Gov. Arthur B. Langlie speaking at dedication of Liberty Bell replica at Washington State Historical Society in front of a capacity crowd. Sociey Pres.S A. Perkins sits to the governor's left; woman in large hat is Margaret Marshall, descendant of Chief Justice John Marshall. It was at the funeral procession of John Marshall in 1835 that the original Liberty Bell cracked. Identical in design, lettering, and calibration to the original bell, the replica weighs over a ton and stands six feet in height, measuring twelve feet in circumference at the lip and four feet at the crown. (TNT 7-8-50, p. 10; TNT 7-11-50, p. 19)

Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Bells;

Dedication of the Liberty Bell replica at the Washington State Historical Society. Governor Arthur B. Langlie, left in photo, with Society Director Chapin Foster on the museum steps. The dedication ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon, July 9, 1950, before a capacity crowd. Governor Langlie accepted the bell from Reno Odlin, who represented the Treasury department. The replica bell had been touring the state for six weeks during the Independence Savings Bond drive before being placed for permanent display at the Washington State Historical Society Museum.

Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Bells; Foster, Chapin D.;

The Washington State Historical Building, originally the Ferry Museum after its founder, Col. Clinton Peyre Ferry, was part of the "Kla-How-Ya" trail dedicated in the spring of 1950. The Trail was a 26 mile sightseeing tour around the Tacoma area, marked by green salmon direction signs. The trail was designed to bring the tourist dollar to Tacoma. The State Historical Museum was the largest in the Northwest and noted for its illuminated photo murals and its northwest pioneer, Indian and Alaskan exhibits, as well as its curios from around the world. The four story building also contained a reference library and art gallery, and had breathtaking views of the Stadium Bowl and the Puget Sound. (TNT 7/16/1950)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma);

Publicity photo of window transparencies in the Washington Hall of the Washington State Historical Building celebrating the completion of another unit in the ongoing S.A. Perkins historical photographic mural project. Mr. Perkins, President of the Historical Society, and Chapin Foster, Society Director, pose in front of the large view window overlooking the stadium bowl and the sound. The view is surrounded by a transparency of Mount Baker. Also new to the project were two murals flanking the doorway commemorating transportation in the Northwest, the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad and the inauguration of air service. (TNT 3/31/1950, pg. 1)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Paintings; Transparencies; Perkins, S.A.; Foster, Chapin D.;

View of members of Tacoma Sculpturing Club standing behind refreshments table on May 1, 1949. The club was having a reception in honor of their tenth anniversary and the opening of their wood carvings exhibition at the Washington State Historical Society museum, formerly known as the Ferry Museum. At far left are members Mrs. Roland Hill and Mrs. Clarence Utterback. Mrs. Walter Heath is believed to be standing sixth from left, flanked by Mrs. Pearl Lees and Mrs. Frank Naccarato, president of the club. R.E. Hager is the sole gentleman in the group. (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-5 & 5/8/49, p. A-13)

Tacoma Sculpturing Club (Tacoma); Receptions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wood carving--Tacoma; Sculptors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

View of Mrs. Clarence Utterback (left) standing by her beautiful carved hope chests and Thelma T. Hill, holding a permastone low relief portrait of her daughter, Nancy in May of 1949. Thelma Hill also carved the chairside table and the etching (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-5 & 5/8/49, p. A-13).

Wood carvings; Art; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Utterback, Clarence--Family; Hill, Thelma T.;

Charlotte Naccarato was the first Tacoma Sculpturing Club president and was also chairman of the exhibition at the Ferry Museum. Some of the club members and artists include: Mae Click, Thelma Hill, Etta J. Leedy, Mary Bartinette, Pearl Lees, Rose Defazio, Inez E. Threlkeld, Lillian F. Lovett, Mrs. Clarence Utterback and many others (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-5 & 5/8/49, p. A-13).

Tacoma Sculpturing Club (Tacoma); Wood carvings; Antiques--Tacoma; Art; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Naccarato, Charlotte; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays;

Tacoma Sculpturing Club has helped many homemakers become interested in wood carving as a hobby. The club meets regularly in the Bryant Creative Art Center at Bryant School. During World War II the club members volunteered with the Red Cross arts and crafts unit. The club is showing their work at the Washington State Historical Society museum, formerly known as the Ferry Museum (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-5 & 5/8/49, p. A-13).

Tacoma Sculpturing Club (Tacoma); Wood carvings; Art; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays;

The Tacoma Sculpturing Club celebrated their tenth anniversary in May 1949. A celebration exhibit at the Washington State Historical Society museum displayed members' works. Grace L. Heath carved a life-size wood bust of her husband, Walter A. Heath. Grace compares her work with its real life model, husband Walter. (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-5 & 5/8/49, p. A-13).

Tacoma Sculpturing Club (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma; Wood carving--Tacoma; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Heath, Walter A.--Family;

Tacoma Sculpturing Club would be exhibiting their work at the Washington State Historical Society museum in May of 1949. The club was celebrating ten years of wood carving sculpture. View of Walter A. and Grace L. Heath; Grace carved a life-size wood bust of her husband, Walter (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-5 & 5/8/49, p. A-13).

