ca. 1961. Circa 1961 aerial view of Tacoma Yacht Club, ASARCO smelter, Point Defiance Park and Ruston. The large, long buildings to center left belong to the copper smelter ASARCO. To the right of ASARCO is the Tacoma Yacht Club and its mooring. Above the Yacht Club is the outline of Pt. Defiance's amusement park Funland. To the upper right hand of the photograph is the pond garden in the Bowl area entrance to Point Defiance. To the upper center is the city of Ruston.

Aerial photographs; Boathouses; Boats; Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma); Mooring; American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Funland (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Amusement parks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Traffic was flowing smoothly in this November 1961 aerial photograph of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The camera was looking east toward the rapidly developing west end of Tacoma. The graceful lines of the suspension bridge span nearly one-half mile, making it the 5th longest suspension bridge in the US. This was the second Narrows Bridge, dedicated in 1950; the first collapsed in high winds on November 7, 1940, only four months after its dedication. The 1950 bridge was designed to carry 60,000 cars a day. When area population growth increased that number by half, a third bridge was added; parallel to and south of the 1950 bridge. The third Narrows bridge was dedicated in July of 2007 and carries east bound traffic, leaving all lanes of the 1950 bridge open for west bound traffic. (www.wsdot.wa.gov)

Aerial photographs; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Bridges--Tacoma--1960-1970; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970;

1967 Richards stock file. Aerial view of the So. 19th & Union Ave. neighborhood taken on October 28, 1967. This view looks toward So. Union. The massive Elks Temple is in the foreground with Allenmore Medical Center in center. The Elks membership had moved from its Broadway location, built in 1916, to this north end neighborhood near Allenmore Golf Course in 1965. The Allenmore Medical Center, also opened in 1965, was a medical-dental building with a 50-bed hospital. It was built on a 22-acre tract on what had been part of the old Allenmore golf course. The $2,000,000 center was designed by E.L. Mills & Associates and built by Norman Strom Construction. Wooded area across So. 19th from Allenmore would eventually become a Puget Sound National Bank branch (now Key Bank). TPL-9324

Aerial photographs; Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Allenmore Medical Center (Tacoma);

1967 Richards stock footage. October, 1967, aerial of Tacoma Tideflats. Smoke drifts through the air from several chimneys. Large plant is believed to be the Kaiser Aluminum facility.

Aerial photographs; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

1967 Richards stock footage. Another view of Kaiser Aluminum plant in Tacoma Tideflats, taken in the fall of 1967. Kaiser had reopened its Tacoma plant in 1964 after being closed for six years. It planned an expansion of the plant facilities and in 1968, a new aluminum rod mill was ready for operation. A second alumina dome with a 100,000 ton capacity, would be completed on Pier 7 in 1969.

Aerial photographs; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

1967 Richards stock footage. Aerial view of Kaiser Aluminum plant featuring Kaiser Dome. Tankers brought alumina from Australia to be manufactured into aluminum. The finished product was then shipped out of Tacoma by water, highway, or rail. Thousands of tons of aluminum were processed each year at Kaiser Aluminum's Tideflats plant, about five miles north of downtown Tacoma. The dome in the center of this October 28, 1967, photograph was used to store ore. It, along with a later dome, was dismantled in March, 2005. Kaiser Aluminum, after reopening the Tacoma plant in 1964, finally closed its doors permanently in 2002. (Olsen: First 100 Years: Tacoma Beginnings, p. 115)

Aerial photographs; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Additional view by air of the E. 83rd and 84th St and Portland Avenue neighborhoods on April 11, 1967. Landscape shows room for expansion with large lots still unfilled. Water tower at top central portion of photograph. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Aerial view of Tacoma Tideflats taken in the summer of 1967. This may be the Blair Waterway near the top of the color photograph. Automobiles and trains appear to be toy-like when viewed from above. The large whitish-gray mound in the murky brown depression may be sand or gravel; a curving roadway of the same hue leads to the Graymont Western lime plant near the waterway. The building to the south is the G-P Gypsum plant, 1240 Alexander Ave. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Aerial photographs; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Graymont Western (Tacoma);

Mount Rainier looms faintly in the distance, providing a majestic sight for the residents of the large Lively Oaks Apartments in Lakewood. An aerial view in December, 1967, shows the sprawling complex which was located at the entrance to the Oakbrook subdivision. Lively Oaks would grow even larger in 1969 as the H.A. Briggs Co. would build Lively Oaks South, possibly in the vacant land adjacent to the original complex. Color photograph ordered by Fairway Investments, Inc.

