ca. 1904. The Northern Pacific Railroad built a passenger station at 1701 Commerce Street in its western terminus city in 1883. By 1892, Tacoma had become a major West Coast city; this prompted the railroad to relocate its industrial repair shops to South Tacoma and move the station to the shops' former site on Pacific Avenue, shown here. Tacomans were outraged when NP President Henry Villard refused to build a grand station to complement the city's cosmopolitan architecture and disdainfully referred to the small building as the "Villard Depot". It was finally demolished in 1909 and replaced with the present Union Depot structure.

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Cityscapes--Tacoma;

ca. 1933. Retiring Northern Pacific Stationmaster at office Union Station with his hand on the lever of the switchboard. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune.

Actor Harold Lloyd and his wife, Mildred Davis, in Tacoma on April 21, 1925, at Union Station. The Lloyds were on their way to New York from California and stopped in Tacoma for a few hours. Dressed primarily in white, including a white fur coat with white fox collar, white hose, white pumps and a small white handbag, actress Mildred Davis stands next to her famous actor/comedian spouse, who is sans his trademark hornrimmed spectacles. Miss Davis is formerly from Tacoma and was paying her first visit to her old hometown since her marriage in 1923. Desiring to show her husband the high school she attended, she and Mr. Lloyd caused a mob scene at Stadium High School where hundreds of students were excited to see the celebrities. Miss Davis had appeared with her husband in many of his comedies and was his leading lady in his best remembered film, "Safety Last." (1923) (TDL 4-22-25, p. 1) TPL-6689; G67.1-13

Actors; Lloyd, Harold; Lloyd, Harold--Family; Actresses; Davis, Mildred; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On August 30, 1926, Miss Tacoma, Dorothy Rothermel, boarded the Oriental Limited at Union Station for Atlantic City. She was Tacoma's first entry in the fledgling Miss America contest. In 1926 the Miss America contest was not limited to one contestant from each state. Miss Rothermel was accompanied by her official chaperone Mrs. Bernice E. Newell. She stopped for three days in Philadelphia as guest of the John B. Stetson Hat Company. On September 7th, she boarded the "American Beauty Special" with the other seventy plus contestants for Atlantic City. Although Miss Rothermel did not win the Miss America crown for 1926, which went to Miss Tulsa, she was awarded third place in the Western division. She also left a lot of people wondering "Where the heck is Tacoma?" Dorothy May Rothermel would marry Gareld Bentley Banta six months after competing in the Miss America pageant. (TNT 8/30/1926, pg. 2; 8/31/26, pg. 1) G44.1-098 (Additional information provided by a reader)

Rothermel, Dorothy; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1920-1930; Newell, Bernice; Arrivals & departures--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad stations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On February 19, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This action eventually led to the removal of some 110,000 Japanese-Americans to internments camps in remote areas of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. This little girl was photographed at Tacoma's Union Station as she and her family prepared to board a train to the Pinedale, California assembly center camp. 879 Japanese-Americans from the Tacoma "restricted area" left for Pinedale beginning on May 14, 1942. (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Army soldiers speak with a couple at Union Station. On May 17-18, 1942, 859 residents of Tacoma of Japanese descent were forced to leave their homes and board trains to the Pinedale "Assembly Center" near Fresno California. They were allowed to take a few approved possessions to their new "homes." This woman, dressed in her Sunday best for the trip, is transporting an irregularly shaped parcel and a First Aid kit, uncertain about the future. One of the soldiers inspects her package. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Miss Mary Fairhurst is pictured boarding a southbound train at Union Station for San Francisco, California where she has accepted a position with a nationally known concern. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril J. Fairhurst. (T. Times 8/26/1940, pg. 9)

Fairhurst, Mary; Union Station (Tacoma); Arrivals & departures--Tacoma--1940-1950; Farewells; Luggage; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On August 17, 1941, Tacoman Dwight Howell, Jr., the male Washington State entry in the national finals of the Ford Good Driver's League, and his mother, Mrs. D.E. Howell, set off from Union Station to travel East for the contest. They were pictured boarding the train for the trip to Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan. The Howells were being seen off by Leon Titus, 2nd from right, and an unidentified man. While in Michigan, the student drivers were given a series of driving tests over a six mile course laid out in downtown Detroit. They were also entertained by the Ford Motor Company. Dwight Howell won a $500 scholarship by placing third out of 49 contestants. (T. Times 8/15/1941, pg. 13-article; T.Times 8/26/1941, pg. 16-results)

Howell, Dwight; Howell, D.E.--Family; Union Station (Tacoma); Titus, Leon E.;

USO Union Depot. The United Service Organization Travelers Aid Service provided general information, assistance to new-comers and travelers, emergency overnight sleeping accommodations and activities for servicemen, military wives and others who were in need of services. View of five unidentified people in the Troop-in-Transit Lounge at the USO located in Union Depot on September 26, 1944. Background view of two murals featuring Paul Bunyan, painted by Tacoma artist, Peggy Strong. TPL-10380