Tacoma Sculpturing Club (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma; Wood carving--Tacoma; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Heath, Walter A.--Family;

School children from Buckley and Elk Plain visited the Washington State Historical Society museum; they were guided through an imaginary trip across the plains during the time of the late Ezra Meeker. View of Chapin D. Foster (foreground, facing the children), Secretary and Director of the Washington State Historical Society museum, also known as the Ferry Museum, speaking to the visiting students (T.N.T., 4/6/49, p. 9).

School children--Tacoma; School field trips--Tacoma; Art exhibitions--Tacoma; Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

Washington State Historical Society will display a few of the items from the Washington car of the French Merci Train. The contents of the Washington car are being shown in Tacoma and Seattle, the items will be displayed for one week. Left to right: Chapin D. Foster, Washington State Historical Society Director, Mayor C. Val Fawcett, L. S. Schmidt, member of the State Committee in charge of the Washington car. The men are admiring the dolls in provincial costumes; french poster in background (T. Times, 3/11/49, p. 1).

Exhibitions--Tacoma; Dolls; Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

Washington State Historical Society is currently displaying an exhibit featuring fourteen dolls made by Ada Bridgman Odenrider. The dolls show a century of fashions, between the period of 1800 and 1900. The dolls are getting ready to go to Santa Ana, California, they have been invited to the Charles W. Bowers Memorial Museum; where only the rarest and most beautiful dolls are invited to participate (T. Times, 3/6/49, p. 24).

Dolls; Collectors--Tacoma; Hobbyists--Tacoma; Exhibitions--Tacoma; Odenrider, Ada Bridgman--Associated objects; Fashion shows--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

Chairmen of three DAR chapters at Ferry Museum, Tribune, Mr. H. Three local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution were planning a Tri-Chapter luncheon for November 22, 1948 at the New Yorker in honor of the state regent, Mrs. Daniel R. Swem of Seattle. Members of the planning committee are seen here with some of the exhibits of the Pioneer Room at the State Historical Society Building. They are, L-R, Lucille R. (Mrs. Darcy M.) Dayton, of the Virginia Dare chapter; Kathryn (Mrs. William G.) Mahncke, of the Elizabeth Forey chapter; and Irene B. (Mrs. Kenneth B.) Knudsen, of the Mary Ball chapter. The Washington State Historical Society was also known as the Ferry Museum. (TNT, 11/21/1948, p.D-1)

Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dayton, Lucille R.; Mahncke, Kathryn; Knudsen, Irene B.; National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (Tacoma);

Meeting of Fine Arts Studio Club at the Washington State Historical Society Building, TNT, Ernie Knight. Members of the Fine Arts Studio Club of Tacoma met at the Washington State Historical Society Building. They heard songs accompanied by one of the members playing on an old, square piano and were taken on a tour of the current exhibits including one of old musical instruments. (TNT, 2/22/1948, p.B-4)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Fine Arts Studio Club (Tacoma); Group portraits; Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Meeting of Fine Arts Studio Club at the Washington State Historical Society Building, TNT, Ernie Knight. Members of the Fine Arts Studio Club were taken on a tour of the Washington State Historical Society's collections with special attention given to the rare, old musical instruments that were housed there. Members were allowed to play the instruments. Fritz Berntsen played an old guitar, Adeline F. (Mrs. Byron) Foreman an autoharp, C.N. Arendt a flageolet, Eliz (Mrs. Fritz) Berntsen a concertina and Paul Prentice a Chinese stringed instrument. (TNT, 2/22/1948, p. B-4; 3/7/1948, p. B-4))

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Fine Arts Studio Club (Tacoma); Musical instruments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wind instruments; Autoharps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stringed instruments; Lutes; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Art League was presenting the work of Colonel C. Ross Greening at the Washington State Historical Building. Colonel Greening painted his graphic paintings while in a German Prison Camp. Colonel Greening was the inventor of the "10 Cent Bomb Site", this technique was used by Colonel James Doolittle in his Tokyo raid. View of Colonel C. Ross Greening explaining his art work to a member of the Tacoma Art League (T. Times, 1/24/48, p. 5).

