Mayor Melvin G. Tennent and several Tacoma commissioners joined the hordes of Tacomans on February 2, 1927, in viewing the giant Great Northern electric locomotive #5007 on display at the Union depot. The latest and greatest "Iron Horse" had an overall length of 94'4" and a total weight of 715,000 pounds. It was built jointly by Baldwin Locomotive and Westinghouse Electric. A banner on the locomotive proclaimed it to be the "most powerful motor-generator electric locomotive ever built." It had traveled from East Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania to Skykomish, Washington, a distance of 2600 miles, hitched to the end of a through freight. After stops in Portland and Everett, it would be put into service. From L-R above are: Mayor Tennent (on steps), Commissioners Jesse Silver & Dyer Dyment, Commissioner Ira S. Davisson, and Llewellyn Evans, superintendent of City Light. The two men standing on the ground were not identified. (TDL 2-3-27, p. 12; TNT 2-3-27, p.14-article) G44.1-069; TPL-675; TPL-5813

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Silver, Jesse; Dyment, Dyer; Davisson, Ira; Evans, Llewellyn; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Banners--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

April 21, 1925, saw the return of former hometown girl, Mildred Davis, and her movie star husband, Harold Lloyd. Miss Davis had been a student at Stadium High School prior to her acting career. She and her husband (on right) are posed at Union Station along with Director Joe Murphy and Mr. Murphy's wife. The Lloyds were on the way to New York from California and made a brief stopover in Tacoma. (TDL 4-22-25, p. 1; TNT 4-22-25, p. 1+-article only)

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

Former heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey (at left) posed with Allen Motor Co. president Harold A. Allen (center) and Mr. Dempsey's manager, Leonard Sacks, on September 10, 1931, at the Union Station, 1717 Pacific Avenue. A new Studebaker President eight brougham, courtesy of Allen Motors, is ready for Mr. Dempsey, per his request. The boxer customarily drove a Studebaker at home and asked to be transported in one while in Tacoma. He was in town for the Junior League Milk Fund Benefit which would earmark proceeds towards the purchase of milk for undernourished children at Tacoma Public Schools. Mr. Dempsey was the star attraction for the September 10th event which was held outdoors at Stadium Bowl. Photograph ordered by Allen Motor Co. TPL-678 (TNT 8-28-31, p. 1-article; T. Times 9-12-31, p. 9)

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Allen, Harold A.; Studebaker automobile; Sacks, Leonard;

ca. 1975. 1975 Richards color stock footage. Shadows are creeping up on the venerable Union Station, 1717 Pacific Ave., in this 1975 aerial view. By 1975, the magnificent structure was showing its age. A proposed $14,000,000 shopping center/transportation complex sought to restore the station to its former splendor. "Depot Galleria" hoped to add two large buildings to the north and south of the station which would house department stores or perhaps include a major hotel. The Union Station interior would have had a remodeled "Gay '90s" look with the glass dome skylight admitting light to central atrium gardens. Three parking levels would provide parking for 1500 cars. The station would continue to serve as an Amtrak passenger terminal. These ambitious plans by Malls North and BNL Development Corporation (subsidiary of Burlington Northern) would not be realized. (TNT 2-23-75, A-1 article)

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

Tacoma Mayor George Smitley with President Roosevelt on his train at Union Depot. Posed on the platform with the President were, left to right, Senator Homer T. Bone, Tacoman Harold Allen, granddaughter Anna Eleanor (called Sistie) Dall (at the railing), Roosevelt's son James, the President's bodyguard (wearing hat) on his left side, and Tacoma Mayor George Smitley. The President's next stop was the Grand Coulee Dam project. (T. Times, 10/2/1937, p. 9). ALBUM 1.

Presidents; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Visits of state--Tacoma--Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Roosevelt, James; Dall, Anna Eleanor;

This photograph of six year old Yukie Suekawa and Pvt. Howard L. Loudermilk at Union Station was chosen to grace the front page of the May 17, 1942 Tacoma Times with the caption "Goodbye for the Duration." As Pvt. Loudermilk adjusts the bonnet on the head of the little girl's doll, they are surrounded by a group of smiling Japanese adults. The smiles were considered the proper face to put on the hard facts that 859 Tacoma residents of Japanese ancestry were being removed from their homes and shipped by train to the Pinedale Assembly Center near Fresno California, despite the fact that many of them were US citizens. (T. Times 5/18/1942, pg. 1; TNT 5/18/2003, pg B8+, by Stan Flewelling)

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

Bing Crosby arrived at Tacoma's Union Station in August of 1942 to help out with WWII bond sales in the town of his birth. Harry Lillis Crosby was born in Tacoma in May of 1903 when his family lived at 1112 North J Street. While in town with a USO troupe to entertain the soldiers at Fort Lewis, he graciously agreed to headline a show on August 6th at 12 noon at the Liberty Center in an effort to promote bond sales. The Paramount Studios star sang a number of popular songs. Also appearing were Hollywood comedians Phil Silvers and Rags Ragland. The Tacoma local of the Boilermakers union were noted as buying $50,000 worth of war bonds. (T. Times 8-5-42, p. 1; T. Times 8-6-42, p. 1-article)

Crosby, Bing; Singers; Entertainers; Celebrities--Tacoma; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma;

Two police officers stand by Patrol Car Number 12 along curb of Pacific Avenue south of 19th Street, Union Depot in background. Ordered by United Pacific Insurance Company

Union Station (Tacoma); Police--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1979. Union Station, circa 1979.

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

ca. 1979. Back of Union Station, circa 1979.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--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. 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. 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. Station opened in 1911 and is on the City, State and National registry.

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

ca. 1979. Interior shot of Union Station, circa 1979.

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

ca. 1979. Interior shot of Union Station, circa 1979.

Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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