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military personnel--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Murals--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During WWII part of Tacoma's Union Station at 1717 Pacific Avenue was set aside for use as emergency sleeping quarters by the Travelers Aid. This view, taken in September of 1944, shows the comfortable rest area set aside for women at the Depot. Cribs, twin-size beds with ruffled bedspreads, stuffed chairs and wooden chairs of all sizes were provided. The United Service Organizations - Travelers Aid Service provided general information, assistance to newcomers and travelers, emergency overnight sleeping accommodations for servicemen, military wives and others who were in need of services during WWII. TPL-10332

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Travelers Aid (Tacoma); Beds; Union Station (Tacoma);

Peggy Strong, with an unidentified man, looks up at one of two murals she had just completed. On Sunday afternoon April 9, 1944 the murals were unvailed at the Tacoma Union Depot. The murals depicted Paul Bunyan and Babe, his big, blue ox. The painting of Babe shows him pulling a plow and leaving behind a deep furrow that will become Puget Sound. The two paintings were commissioned by the Junior League. The larger mural, dominated by the massive figure of Paul Bunyan, included Mt. Rainier in the background. (T. Times, 4/10/44, p. 7).

Murals--Tacoma; Strong, Peggy; Paintings; Union Station (Tacoma); Junior League (Tacoma);

Community Chest Travelers Aid at Union Depot. Women are cleaning the location for the new men's lounge. The women's lounge will contain a nursery where mothers can care for their children's needs. (T.Times, 11/10/1943, p10)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Under the leadership of Albert W. Taylor, illustrious potentate of Afifi temple, members of the director's staff attended the Shrine Directors Association of North America's annual meeting in San Francisco. The group is seen here on March 23, 1952 as they prepare to board their train at Union Station. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 3/26/1952, p.19)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960;

College of Puget Sound. The Loggers are ready to travel to San Jose, California, to play the San Jose Spartans October 1, 1948. L-R, Co-Captain Dick Hermsen, Yell Queen Cynthia Harris, Yell Duke Ed Hager, Coach John Heinrick, and Co-Captain Dick Brown are standing on the platform at Union Depot along with other people waiting for the train. The entire team would make the trip to get plenty of practice before the start of the Evergreen Conference season starting the next week. (T.Times, 10/1/1948, p.10)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heinrick, John; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

College of Puget Sound students were getting ready for the upcoming homecoming football game against the San Jose Spartans in early October of 1947. The CPS Loggers would have their first post-war pep parade before the big game on Saturday. View of CPS students greeting the San Jose football team that has recently arrived at Union Depot (T. Times, 10/10/47, p. 7).

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reunions--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Tacoma's traffic signal crew install newly designed signals at the crosswalk in front of the Union Depot train station on Pacific Avenue. Linemen Les Heineman and Bill Hansen adjust one of the new traffic signals while foreman Carl Somer balances a second signal which will also be hung above the street. Watching the installation are lineman helper Clare Gross, left, and Police Sgt. Bob Marshall, right. Other traffic revisions in downtown include the elimination of diagonal parking. (T. Times, 3/7/47, p. 1).

Traffic signs & signals--Tacoma; Streets--Tacoma; Crosswalks--Tacoma; Pedestrians--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

An unidentified young woman glances over her extensive train ticket at Union Station on January 23, 1954. She is dressed in a suit from Andrews Women's Apparel and stands between her two suitcases. Her outfit is complemented by a small hat and gloves. The distinctive window of Union Station can be seen behind her.

Andrews Women's Apparel (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960; Luggage;

ca. 1975. 1975 Richards color stock footage. Encroaching shadows seek to wrap themselves around the landmark Union Station located at 1717 Pacific Avenue. In 1975 the station still served as an Amtrak passenger terminal. Efforts were made to restore the station to its former glory with the proposed $14,000,000 "Depot Galleria" shopping/transportation complex; however, these plans were stalled. Also visible in this aerial view is the multi-storied Albers Mill, located to the rear of the station at 1821 Dock St. TPL-7982

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980; Albers Bros. Milling Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1975. 1975 Richards color stock footage. Aerial view of rear of Union Station, 1717 Pacific Ave. as seen in 1975. Fast-forward 30+ years later and the landscape has changed drastically. SR-705 is now where the railroad tracks once ran. The parking lot to the left of the station is now the location of the Washington State History Museum; the Federal Courts are located to the north in a new wing. The five-story building on Pacific Ave. on the extreme left of the photograph is now the University of Washington Bookstore. TPL-2402

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979. Station opened in 1911 and is on the City, State and National registry.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979; architectural detail.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979; abandoned baggage cart under stairs near railroad tracks.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Interior view of Union Station, circa 1979; view of abandoned straw hat on steps leading from tracks to the waiting room.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Interior view of Union Station, circa 1979; view of photographer's shadow on steps beside station.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1970-1980;