A white uniformed inspector checks in the long line of automobiles awaiting vehicle inspection at the State Vehicle Safety Inspection Station at 3315 So. 38th St. in October of 1939. State patrol officers were also on hand. Washington State had passed regulations in 1937 requiring that all vehicles pass a safety check. Beginning October 1, 1939, drivers not complying with this law could be fined or arrested. State patrol, traffic patrol and local city police were participating in a crack down on violators. (TNT 10/1/1939, pg. 11)

Vehicle Safety Inspection Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--1930-1940;

A light tank from the United States Army 3rd Tank Company took to the air on May 23, 1939, as Crown Prince Olav of Norway watched from the reviewing stand at Fort Lewis. He and Crown Princess Martha spent two hours watching intently as 8,000 soldiers passed in review, attack planes flew in formation, and maneuvers utilizing tanks traveled over man-made obstacles at speeds of 40 mph. Approximately 5000 Tacoma/ Pierce County civilians, mostly of Scandinavian heritage, watched from nearby hillsides and bleachers. (TNT 5-24-39, p. 6) TPL-10333

Visits of state--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma;

30,000 Tacomans stood on the tarmac at Mueller-Harkins Airport in sweltering heat to view the final event of the Golden Jubilee celebration on July 23, 1939. The Air Show, sponsored by the Tacoma Young Mens Business Club, was the last big featured Jubilee event. Here a vehicle owned by Ace Service, at 8533 South Tacoma Way, smashes through a wall with the driver laying flat on the hood. The service station was owned by Orville, Roy and Franz Nettlebeck. The majority of the stunts, however, were performed in the air by Tex Harkin, movie stunt pilot, and his "Southern Aces." (T. Times 7/24/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma);

Downtown Tacoma prepares for the Golden Jubilee Parade on July 22, 1939. Elevated view of Pacific Avenue, looking north. Celebration banners are strung across Pacific Ave on wires. Schoenfelds's in right foreground (at 1423 Pacific, with their annex at 1411-17 Pacific), Puget Sound Bank and other buildings in background. For Fisk Flag Company.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Broadway is hung with banners on July 22, 1939 in preparation for the Golden Jubilee parade. Looking north from 13th & Broadway, there are also signs welcoming the fleet as the Navy arrives for the celebration. The fleet arrived July 20th with a contingent of six battleships and 8,000 men. All of Tacoma joined in the week long festivities as Washington State entered its 50th year of statehood. To the left can be seen the sign for the Happy Days are Here Again Tavern at 1302 Broadway. Sears is on the same side of the street at 1148 Broadway. Crossing the street, you can see Broadway Drugs at 1301, Neff Floor Coverings (1155-57), Knapp's Business College (1151 1/2) and, further down, the sign for the Blue Mouse Theater at 1131 Broadway. TPL-1909

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Intersection at Broadway and South 15th Street, looking north. American flags, Washington State Golden Jubilee emblem, Welcom Navy sign hanging overhead, Sears Roebuck Building on left, business district in background. Traffic on street.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Business districts--Tacoma;

On opening day, July 1, 1940, 2,053 vehicles drove across the two-lane Narrows Bridge and many walked across the bridge in the first 10 1/2 hours. Governor Clarence D. Martin led the vehicular parade and paid the first toll--55 cents for car and driver plus 15 cents for each passenger. Pedestrians enjoyed a toll-free opening day, not paying the 15 cent toll levied for each direction walked. (T. Times, 7-2-40, p. 1). TPL-1574

Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Traffic congestion; Pedestrians; Walking;

(First) Tacoma Narrows Bridge Opening Ceremonies. The bridge is opened to the general public for the first time on July 1, 1940. Good view of toll plaza and the stream of cars waiting to drive onto the 6.4 million dollar bridge. More than 2000 cars claimed the privilege of traveling across the bridge on the first day of operation; others chose a different mode of transportation--feet--to cross the span linking Tacoma to the peninsula area. (T.Times, 7-1-40, p.1)

Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma; Pedestrians;

On July 1, 1940, the 1923 Lincoln Touring Car carrying Governor Clarence D. Martin and Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain led the parade of vehicles that drove across the 1st Narrows Bridge - and back again - after the official ribbon cutting on the Tacoma end of the bridge. Once the Governor's vehicle had returned to the starting point, the bridge was open to the general public. 2,053 cars crossed the bridge the first day of operations; there was no accurate count of the thousands of pedestrians who took advantage of the "no-tolls for walkers" policy that day. (T.Times, 7-2-40, p. 1)

Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955;

On opening day, July 1, 1940, 2,053 vehicles drove across the two-lane Narrows Bridge. The toll for the bridge was 55 cents for car and driver plus 15 cents for each passenger. Even the Governor was not exempt; Governor Clarence D. Martin, riding in a 1923 Lincoln Touring Car, receives his change from the bridge toll taker prior to crossing bridge at the head of the vehicle parade. Developer and industrialist Norton Clapp is in front of Governor Martin (behind wing window). Marjorie Cain, wife of Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain, is believed to be seated directly behind Governor Martin. (T. Times, 7-1-40, p. 1, 7-2-40, p. 1)

Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Clapp, Norton, 1906-1995; Tolls;

Narrows Bridge-McChord Field Celebration, July 1, 1940. Governor Clarence D. Martin greets George Gilbert Manning, 102 year old Civil War Veteran and playmate of the son of Abraham Lincoln from Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Manning was an honored guest at the celebration. He is shown here being lifted in his chair by two sturdy Washington State patrolmen.

Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Manning, George; Civil War, U.S., 1861-1865--Veterans--Tacoma; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Swimming pool provided at Tacoma General by Orthopedic Group for physical therapy. Two nurses are pictured on February 23, 1940, working with two children. The older child is already in the water kicking away.

Swimming pools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Physical therapy--Tacoma; Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Frozen foods advertisement. In this photograph dated November 29, 1939 Joyce (Mrs. Herbert) Syford held a package of Kol Pak brand quick frozen whole grain corn packed by Washington Packers, Inc. of Sumner. She was about to prepare them in the double boiler on her pristine apartment stove.

Syford, Joyce; Syford, Herbert--Family; Vegetables; Stoves;

On a sunny June day in 1940, eleven unidentified young children enjoyed playing on the slide in the backyard of the Tacoma Day Nursery at 12th and I Streets. For over 28 years, the Day Nursery had been providing day care for the children of working mothers. 25-35 children, up to five years of age, were cared for each day. On Friday June 14, 1940 the day nursery held their annual Flag Day sale to raise money for the daycare center's activities. (T. Times 6/13/1940, pg. 14)

Tacoma Day Nursery (Tacoma); Day care--Tacoma--1940-1950; Slides; Swings; Children playing outdoors;

Cushman Indian Hospital; buildings, residences, and manicured grounds. In 1928, these buildings that had previously housed the Indian school and the Cushman Veteran's Hospital were given to the US Indian Service as a tuberculosis treatment unit. The buildings were demolished to erect the Tacoma Indian Hospital in the forties. The hospital was completed in 1943, its construction delayed due to a wartime shortage of building supplies.

Tacoma Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Cushman Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Construction of the first Narrows Bridge. View of towers, cables and catwalks looking east from west end. (T. Times Special Edition, 2/27/1940.)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Construction of the first Narrows Bridge. View of towers of unfinished bridge from the northeast looking through tree branches. (T. Times, Special Edition, 2/27/1940).

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Construction of the first Narrows Bridge. View of unfinished bridge looking northeast, from just south of the west anchor block. Small group of people standing near bluff. (T. Times, Special Edition, 2/27/1940).

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Construction of the first Narrows Bridge. View of cable spinning machinery and towers. Taken from the Tacoma end of the bridge, the photograph is of the reels which feed the steel wires to be woven into strands, which form the cables that support the bridge. Each strand contains 332 wires. Each completed cable contains 6308 wires. (T. Times Special Edition, 2/27/1940.)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Construction of the first Narrows Bridge. View of the west end concrete cable anchor block. The large concrete block is as "large as an ordinary house" and anchors the cables at the west end of the bridge. Each cable is made up of 6,308 wires. When completed, the bridge will have the third largest center span in the world. ( T. Times Special Edition, 2/27/1940)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Construction of the first Narrows Bridge. View of assorted machinery from top of west end concrete cable anchor block, looking east. (T. Times Special Edition, 2/27/1940.)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Construction of the first Narrows Bridge. View of west end concrete cable anchor block and assorted machinery, from the south. (T. Times Special Edition, 2/27/1940.)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound (Wash.); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Three workers in hard hats are lifted by a pulley operated open air elevator to the lofty first Narrows Bridge construction site in March of 1940. The men were not identified.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

Narrows Bridge Construction. Construction of the first Narrows Bridge was not yet completed at the time of this February 11, 1940, photograph. Scores of Sunday visitors would flock to the site to admire progress being made. The bridge would officially open on July 1st of that year and collapse dramatically a mere four months later. (T. Times)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Sightseers--Tacoma;

Narrows Bridge. View of road across span as workmen do last minute cleanup to remove concrete forms. The bridge, later dubbed "Galloping Gertie," had its dedication on July 1, 1940. Four months later it suffered a dramatic collapse during a 35 mph rain and windstorm.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Group portrait of Narrows Bridge construction workers, with hats raised in salute, in front of Toll Gate, with span in background. The new suspension bridge, later dubbed "Galloping Gertie," was opened for business on July 1, 1940 and these men, who probably had a great part in its construction, were there to celebrate.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Moving day at the Tacoma Times. Eight men posing candidly, some elated, some sorrowful, in stripped news room where papers and furniture are in disarray. Immediately after the final edition on Saturday afternoon, February 10, 1940, was published, the Times began its move to its new home at 919 Market Street. The three story structure had formerly been the telephone building. The Times had been publishing its paper at 819 Pacific Avenue since 1917, but had outgrown the facility. Over the weekend, several tons of heavy machinery, equipment and furniture were moved to its new home. For Mr. Voorhees. (T.Times)

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Newspaper industry--1940-1950; Newspapers--1940-1950;

Moving day at the Tacoma Times. Two employees speak to each other on the paper's last day at their old location.

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Newspaper industry--1940-1950; Newspapers--1940-1950;

Tacoma Times employee

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Newspaper industry--1940-1950; Newspapers--1940-1950;

Staff in Tacoma Times office. Eight men at work in newsroom (T. Times)

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Newspapers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Newspaper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reporters; Journalists;