Undated photograph of unidentified gardener at the original Tacoma Hotel. Photograph was taken probably in the 1920's or early 1930's; the hotel was destroyed by fire in October of 1935.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Gardens--Tacoma--1920-1930; Gardening--Tacoma;

Ruins of Tacoma Hotel, showing chimney before collapse. (T. Times).

Disasters - Fires - Building Fires - Building RuinsBuildings - Hotels - The Tacoma Hotel (original)

Remains of the Tacoma Hotel framed starkly by the sky after an October 17, 1935 fire reduced the hotel to ruins.

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Debris litters the site of the once magnificent Tacoma Hotel after an October 17, 1935 fire totally destroyed the building. The famous landmark where presidents and other notables were hosted was gutted and never rebuilt. It had opened in August of 1884 and was believed by many to be the most beautiful hotel north of San Francisco. The fire began in the north end of the basement at 6:19 a.m. and rapidly spread throughout the north wing of the building and finally engulfed the entire structure. Line after line of hose was run along A St., 9th St. and 10th St. so that thousands of tons of water could be blasted against the raging fire. Nearly every fireman in the city was called upon in this emergency. Despite the ferocity of the fire, there were no fatalities reported among the 128 guests, hotel staff and countless firemen. Initial estimates of damage ran about $300,000 and 135 hotel workers were, for the most part, jobless. (T.Times 10-17-35, p. 1; p. 17; Talbot & Decker:100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 87+)

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

On October 17, 1935, one of the most spectacular fires in Tacoma's history completely destroyed The Tacoma Hotel. The hotel, which covered a square block from So. 8th to So. 9th and A St. to what is now I-705, opened in August, 1884. Designed by the architectural firm headed by Stanford White, it was the show place of Tacoma, and, many said, the most beautiful hotel north of San Francisco. BU-12,609, TPL-6564

Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

• Business district aerial view of downtown Tacoma. The Tacoma Hotel, located at 913 "A" Street, can be seen in the upper left of the card. It was destroyed by fire in 1935. circa 1930.
• Printed on front: A Section of MetropolitanTacoma, Wash.

Printed on front: Interior Tacoma Hotel -- Tacoma, Wash. Written on front: Between So. 9th + 10th on A St.

ca. 1927. This handtinted photograph of the Tacoma Hotel was taken circa 1927. Built in 1884, and considered by many Tacoma's showcase, the elegant hotel had welcomed many distinguished guests over the decades including Presidents of the United States, actors and sports idols. Magnificent views of The Mountain, Commencement Bay and the City Waterway greeted these visitors. The massive modified Tudor structure occupied an entire block in downtown Tacoma. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935 and not rebuilt. The Tacoma Hotel Annex at 904-06 A St. was remodeled after the fire to serve as the new Tacoma Hotel but never reached the acclaim of the original.

Boland Studio notes indicate that this group of young athletes came from Lincoln High School and were photographed at the Tacoma Hotel on December 6, 1929. In the back row, far left, is coach Homer Post. Bert Beal is at the far right, first row. G47.1-004

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Post, Homer; Beal, Bert;

The staff of the Tacoma Hotel stood ready to serve the 348 hungry diners at the P.C.A.C.A. annual banquet held on July 7, 1921 on the grounds of the famous hotel. Waitresses were prepared to hoist large round trays filled with plates of chicken and vegetables which had been kept warm by steam tables. Diners were able to admire the 11th Street (now Murray Morgan) Bridge and the hotel's gardens. The Pacific Coast Advertising Clubs Association held their annual convention in Tacoma from July 3-10, 1921. Delegates were headquartered at the Tacoma Hotel and were treated to rounds of business meetings, excursions and picnics. The annual banquet was followed by a dance. (TDL 7-7-21, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-10-21, A-12-article)

Banquets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Posed in front of the Tacoma Hotel on May 8, 1922, are members of the National Executive Board of the P.T.A. and National Congress of Mothers. They were in town for the 26th annual national convention of the group. Second row from the top wearing a feathered black hat is Mrs. Harry Zimmerhackel of Colorado. Standing in the second row, extreme right in fur stole, is Mrs. Eugene Crutcher, also of Colorado. G30.1-087

Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Parent-Teacher Association; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Zimmerhackel, Harry--Family; Crutcher, Eugene--Family;

The staff of Haering's Grocetorium enjoyed a fine dinner in the Stone Room of the Tacoma Hotel on May 18, 1922. The occasion was Haering's annual appreciation banquet for its employees. 50 employees and officers of the grocery chain were in attendance; names are listed in the Tacoma Daily Ledger's May 22, 1922, edition of the newspaper. Haering's, founded by Nicolaus Haering in 1913, was a chain noted for "help yourself service." G31.1-003 (TDL 5-22-22, p. 9)

Banquets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Haering's Grocetorium (Tacoma); Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

On May 26, 1924, the Los Angeles Newsboys' Quartette posed in front of the Tacoma Hotel. They were on a cross-country singing tour from L.A. to "Noo Yawk" and had been engaged by the Rialto Theater for a week, in conjunction with the showing of "When A Man's A Man." They had also performed at the Tacoma Advertising Club luncheon that day. Pictured left to right are Ernest Davis, first tenor; Buckles Brente, second tenor; Leon Lyons, baritone and John Myers, basso. The boys, who billed themselves as real newsboys, had recently finished an engagement at Grauman's Theater in Los Angeles. Written on the back of their touring vehicle are the names of all the cities they have performed in so far on their cross country tour. To the right of the Tacoma Hotel is the famed Tacoma totem pole. G30.1-140 (TNT 5-27-24, p. 2; T. Times 5/31/1924, pg 2 & 3) BU-11933, TPL-1395

Los Angeles Newsboys' Quartette (Los Angeles); Davis, Ernest; Brente, Buckles; Lyons, Leon; Myers, John; Singers--1920-1930; Music ensembles--1920-1930; Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Totem poles--Tacoma;