This float, designed for the Omaha Woodman Life Insurance Society, has a frontier theme and appears to be populated by Boy Scouts. The Scouts embrace the frontier way of life foraging for their own food by rifle, bow and arrow and fishing. Two boys wave a large American flag. A floral log cabin occupies the front half of the float. This was one of 59 floral float entries in the 1956 parade, the 23rd annual Daffodil Festival Parade.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Omaha Woodman Life Insurance Society (Tacoma);

The nursery rhyme "Mary Mary, quite contrary" is the theme of this float; Mary waves to the crowd as she waters streams of flowers on her garden of "pretty maids all in a row." This float was sponsored by the Sears and Roebuck Co. and won first place in the Retail division, division 8. The parade viewers are bundled up in coats and hats as the day was dull and overcast, but the pretty maids show off their stems in short skirts. (TNT 4/14/1956, pg. 1; 4/15/1956, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma);

The characters from the famous L. Frank Baum childrens' book "The Wizard of Oz" populate this float in the Daffodil Parade. Waving to the audience are Dorothy, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and Princess Ozma of Oz. The Oz float was sponsored by the West Coast Grocery's Shop Rite Markets and won the Festival Award for 1956. The float had an 8 x 10 replica of the book and used 40,000 daffodils for coverage. (TNT 4/14/1956, pg. 1; 4/15/1956, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Fabled logging giant Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe are featured on this float designed for St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. This float won the Sweepstakes Award in the 23rd annual Daffodil Festival Parade. The 45 foot float was the longest and lowest single unit in parade history. Designed by Roy E. Stier, it was covered with 40,000 daffodils and 3,000 blue daisies. St. Paul and Tacoma had won many Festival Parade awards and was known for its beautiful and original floats. TPL-2034

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Cinderella is the theme of this float; the clock has almost struck 12 midnight as Prince Charming, believed to be the newly elected Exalted Ruler of the Elks Norbert E. Grove, attempts to fit the slipper back on Cinderella's foot. This charming salute to the Cinderella fairy tale won first place in Division 4, fraternal groups, for the Elks. The carriage and castle are all covered with sunny yellow daffodils. (TNT4/14/1956, pg. 1; 4/15/1956, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Grove, Norbert;

Intersection of 11th & Pacific, Johnny Appleseed scatters the seeds of faith on this float entered by the First Assembly of God. In keeping with the 1956 theme of "Storytime in Daffodils," the church has chosen the fable of Johnny Appleseed who seeded the Northwest with groves of apple trees to provide shelter and food. This Johnny sows the seeds of faith next to a small flower bedecked church.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; First Assembly of God (Tacoma);

The intersection of 11th & Pacific, crowds dispersing after the 1956 Daffodil Parade. People have lined up several deep along Pacific to enjoy the parade.The dull, overcast day did not deter the over 100,000 parade viewers in Tacoma; another 50,000 were expected to view the parade in Puyallup and Sumner. In addition, the parade was telecast by local stations who anticipated a viewing audience of over 1 million. The parade was made up of 59 floats, 37 bands and drill teams, 7 cars and 4 mounted units. The parade got underway at 10am in Tacoma and was over 2 hours long. The parade route began at 17th and Broadway, proceeded north on Broadway to 9th, down 9th to Pacific and south on Pacific to 19th. More than 2 million King Alfred daffodils were used to carry out the theme of "Storytime in Daffodils." (TNT 4/12/1956, PG. 1, 4/14/1956, PG.1, 4/15/1956, PG. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma;

The intersection of 11th & Pacific, a group of young baton twirlers clad in short plaid skirts and white sweaters march in majorette boots performing for the crowd. The identity of this group is not known, but some of the twirlers look hardly larger than their batons. The 1956 parade featured 37 bands and drill teams.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Baton twirling--Tacoma; Drum majorettes--Tacoma;