Aerial photographs; Lively Oaks Apartments (Lakewood); Housing developments--Lakewood--1960-1970; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

Downtown and freeway aerial view of February 13, 1968, on behalf of Puget Sound National Bank. I-5 is lower center, running horizontally. Six more ramps at the Pacific Ave. interchange and part of the 38th St. interchange (not shown) would be opened on 2-14-68. Wavy line in center is Hwy. 7. Pacific Ave. is long vertical road near right side; Puget Sound Hospital is next to Pacific Ave. on its right. Tacoma Dome will be constructed in the future in the neighborhood at the lower left corner. (TNT 2-11-68, C-19)

Aerial photographs; Cityscapes; Express highways--Tacoma--1960-1970; Puget Sound Hospital (Tacoma);

February 13, 1968, aerial view of 112th St. in Puyallup taken on behalf of Puget Sound National Bank. 112th St. had a mixture of homes with large lots and business development. New construction is occurring in lower center of photograph with large building's walls partially in place.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Puyallup;

Copy of customer copy. Aerial view of SR410, Puyallup to Sumner, with major state routes and roads clearly marked, ca. January, 1968. Visible are SR 161, 512, 167 and 410. Photograph ordered by Ward Smith, Inc., on February 20, 1968.

Aerial photographs; Express highways--Wash.;

Copy of customer's print. Photograph by air of SR 512 in Puyallup dated December, 1967. Major streets in Puyallup including 10th St. SE, Main Ave., Pioneer and Milwaukee, are clearly labeled as well as SR410 and directions to neighboring cities of Tacoma, Sumner and Parkland. The proposed Puyallup Valley freeway's effect on Puyallup is shown in the above mockup by the State Department of Highways. The system should be operable by late 1970. It was expected to cost $16 million dollars. Photograph ordered by Ward Smith, Inc., on February 20, 1968. (TNT 3-26-68, p. 8)

Aerial photographs; Express highways--Wash.;

1968 Richards stock footage. Colorful aerial view of downtown Tacoma business district and 11th St. Bridge crossing the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway, taken on February 13, 1968. Stradling 11th St. near the bridge are the Tacoma Bldg. and Perkins Bldg. To the right is the Art-Deco styled Medical Arts Bldg., 747 Market St. County-City Building, near 11th & Tacoma Ave. So., is center-left. Woods are part of Wright Park.

Aerial views; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Perkins Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); County-City Building (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Wright Park (Tacoma);

Closer view of the downtown business district as seen by air on September 4, 1968. Facing Pacific Ave. is the Puget Sound National Bank Bldg. with its familiar spire. The empty lot across it would soon be home to a 300+-spot parking lot. Behind the bank is the Federal Building (1102 A Street) where the federal courts were located (until 1992) and the Main branch of the U.S. Postal Service. The Rust Building (950 Pacific) and the 17-story Washington Building (1019 Pacific) are less than a block away. In the far background, near top of the photograph, are the County-City Building (930 Tacoma Ave. So.) and Central School (601 So. 8th St.)

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Business districts--Tacoma--1960-1970; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Federal Building (Tacoma); County-City Building (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma);

1968 Richards stock aerial footage. The downtown area was still considered the city's center of commercial business. Major banks and stores were in close proximity to the industrial Tideflats with easy access via the 11th Street Bridge. This September, 1968, view shows several easily identifiable landmarks: the U-shaped with tower Central School, the winged-shaped County-City Building, and Tacoma Public Library all on Tacoma Ave. approximately in the center of the photograph. The Art-Deco Medical Arts Building on 7th & Market is on left center. Puget Sound National Bank's unique spire is at 11th & Pacific, relatively close to the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway.

Aerial views; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Central School (Tacoma); County-City Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

1968 Richards aerial stock footage. Stadium High School, portion of Stadium Bowl. Stadium High School, which is currently undergoing extensive remodeling in 2005, resembles a French chateau. It has a magnificent view of Commencement Bay. Built but never completed as a hotel, it converted to a high school in 1905. A small portion of Stadium Bowl, including rows of bleachers, is visible lower left corner. Originally the bowl had a seating capacity of nearly 24,000; however, after numerous mudslides, it has a reduced modern capacity of 15,000. TPL-10144

Aerial views; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1960-1970; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Photographs taken by air of the Port of Tacoma and industrial Tideflats area in July, 1964. Looking southwest, Dash Point is large area protruding on the left. Smoke is billowing from St. Regis Paper Co. facilities on the Puyallup Waterway which ran day and night. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial photographs; Dash Point (Wash.); St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Smoke--Tacoma;

Closer aerial view of the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood taken on April 26, 1964. A large area appears to be ready to be developed towards the upper center of photograph. Retailers were learning that customers would be attracted to one-stop shopping with plenty of free parking close to home. Supermarkets, department stores and banks were conveniently located very close by to one another. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial photographs; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1960-1970; Neighborhoods--Lakewood--1960-1970;

Aerial view of US Oil & Refining Co. plant and its many storage tanks, located in the Tideflats, and taken on August 8, 1964. By 1964, the plant, built at a cost of $10 million dollars, had been in operation for nearly eight years. It was located on a 120-acre site south of Lincoln Ave. Photograph ordered by US Oil & Refining Co.

Aerial photographs; US Oil & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Another in the series of Richards Stock File 1965 aerial photographs of the downtown Tacoma area looking toward the 11th St. Bridge and the Tideflats industrial area. The State Armory, Tacoma Vocational-Technical Institute and St. Leo's School are on one of the major thoroughfares, Yakima Ave. The next major street is below Yakima Ave.; Tacoma Ave. So. holds the County-City Building with its two wings, and Tacoma Public Library. Closer to the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway are major banks, Puget Sound National Bank and Bank of California, found on Pacific Ave. The Rust, Washington, Tacoma and Perkins Buildings are in close proximity. TPL-501

Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; State Armory (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); County-City Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);

Stock Richards file. Aerial photograph of downtown Tacoma area, looking in northeasterly direction towards the Tideflats, taken on June 5, 1965. Smoke from St. Regis billows across the bustling industrial Tideflats on an otherwise clear summer day. Major landmarks on the city side near the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway are clearly discernable, including the Tacoma Building, Puget Sound National Bank and its distinct spire, and the 11th St. Bridge. Further west are the County-City Building with its two wings, Tacoma Public Library, State Armory, Tacoma Vocational-Technical Institute, and St. Leo's School.

Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); County-City Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma);

This aerial view of Tacoma's business district and industrial tideflats was taken on April 5, 1966 - forty years ago. From high above the city some familiar landmarks, such as the 11th Street Bridge (now the Murray Morgan Bridge) and the channelized Puyallup River, are easy to pick out. Heavy smoke billows from the St. Regis Paper Company plant (now Simpson Tacoma Kraft) which is flanked by the Puyallup Waterway and the St. Paul Waterway. Missing are the new 509 cable-stay bridge spanning the Thea Foss Waterway and I-705.

Aerial photographs; City Waterway (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970;

Aerial photographs of the So. 19th & Union Ave. looking west toward So. 19th and surrounding north end neighborhoods. The 46-unit apartment complex, Boyd Lundstrom's Unionaire, is H-shaped building with dark roof. It is across the street from the year-old Allenmore Medical Center complex, 1901 So. Union Ave. The medical-dental building with a 50-bed hospital opened in the summer of 1965. The fully airconditioned edifice was built at a cost of approximately $1,300,000. It was conveniently located with direct access to the freeway and Narrows Bridge route. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank who would later build a branch at 3501 So. 19th, across the street from Allenmore .

Aerial photographs; Allenmore Medical Center (Tacoma); Unionaire Apartments (Tacoma); Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970;

This aerial view of the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks which run along the edge of Commencement Bay just south of Old Tacoma, and adjoining northend neighborhoods, dates from August 1966; before the Schuster Parkway was built. The Sperry Flour grain elevators, located at what is now 3 Schuster Parkway, were located next to the tracks. The General Mills, Sperry Division, had closed in 1965. The plant's grain towers were torn down in 1973 and its deteriorating dock, the last portion of the mill, was demolished in 1989. Work on Schuster Parkway began in 1973 and was completed in 1976. Photograph ordered by Swanson-McGoldrick, Inc.

Aerial photographs; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1960-1970; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970; Waterfronts--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Another aerial view ordered by Bank of Tacoma of the Veterans Drive S.W. neighborhood in Lake City. Taken on August 7, 1966, a glimpse of American Lake can be spotted in the left upper corner. The county park is located in the vicinity of the lake. Veterans Drive is the curving roadway in the center of the photograph. Military Road is believed to be street on right side of photograph.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Lake City; American Lake (Wash.);

Closer view of the Lake City neighborhood including Veterans Dr. S.W. on August 7, 1966. American Lake in upper left corner. Washington is the street on extreme right. Photograph ordered by Bank of Tacoma.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Lake City; American Lake (Wash.);

1967 Richards Studio stock file. May 2, 1967, aerial view in color of sprawling Hooker Chemical plant, 605 Alexander Ave., in the Tacoma tideflats. A ship is docked on the Hylebos Waterway next to the facility, ready to load and unload Hooker products. Easy access to water, rail and roadways was a factor in locating the large plant in Tacoma in 1928. Hooker was one of the primary suppliers to Pacific Northwest pulp and paper companies of chemicals used to bleach and refine wood pulp. Later it would also manufacture soap and refine petroleum products.

Aerial photographs; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

1967 Richards stock file. The area around University Place's 40th & Bridgeport neighborhoods was set for further expansion in October, 1967, with the opening of the new University Village Shopping Center. This view by air on October 28, 1967, shows the shopping center with large parking lot carved out of the surrounding trees. Food King and Don's Village Drugs would be among the occupants of the shopping center which had been designed by architects Lyle Swedberg & Associates.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--University Place; Shopping centers--University Place; Food King (University Place);

Overall aerial view of the Port of Tacoma's new Kaiser Dome and crane located at Pier 7 on April 28, 1967. Puyallup River is in background. Log dumps and cargo ships in waterway. Alumina from Australia, substance used in the production of aluminum, will be unloaded from huge cargo ships similar to the above, drawn into the 150-foot high crane, and dumped into a hopper before being transferred by conveyor to the dome-shaped storage and load-out facility. The Port will handle alumina under contract with Kaiser Aluminum. (TNT 11-13-66, D-19, TNT 2-15-67, A-1)

Aerial photographs; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Storage tanks--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1960-1970; Logs; Puyallup River (Wash.);