. View of Main Street in Sand Lake, Michigan. There is no moving traffic on Sand Lake's Main Street although several cars are parked along the town's business establishments. Estimated population in 2004 was barely over 500; it apparently has not changed much since the above photograph was taken perhaps in the 1930's. Photograph ordered by Pierce Powers, Puyallup.

Commercial streets--Michigan--Sand Lake; Business districts--Michigan--Sand Lake;

ca. 1908. Bicycle shop and Storage business. The bicycle shop is probably the Amzie D. Browning Bicycle & General Repairing business. The bicycle shop has an advertisment painted on it for the Tacoma Baking Co. Print is somewhat out of focus.

ca. 1913. A view of the west side of the 5200 block of South Union (now South Tacoma Way) looking north. The Bobbi Burns Wine House was at 5238 South Union. A boy stands by a water fountain.

Undated photograph taken at night of a business district, probably located in Centralia. Several taverns, a Bonanza 88 store, and a pharmacy dot the two-lane street. The area is brightly lit with freestanding light poles. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Business districts; Lampposts; Street lights;

ca. 1908. Northern Pacific shops in South Tacoma.

View of Saint Helens Ave. sometime in the 1930s. The Allyn Hotel (726-28) is on the right, next to the Medical Arts Building (747 Market St.). Many cars parked outside both buildings and across the street.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Allyn Hotel (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma);

This is a glimpse of busy Fourth Avenue in Olympia post 1947. Cars are lined up on both sides of the street as well as motoring down the long roadway, including a newish Lincoln. On the left foreground are the Olympia Bakery, Liberty Cafe, a bowling alley and a hotel. At right are the Reder's Grocery, Olympia Drug Co.and Gottfeld's men's clothing store. (Photograph courtesy of the William Cammarano Collection) TPL-10430

Commercial streets--Olympia; Lincoln automobile; Automobiles--Olympia--1940-1950; Olympia Bakery (Olympia); Liberty Cafe (Olympia); Reder's Grocery (Olympia); Olympia Drug Co. (Olympia);

Undated customer postcard of Lake Street in Sand Lake, Michigan. This undated photograph shows the north side of Lake Street in the very small town of Sand Lake, Michigan. This is probably prior to the common automobile age as the road is unpaved and transportation is primarily horse-and-wagon. Power or telephone poles are present on the north side of the street. Photograph ordered by Pierce Powers, Puyallup.

Commercial streets--Michigan--Sand Lake; Horses--Michigan--Sand Lake; Carts & wagons--Michigan--Sand Lake;

Undated customer postcard of street scenes in Sand Lake, Michigan. This appears to be one of Sand Lake's commercial streets with establishments close together. Photograph may have been taken about 1900 or before. Sand Lake in 2004 only had a population of barely 500; 100 years ago it may have been about the same or even smaller. The Sand Lake House is the large building closest to the camera. This may have been the town's hotel or even a boarding house. What appears to be a windmill is behind the business. A boots-and-shoe store is one of the businesses close to the Sand Lake House. Photograph ordered by Pierce Powers, Puyallup.

Commercial streets--Michigan--Sand Lake; Sand Lake House (Sand Lake, MI);