ca. 1934. Two men share a table in the "Ben Johnson Coffee Shoppe" in the Tacoma Hotel circa 1934. On the wall next to them is the saying "Here's Wishing Us All More Friends And Less Need Of Them." The Tacoma Hotel, built on the bluff overlooking Commencement Bay, received much acclaim befitting its elegant structure. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935.

ca. 1934. A team of Budweiser Clydesdales delivers cases of beer to Tacoma Hotel in this circa 1934 photograph. The Clydesdales, in harness, have paused outside the entrance to the elegant hotel, one of Tacoma's most famous landmarks. Back then the Budweiser Clydesdales were a new sight, introduced to the public in April of 1933 to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. The Clydesdale horses were used for promotions by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co. They were hitched to red, white and gold beer wagons. Each horse was selected with certain characteristics and temperaments and each had to be a gelding. The Budweiser Clydesdales are still being used for commercials and promotions nearly eighty years after this photograph was taken. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_Clydesdales -article)

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.

Blurred image of little girl standing next to the ivy-covered walls of the Tacoma Hotel. She is believed to be the same child as in Boland B6534 and B6533. This is the back porch and lawn of the famous Tacoma Hotel, the city's showpiece for many years. Photograph has been damaged on the right.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Children--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A small child is photographed at a distance in August of 1922 while on the porch of the elegant Tacoma Hotel, 913 A Street. She can also been seen in Boland B6533 along with an older gentleman in the hotel gardens. Guests at the hotel were able to enjoy outdoor dining, weather permitting, on the extended porch of the Tacoma Hotel. This photograph was used in an advertisement promoting the Tacoma Hotel site as the site that should be selected for the new hotel built by the Citizens Hotel Corporation. The ad emphatically noted the beautiful view from the hotel site of the Mountain (Mount Tacoma) and of Commencement Bay. Even little children could appreciate the flowers, birds and sunshine abundantly available at this location. Although the Tacoma Hotel site was among the top two vote-getters, it was not ultimately chosen as the location of the new hotel. The Tacoma Hotel was destroyed by fire in October of 1935. (TDL 10-7-22, p. 5-ad)

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Children--Tacoma--1920-1930;

An elderly gentleman holds the hand of a little girl as they stood in the gardens of the Tacoma Hotel in August of 1922. A circle of plants is directly behind them. Also shown is the hotel's gazebo which overlooked the city's waterfront. G41.1-008

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Gardens--Tacoma; Gazebos--Tacoma;

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);

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 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;

The Ladies Musical Club presented its regular concert on Tuesday afternoon, March 2, 1920, in the drawing room of the Tacoma Hotel. The program featured pianist George Congdon Bailey of Seattle. Mr. Bailey, who is blind, is a student at the University of Washington. Marjorie Miller, also of Seattle, entertained the club with a violin solo. Mr. Bailey may be the man seated in the front row with Miss Miller, holding a large bouquet of flowers, next to him. (TNT 2-28-20, p. 8-article)

Ladies Musical Club (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Hotel was the site of a hardware convention in late January of 1932. Participants, all male, posed for a group portrait on the hotel's steps. The Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association met in Tacoma for the first time in its 37 years of existence. The three-day meeting was to discuss hardware trade problems. A.E. Vaughn of Aberdeen was president of the association. G30.1-088 (TNT1-27-32, p. 11-article)

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association;

Salvation Army conference at the Tacoma Hotel. Attendees pose for a group portrait on April 22, 1931 on the steps of the hotel. Many are wearing the familiar Salvation Army attire. Among those pictured is Col. Andrew Crawford of San Francisco, second in command of Salvation Army work in the Western states. G21.1-187 (TDL 4-22-31, p. 9-article on convention)

Salvation Army (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Members of the First Regiment, U.S. Engineers, enjoyed a reunion banquet at the Tacoma Hotel on September 13, 1930. G24.1-017

Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); First Regiment, U.S. Engineers (Tacoma);

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey finds himself flanked by prominent Tacomans in this July 25, 1930, photograph taken on the veranda of the Tacoma Hotel. L-R Mike Lavelle, former Pantages manager and current Tacoma Hotel manager Jack Calvert, TNT sports writer Elliott Metcalf, Mr. Dempsey, Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, unidentified, and J. Frank Hickey, president of the elegant Tacoma Hotel. Mr. Dempsey was in town to referee the Tod Morgan - Joey Coffman match at the Greenwich Colliseum that evening. The bout was sponsored by the Kay Street Athletic Club. Mr. Dempsey was clearly the favorite attraction that night with cheers shaking the Colliseum's rafters. A record-breaking crowd was so loud in cheering him that he could not be heard in the ring. (TNT 7-25-30, p. 17-article; TNT 7-26-30, p. 4-article) G67.1-178

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Hickey, J. Frank; Metcalf, Elliott; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lavelle, Mike; Calvert, Jack; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

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;