Stadium Bowl's stands are packed with students and adults in this circa 1920 photograph. Lines of young boys and girls occupy the field while the school band plays on the outdoor stage. This is believed to be "Stadium Day," held each year in May. The "Castle," the massive turreted brick structure otherwise known as Stadium High School, overlooks the Bowl. G55.1-093

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930;

4th of July celebration at Stadium Bowl. 35,000 jammed into Stadium Bowl in 1924 to celebrate Independence Day with pageants and fireworks. Mounted horsemen from Troop F, 11th U.S. Calvary, bands, sailors and school children stood in the center of the vast bowl with the imposing Stadium High School to the left. The American Legion sponsored the festivities. G55.1-036; BU-11,612 (TNT 7-5-24, p. 1-article)

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930; Spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

4th of July 1924. These rows of fireworks lined up against a fence will soon be exploding into Tacoma skies at the 4th of July celebration held at Stadium Bowl in 1924. An estimated 35,000 people crammed into Stadium Bowl to watch the pyrotechnic display. G20.1-013

Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fireworks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

This display of fireworks at the 1924 4th of July celebration held in Tacoma's Stadium Bowl fully expressed what the people of Tacoma thought the correct name should be for our mountain. Tacomans waged an ultimately fruitless battle against the name "Mount Rainier" for Pierce County's majestic mountain. Residents insisted that the original Native American name, "Tacoma," be reinstated and references in local newspapers always referred to "Mt. Tacoma." TPL-308; G20.1-032

Fireworks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Tacoma's Stadium Bowl was under construction in April of 1909. Designed by local architect Frederick Heath and built by Western Engineering Co., the bowl had an original seating capacity of 23,486. It was dedicated on June 10, 1910. Stadium Bowl has been damaged several times over the years by mudslides and was forced to close in 1949. It did not reopen until about 1960. After renovation and rededication in 1980, it suffered further mudslide damage in 1981. BU-11552

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1900-1910; Progress photographs;

Armistice Day Navy-Army Football Game at Stadium Bowl. Over 8,000 people packed the stands on November 11, 1935 for a charity Army vs. Navy Armistice Day football game held at the Stadium Bowl. The Navy arrived from Bremerton on the ferry Kalakala and stayed to defeat the Army 6 to 2 on a field that resembled a sea of mud. For Bremerton Sun. (filed with Argentum) (see D410 for more pictures of the same event)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Go West young man seems to be the catch phrase for this group of cast members from the historical pageant "Saga of the West." They are all attired as frontiersmen and pose in front of a covered wagon. The pageant was performed July 20-22, 1939 as part of the celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood. The extravaganza boasted a cast of 2,000, as well as horses, stage coaches, covered wagons, Indians, cowboys, soldiers and sailors. The actors pantomimed, with all voices portrayed by seven narrators over microphones. Musical accompaniment was supplied by an orchestra, 200 voice choir and an organ.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Historical pageants--Tacoma;

Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce, publicity for Stadium July Fourth Show. Two men wearing suits, ties, fedoras, posing with fireworks sign above Stadium Bowl. Stadium and Washington State Historical Society Museum in background. The July 4th show ran over two hours and attracted an audience of over 7,000, covering 2/3 of the Bowl.

Fireworks--1930-1940; Holidays--1930-1940; Fourth of July celebrations; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma);