Broad view of northern downtown Tacoma, with Old City Hall and the Northern Pacific Headquarters to the right, the railyards to the left, and Mount Rainier in the distance. circa 1910.
Printed on front: Gateway to the city, Tacoma, Washington
Bustling Pacific Avenue business district. The Peoples Store, lower right, was built in 1895. The Berlin Building, just north across 11th street, was built in 1892 and demolished in 1919. Old City Hall in upper left corner. circa 1910.
Printed on front: Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, the City Hall at the End of the Street.
Printed on back: Business Section--Tacoma---Mt. Rainier in background. Towering man-made mountains, the skyscrapers in the foreground, provide dramatic contrast to nature's mountain looming in the background. Dominating a harbor listed by the United State as one of the five best in the world, Tacoma is the lumber capitol of America, railroad, steamship and highway center, famous for its efficient municipal government, low cost of living, pure soft water supplied from artesian wells and mountain rivers. Since 1841 when the region was first explored, the peacetime population of the Tacoma metropolitan area has grown to 156,000.
Picture taken just minutes before "Galloping Gertie" began breaking apart. The car on the bridge belongs to Tacoma News Tribune News Editor Leonard Coatsworth. circa 1940.
Printed on front: Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Looking west from easterly pier, 10:45 am - 11/7/40.
Message: I was sorry not to have the opportunity to tell you "good bye" but I went rowing and then had just time to get my train. Erma L. Wiley. 720 S. Cedar St. Spokane Do you remember "The Totem Pole" in "The Alaskan"?
Addressee: Mrs. Earl M. Rogers Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
The Carnegie Library, built in 1903 is now home to the Special Collections department of the Tacoma Public Library. The Pierce County Courthouse is visible in the upper right corner, and the old Central School can be seen to the left. circa 1909.
Message: Tacoma, Wn. Aug 15/09. dear Miss Donoher, Your card reached us yesterday at noon was pleased to get it, the same mail brought one from Miss Gilchreest from California love to all. from the Hauser's We missed you today
An early view of the Carnegie Building, part of the Tacoma Public Library's Main location. It now houses the library's Special Collections in the Northwest Room. circa 1914.
Printed on front: Carnegie Library, Court House, State Armory and Central School, Tacoma, Wash.
This is the second Narrows Bridge, opened in 1950 after the first bridge, nicknamed "Galloping Gertie" broke apart during a windstorm in November 1940. circa 1950.
Printed on back: Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma, Washington) - One of the longest suspension bridges in the world connects the City of Tacoma with the most beautiful and scenic Olympic Peninsula.
Printed on back: The Narrows Bridge and Mount Rainier Washington This ultra modern bridge costing $18,000,000 connects the Olympic Peninsula, America's Last Frontier, to the mainland of the great and developed Puget Sound area.
According to HistoryLink.org, this Totem Pole was stolen by members of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce from the Tlingit Tribe, while the group was on a "Good Will" tour of southeast Alaskan ports, sponsored by the Seattle Post Intelligencer. 8 men were indicted in Federal court but never served papers -- and the suit was later dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge, as one of his first acts in office, after he was "entertained at the Rainier Club" while visiting Seattle. The Tlingits wanted $20,000 for the stolen item -- the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ended up paying them $500. After the original was damaged by fire in 1938, it was replaced by a replica carved by the descendants of the people who created the original pole. circa 1908.
Printed on front: The Totem Pole in the Pioneer Square. Seattle, Wash.
Printed on back: Tacoma Public Library The McCormick Branch Library, 3722 North 26th Street, brings a wealth of library services and materials to residents of Tacoma's North and West End neighborhoods. The 11,975 square foot addition to the 61 year old Tudor-style library was designed by McGranahan Messenger Associates, Architects, and built by Mar-Jan Contractors, Inc. Funding for the $2.2 million library was provided through passage of a $15.8 million Library Construction Bond approved by Tacoma citizens in 1984.
Printed on back: Tacoma Public Library Designed by Architects Reed Reinvald, the 14,487 square foot Grace R. Moore Branch Library at 215 South 56th Street provides an abundance of library materials and services to the residents of Tacoma's south end neighborhoods. The $2.2 million regional library, named in honor of one of the founders of public library service in Tacoma, was built by Pease Construction, Inc. on the site of the original Moore Branch Library. Funding was provided through passage of a $15.8 million Library Construction Bond approved by Tacoma citizens in 1984.
Message: Tacoma, Wash. May 2nd. Dear Little Alice: We have moved so I am sending you our new address. I sent you a letter but don't know if I got the right address on it or not. Hope you got it. Dorothy Nash has a trained nurse taking care of her. She has something the trouble with her now caused when Dickey came. Write soon, 1408 So. 16th St. With love, Effie.
Addressee: Miss Alice Gregory, 235 1/2 Eagle Rock Ave, Los Angeles, Calif.
Message: Sept. 21 - 16, Dear all: I have been in this park don't you think it's pretty? We pass this pk. to go to Pt. Defiance pk. Grace you write and tell me the news too do you see Dick W anymore. Hope to get a few lines from you all soon. Love to all, Hattie.
Addressee: Mr. EL (?) Derr, 519 N. Prospect, Sturgis, Mich.
Originally conceived as an alternative to the area's many saloons, this first branch library grew from the Women's Christian Temperance Union's South Tacoma Reading Room that was opened in 1905. The building that housed the first South Tacoma Branch was dedicated in 1911, and the current building opened in 1959. circa 1989.
Printed on back: Tacoma Public Library The $1.05 million renovation and addition to the South Tacoma Branch Library, 3411 South 56th Street, was designed by Seifort and Forbes, Architects and built by C E & C, Inc. Originally constructed in 1959 on the site of an original Carnegie-funded library, the South Tacoma Branch brings a wealth of library services and materials to Tacoma's south end neighborhoods. Funding for the renovation was provided through passage of a $15.8 million Library Construction Bond approved by Tacoma citizens in 1984.