Tacoma Art League (Tacoma); Art exhibitions--Tacoma; Art; Painting--Tacoma; Artists--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Veterans; Greening, C. Ross;

A juxtaposition of old and new is the site of the venerable Washington State Historical Society Building and its new wing as pictured on November 9, 1973. After more than two years of planning and construction, the Historical Society opened its doors to the new four-story addition. Although it would not be completed until January of 1974, the majority of the building was finished enough so that visitors could tour the facility in May of 1973. A formal dedication with Dr. Louis L. Tucker as key speaker, was held on Saturday, October 6, 1973. Attendees were welcome to tour the new wing with its collection of murals, glassware, Edward W. Allen historic maps and Arthur Rowan early American quilts. Photograph ordered by the Washington State Historical Society. (TNT 10-4-73, A1, A-4 article; TNT 10-7-73, H-10 article)

Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

Democratic Congresswoman Julia Butler Hansen and Washington State Historical Society president Reno Odlin pose before a display of paintings by Cathlamet pioneer Maude Kimball Butler on August 11, 1973. Mrs. Butler, the wife of former Wahkiakum County sheriff Donald Butler, was the mother of Mrs. Hansen and an accomplished watercolorist. Her paintings were on display at the Washington State Historical Society museum. Congresswoman Hansen was present at the annual meeting of the Washington State Historical Society. Photograph ordered by the Washington State Historical Society. (TNT 8-21-73, A-9 article)

Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Hansen, Julia Butler; Legislators--Washington--1970-1980; Paintings;

1973 Richards stock footage. By May of 1973, construction appears to be complete on the new wing of the Washington State Historical Society Building, 315 North Stadium Way. The new construction was designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards to include room for a new library, auditorium and permanent gallery for Western art. It was located at the rear of the original structure.

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma;

1971 progress photograph of new construction at the Washington State Historical Building. A new wing had been designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards that would include a new library, 300-seat auditorium and permanent gallery featuring Western art. The addition was expected to cost over $1,000,000. The addition was scheduled to open on Friday, May 4, 1973 although final work would not be completed until January 1, 1974. The four-story, 30,000 sq. ft. structure about doubled the size of the old facility. Besides a new elevator, restrooms would be placed on every floor and a large rooftop deck for outdoor exhibits was planned. Further improvements planned were a large parking lot and additional landscaping. Color photograph taken on spec but not ordered by the Washington State Historical Society. (TNT 4-29-73, Tahoman insert, p. 2-article)

Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980; Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. Progress photograph of ongoing construction at the Washington State Historical Building, 315 No. Stadium Way, in 1971. Workers are busy on the addition to the venerable museum. Originally known as the Ferry Museum, it was built in 1911. Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson and Richards designed this $1,000,000+ wing which would include a 300-seat auditorium, new library and permanent gallery featuring Western art. The four-story, 30,000 sq. ft. addition opened on May 4, 1973, although final work would not be completed until about January 1, 1974. (TNT 2-7-71, A-1 - sketch; TNT 4-29-73, Tahoman insert, p. 2-article)

Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980; Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. Progress photographs of new addition to the Washington State Historical Society building in 1971. Forms are in place and plywood stacked nearby. The majestic Stadium High School is in the background. The $1,000,000 wing was expected to take a year to complete. Architects in charge were the firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards. (TNT 2-7-71, A-1 -sketch)

Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. Progress photograph of construction occurring at the new wing in Washington State Historical Society building in 1971. A brick edifice is shown in the center of the color photograph; there are at least two arched doorways. Construction began in the spring of 1971 and was expected to take a year. The $1,000,000 addition would include a 300-seat auditorium, new library and a permanent gallery of Western art. (TNT 2-7-71, A-1 sketch)

Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. Two youngsters gaze in awe at the replica of the Statue of Liberty welcoming visitors to the Washington State Historical Society museum. The statue was presented to the Society in 1951 by the Mount Rainier Council of Boy Scouts.

Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma;

April, 1961, sun-drenched view of the Neo-Classical Washington State Historical Society building overlooking Commencement Bay. The historical society was holding its 70th annual meeting on April 8, 1961. Reno Odlin was re-elected president of the Board of Curators; guest speaker R. Franklin Thompson, president of the University of Puget Sound, reviewed the history of the historical society. 35 years later, the historical society would build a new history museum on Pacific Avenue. TPL-2338 (TNT 4-9-61, A-18)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Bearded pioneer Ezra Meeker posed with a group of men and women outside the Ferry Museum, 315 North Stadium Way, on November 25, 1924. Behind them was parked a small White bus advertising Nevada's Transcontinental Highways Exposition to be held in Reno from June 1-October 1, 1926. Next to Mr. Meeker on the right were W.B. Gelatt and Joseph Hutchinson, officials for the Transcontinental Highways Exposition. The women are Mrs. Gelatt and Jean Taylor of Reno. The group was touring eleven western states on behalf of the exposition, to be held in Reno in 1926. TPL-5687; G1.1-132A (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-30-24, 6-G)

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Buses; Gelatt, W.B.; Gelatt, W.B.--Family; Hutchinson, Joseph; Taylor, Jean;

Northwest pioneer Ezra Meeker is pictured on November 25, 1924, at the wheel of a White motor bus parked at the Ferry Museum, 315 North Stadium Way. Lettering on the bus promotes Nevada's Transcontinental Highways Exposition. Ezra Meeker had originally crossed the old Oregon Trail using oxen more than 50 years ago, quite a contrast to the modern convenience of land travel, a tour bus. Officials of the upcoming Transcontinental Highways Exposition in Reno had made a promotional stop in Tacoma, one of the many scheduled in their eleven state tour. G1.1-130 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-30-24, 6G)

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Buses;