Washington State Historical Society building addition. View of entrance facade with construction cranes on roof. Original building by George W. Bullard, Architect; addition by Mock and Morrison, Architects. Original photograph, see D881 image 3 for cropped version. (T. Times).

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

In March of 1937, work began on construction of a $40,000 third story addition to the Washington State Historical Society, 315 No. Stadium Way. A crane on the roof is helping to erect the masonry cornice on the roof level. The additional space was being added to provide a display area for the museums valuable collection of art and historical relics which were crowded into storage areas not open to the public. This building is now the Washington Historical Society Research Center. (T. Times 3/30/1937, pg. 1)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

William P. Bonney, pictured left center with trowel, Pierce County native son and secretary of the Washington Historical Society, can now add masonry to his long list of careers. He has been a farmer, teamster, dispatch rider and pharmacist; and most recently he went up to the roof of the Ferry Museum to "help" place one of the stones for the cornice of the $40,000 third story being constructed on one wing of the building. The additional story will display works of art and historical relics now kept in storage rooms. The work is scheduled to be completed by summer. (T. Times 3/13/1937, pg. 1)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bonney, William P.; Remodeling;

Washington State Historical Society building addition. Curator William P. Bonney directs masonry crew constructing the new third floor of the building. Addition by Mock and Morrison, Architects. Original photograph, see D881-3 for cropped version. (T. Times 03/30/37 p. 1)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bonney, William P.; Remodeling;

ca. 1937. The Washington State Historical Building Museum, originally the Ferry Museum, was built in 1911 from a design by George W. Bullard, architect. A third floor was added on in 1937.

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma);

Alonzo Victor Lewis, noted sculptor, stands in the shadow of a column at the entry to the Ferry Museum where he recently added the art-deco detail above the front doors. Artistic portraiture. (T. Times).

Lewis, Alonzo Victor; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (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);

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;

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;

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;

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 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. 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. 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;

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);

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;

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;

Exhibit showing transparancies and murals at Ferry Museum, Washington State Historical Society, Mr. Foster. The S.A. Perkins project depicted how this part of the Northwest developed first as North Oregon, the Washington Territory and then Washington State. It represented the entire state from Cathlamet to Okanogan, from Grays Harbor to Steptoe Butte. The show opened at the Ferry Museum January 23, 1949, (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Paintings; Transparencies;

Chapin Foster became the manager of the Washington State Historical Society after the death of William P. Bonney. Mr. Foster suggested a permanent display of photographs and large transparencies that would show how this part of the Northwest, developed as "North Oregon", became the Washington territory and the territory became Washington State. S.A. Perkins, president of the Society approved the idea and the show opened January 23, 1949. (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)

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

Exhibit showing transparancies and murals at Ferry Museum, Washington State Historical Society, Mr. Foster. Mr. Chapin D. Foster is putting the final touches on the display of materials depicting the development of Washington State from when the area was known as North Oregon, the Washington Territories and then became a state. (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)

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