Twelve princesses for the 1956 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, dressed in Easter dresses and hats and holding baskets of flowers. Preparations were well underway for the 23rd annual Daffodil Festival to be held on April 9-15, 1956. Twelve candidates were vying for Queen. Seated left to right in row 1 are Dianne Divelbiss of Sumner and Judy Poolman of Sumner. 2nd row: Donna Kaelin of Sumner, Nancy Rosario of Sumner, Cheryl McDonald of Tacoma, Evelyn Strandley of Puyallup. 3rd row: Frances Delano of Puyallup, Connie Vandewall of Puyallup, Judy Nelson of Puyallup, Margaret Strachan of Tacoma. Top Row-Kathy Gustafson of Tacoma and Betty Zevenberger of Tacoma. Margaret Strachan was crowned Queen by Governor Arthur Langley April 9th in Spartan Hall in Sumner. The 18 year old Stadium High School senior was the first Tacoma girl ever elected Queen. Princesses were Diane Divelbiss, 17 year old Sumner senior, and Evelyn Strandley, 16 year old Puyallup junior. (TNT 4/1/1956, pg. D-1, TNT 4/10/1956, pg.1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956); Divelbiss, Dianne; Poolman, Judy; Kaelin, Donna; Rosario, Nancy; McDonald, Cheryl; Strandley, Evelyn; Delano, Frances; Vandewall, Connie; Nelson, Judy; Strachan, Margaret; Gustafson, Kathy; Zevenberger, Betty;

1940 Daffodil Parade; "City of Electric Homes" float, winning first place in the Municipal Division. This float entered by City Lights had a kitchen carpeted with daffodils and filled with various electric appliances. Two women are shown seated in the model home kitchen. Grocery store in apartment building in background. (T. Times 3/30/ 1940, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

1940 Daffodil Parade. Sumner float. Five young women in portals of a daffodil fan. The float was portrayed in the Tacoma Times as a giant paddle wheel a-la a Mississippi riverboat, with a beautiful girl in each paddle. Adams Brake Service building in background. See series G20.1 image 134 for a another photograph of the same float. (T. Times)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

1940 Daffodil Parade. Float on truck decorated with daffodils and fir tree branches. Wing-emblem feature of float and also pictured on the girls' sweaters. (T. Times)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

Comic highlights of the 1940 Daffodil Parade. With the sun only peaking through clouds over the parade route, clowns added a note of humor. They took a "perfect sleeper" mattress from the F. S. Harmon float and threw it out on the route at 9th and Broadway. A steamroller, entered in the parade by Woodworth and Cornell, ran over the mattress, flattening it. A unique moment in daffodil history. (T. Times 3/30/1940, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

1940 Daffodil Parade, Brown & Haley Almond Roca float. Man and woman with three women dressed in costumes standing beside float. The float features the vacuum sealed tin of Almond Roca candy. This packaging innovation made it possible for the candy to go "to the four corners of the world." The Brown & Haley float won first place in the commercial division. (T. Times 3/30/1940, pg.1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

1940 Daffodil Parade. Twenty six floats participated in the 7th annual Daffodil Parade on March 30, 1940. The sun only peaked occasionally through the clouds to view the floats covered in the sunshine yellow flowers. The Kiwanis Club float had daffodil seahorses hitched to a sea shell, the carriage of a beautiful blonde girl. (T. Times 3/30/1940, pg. 1))

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

The 7th annual Daffodil Parade coursed through Tacoma on March 30, 1940. On the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce float, Charlene Anderson and Wyona Diemer ride in a covered wagon pulled by two floral oxen. Between 60,000-75,000 spectators turned out to view the parade.(T. Times 3/30/1940, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

1940 Daffodil Parade. The Sweepstakes winner in the 7th annual Daffodil Parade was entered by the Tacoma Labor Council. A huge floral bell tolled in the center of the float, topped by doves representing peace. The float is pictured parading through Sumner. Heads of drivers can be seen among flowers on float on which four young girls are riding. Sumner floral sign and house in background. Over 26 floats were entered in the 1940 parade. (T. Times 3/30/1940, pg. 1))

Parades & processions--Sumner--1940-1950; Festivals--Sumner; Floats (Parades)--Sumner--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 : Sumner);

1940 Daffodil Parade. Rotary International float on residential street. Older wooden houses and Japanese church in background. The center focus of the float is the globe, its continents worked out in daffodils. The float placed first in the service club catagory. See series G20.1 image 130 for another photograph of the same float. (T. Times 3/30/1940, pg.1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

This float is bearing her royal highness, Queen Marge I, Daffodil Royalty of 1940. Queen Marge I, 1940 Daffodil Queen, is seventeen year old Puyallup High School senior Marge Roscoe. Selected for her photogenic looks, Queen Marge is also a star on the school's debate team. She rides on the float from her home city of Puyallup, with a crown of daffodils and a regal robe of purple. She is flanked by attendants Lillian Kelly and Ella Reno. (T. Times 3/30/1940, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma); Roscoe, Marge;

1940 Daffodil Parade; Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau float. Two young women on garden design float. 60-75,000 spectators turned out to view the 1940 parade. They were rewarded by a parade that was just under an hour long, with 26 floats, bands and marching drill teams. (T. Times)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1940 :Tacoma);

Admittance Day Parade in Olympia on November 11, 1939. Since the date was both Admission and Armistice Day, the parade was a mixture of historical floats and pageantry plus a selection of military men and guns honoring the end of World War I. Soldiers are shown marching in formation in the parade with homes on a hill in the background. This Armistice Day in 1939 was particularly turbulent as Europe was already at war again and America appeared ready to follow. Several anti-war demonstrations were held on this date across the country. (T.Times 11/13/1939, pg 9)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Olympia; Parades & processions--Olympia--1930-1940;

Admittance Day Parade in Olympia on November 11, 1939. The parade honored Washington's admittance into the Union 50 years prior and travelled over part of the route of the first statehood celebration promenade in 1889. This parade float features a replica of the covered wagon that brought the first settlers to Tumwater, where the Columbia River branch of the Oregon Trail ended. Sign reads "The End of the Oregon Trail." The float is entered by Cub Scout Pack 5, sponsored by the Eastside Community Center. It is parked on a street with house in background. (T. Times 11/13/1939, pg. 9)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Olympia; Parades & processions--Olympia--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Olympia--1930-1940;

Admittance Day Parade in Olympia on November 11, 1939. Soldiers marching along wet street. Since this date was also Armistice Day, honoring the end of World War I, the parade included several contingents of marching men and weapons. This Armistice Day was bittersweet as Europe was already at war and America soon to follow.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Olympia; Parades & processions--Olympia--1930-1940;

Admittance Day Parade in Olympia on November 11, 1939. Firemen aboard horse-drawn fire engine, sign on side reads "1883." The Admission Day celebration in Olympia was patterned after the original inauguration of Governor Elisha P. Ferry. The two mile parade travelled over part of the route of that original statehood celebration. Ben's Service Station, Maxwell dealer, and houses in background.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Olympia; Parades & processions--Olympia--1930-1940; Fire engines & equipment--Olympia;

The float entered by the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Co. won third place in the Industrial Division. Two twin globes flank the front of the float, while the Statue of Liberty stands guard before a depiction of an atom at the rear of the float. A young boy representing Uncle Sam had gotten tired and is sitting on the base of the Statue. A south of the border vaquero and a safari hunter also ride at the rear of the float next to a palm tree.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

The Girl Scouts of America are well represented as they march down Pacific Ave. past the Bank of California building and the United Mutual Savings Bank in the 1955 Daffodil Parade.The girls wear the traditional uniform of skirt, shirt, kerchief and beret type hat. Bands worn diagonally across their chests are for displaying merit badges. There are lots of ankle socks and saddle shoes in the group. The leaders march along with their girls.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Girl Scouts (Tacoma);

This humorous float received Honorable Mention in the retail catagory. In keeping with the theme of "Golden Future," two women sit at the back of the float on the covered patio sipping ice tea and visiting while two robots mow the lawn and trim the hedges. The float was sponsored by McKinnon's Department store. The store was located at 3639 So. "G" and was owned by Ray and Alice B. McKinnon.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; McKinnon's Department Store (Tacoma);

The "Golden Future" is placed securely in the stars with the Independent Order of Foresters' entry, a daffodil bedecked flying saucer. This float won second place in the fraternal organization catagory of the 1955 Daffodil Parade. The driver wears a trench coat and safari hat to protect him from the rain and umbrellas have sprung up all over the crowd.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Independent Order of Foresters 327 (Tacoma);

The winner of the 1955 Daffodil Parade Festival Award for the float most closely adhering to the festival theme of "Golden Future" was sponsored by the Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot. Its theme was "We weave the golden future." It featured a revolving spinning wheel that wound out skeins of golden thread to eight spools, with labels like shipbuilding and aircraft, most probably referring to the industries that would fuel the Northwest economy in the future. The float used over 60,000 daffodils. A large basket in the front held the daffodil "wool." TPL-8301

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot (Tacoma);

This flower covered San Francisco trolley car won first place in the retail division for Steve Pease. Steve Pease owned Steve's Gay '90s, a South Tacoma landmark and popular nightspot of the fifties and sixties. This trolley was an actual San Francisco street car that Pease bought at auction in San Francisco, outfitted for street driving and drove back to Tacoma. It became a centerpiece at his restaurant and served as the inspiration for his Cable Car Room.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma);