This humorous float received Honorable Mention in the retail catagory. In keeping with the theme of "Golden Future," two women sit at the back of the float on the covered patio sipping ice tea and visiting while two robots mow the lawn and trim the hedges. The float was sponsored by McKinnon's Department store. The store was located at 3639 So. "G" and was owned by Ray and Alice B. McKinnon.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; McKinnon's Department Store (Tacoma);

The float entered by the Knights of Pythias won 3rd place in Division 4, Fraternal groups, in the 1955 Daffodil Parade. In keeping with the theme "Golden Future," steps labelled benevolence, charity and friendship lead to the doorway flanked with the words Universal Brotherhood. The Pythian symbol adorns the front of the float, a triangle within a triangle. The float is being pulled by a late model convertible.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Knights of Pythias (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners) march down Pacific Ave. during the 22nd annual Daffodil Parade April 16, 1955. The marching group is followed by floats representing the Afifi Patrol and the Tacobat Grotto. Over 200,000 viewers jammed sidewalks, hung from windows and perched on fire escapes to experience the 2 mile long parade. The parade was over 2 hours long from start to finish. In 1955, the parade was also televised by both local Tacoma stations with another estimated 1,000,000 viewers watching from the comfort of their living rooms throughout the Northwest. Overcast skies opened up and pelted the crowd with rain just before the start of the parade, but alternating mist and sunshine were the norm for the duration of the parade. Viewers wore jackets to ward off the spring chill.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma);

The 1955 Sweepstakes Award went to this float sponsored by the U.S. Naval Station and Tacoma Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. In keeping with the theme of a "Golden Future," the float has a nine foot golden daffodil cross and a eight foot revolving world globe. The two are connected by a rainbow of tinted daffodils, symbolizing faith, hope and love, that flows from the foot of the cross to all surfaces of the world. The design is covered with 150,000 daffodils and adorned by Navy wives and Naval service employees. This inspiring float marked the second year that the Navy float had won the top award.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Naval yards & naval stations--Tacoma; Navies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

1955 Daffodil Queen Elvera Sommer, from Puyallup, waves from her sunburst throne on the 50 foot City Light float. The float, designed by Weston DeMaris and built by Bill Knabel, is adorned with 50,000 blossoms of daffodil, iris and foliage. The Queen is accompanied by her Princesses Marianna Vaughan of Sumner and Bette Birkland, a senior at Stadium High School in Tacoma. Also adorning the float are Daffodil court members Darlene Swalley and Judy Nelson, on the left, and Philimine Tungsvik and Joanne Sheppard, on the right. Queen Elvera I had only been in the U.S. for three years, coming as an immigrant from war torn Germany. She repeatedly emphasized in speeches how wonderful America was and how happy she was to be here. She was the perfect representative for the theme "Golden Future." In 1955, for the first time the queen was chosen from an open field of candidates from Puyallup, Sumner and Tacoma high schools. In previous years, each city had elected the queen solely from their city in alternating years.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Sommer, Elvera; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Daffodil Court attendants' float travels down Pacific Avenue, following that of Queen Elvera I and preceding the Eatonville drill team. Riding on the float are Sally Strobel, Sandra Drahold, Rosemary Fly, Gloria Minarisich, Janet Bock, Dorothy Sellers and Colleen Doyle surrounded by 30,000 daffodils. The float is flanked by the Rosarians as guards, representatives from the Rose Parade in Portland, Oregon. The float was sponsored by the Young Mens Business Club and built by the Associated Contractors.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This flower covered San Francisco trolley car won first place in the retail division for Steve Pease. Steve Pease owned Steve's Gay '90s, a South Tacoma landmark and popular nightspot of the fifties and sixties. This trolley was an actual San Francisco street car that Pease bought at auction in San Francisco, outfitted for street driving and drove back to Tacoma. It became a centerpiece at his restaurant and served as the inspiration for his Cable Car Room.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma);

The winner in the Fraternal Organization division of the 1955 Daffodil Parade was sponsored by the Tacoma Elks Lodge # 174. A fountain at the front of the float spouts floral spray, followed by the flags of many countries leading to a floral depiction of the globe. Young women in evening gowns ride on the float. The one in front laughs with the crowd as she covers her head against the misty rain that plagued the parade this year. Despite the rough weather conditions, a record crowd turned out to cheer the parade on.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

The winning float in the 1955 Industrial Division of the Daffodil Parade was sponsored by Carstens Hygrade. A floral basket holding young girls in white dresses with wrist length white gloves is being pulled by ribbons held in the beaks of floral birds. All float entries were judged according to artistic design and originality, with appearance, originality, conformity to theme, artistic features and detail being scored. No floats were permitted in the parade unless they were at least 75 % covered with flowers or other floral materials.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma);

A smiling, waving young woman rolls down the street in a huge bright yellow daffodil ballgown with matching hat. The dress hides the means of conveyance of this float. This entry was sponsored by the Lions Club.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lions Club (Tacoma);

The winner of the 1955 Daffodil Parade Festival Award for the float most closely adhering to the festival theme of "Golden Future" was sponsored by the Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot. Its theme was "We weave the golden future." It featured a revolving spinning wheel that wound out skeins of golden thread to eight spools, with labels like shipbuilding and aircraft, most probably referring to the industries that would fuel the Northwest economy in the future. The float used over 60,000 daffodils. A large basket in the front held the daffodil "wool." TPL-8301

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot (Tacoma);

The first place winner in the Education and Youth Division of the 1955 Daffodil Parade was this floral beauty sponsored by Pacific Lutheran College. A flower bedecked representation of the world is topped by a cross. A bridge or a rainbow leads from the globe to the front of the float. The 1955 parade also had a touch of Hollywood glamour as the honorary Grand Marshall was Marjie Millar, Tacoma native and the star of television and movies. This was the first time that a woman had served as Grand Marshall.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

Pepsi Cola sponsored this salute to Tacoma's Rainbow Girls in the 1955 Daffodil Parade. The side of the float refers to Pepsi as "the light refreshment." No doubt the girls riding on the float in the abbreviated swimsuits were goose bumped as the day was both rainy and cool, however both girls smile at the crowd. The other girls are dressed in sleeveless evening gowns. Membership in the Order of the Rainbow is open to girls 13-20 who are related to members of the Masonic Lodge or the Eastern Star. The order was founded in 1922 in Oklahoma. Their ritual is based on the 9th chapter of Genesis and the virtues of faith, hope and charity. The seven colors of the rainbow symbolize life, religion, nature, immortality, fidelity, patriotism and virtue.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co.; Rainbow Girls (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The float entered by the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Co. won third place in the Industrial Division. Two twin globes flank the front of the float, while the Statue of Liberty stands guard before a depiction of an atom at the rear of the float. A young boy representing Uncle Sam had gotten tired and is sitting on the base of the Statue. A south of the border vaquero and a safari hunter also ride at the rear of the float next to a palm tree.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Students from the Marymount Military Academy, marching in precision with rifles, drill past the intersection of Pacific Ave. and 11th St. in the 22nd annual Daffodil Parade. They are dressed in uniforms and led by platoon officers with swords and banners. Founded in 1923, Marymount was the only military school in the state of Washington. It was run by the Dominican sisters and located south of Tacoma in Spanaway on the grounds of the Shields "Shangarry" estate. Students came from around the world to attend this boarding school.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;

Marching band on Pacific Street with view of the Olympic Hotel in the distance.

Tillicum Tacoma Summerland float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. People wave in swimming suits and baseball caps with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background.

Shriner Circus float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building in the background.. The float has a large clown head at the top and pushes a small see saw cart that is occupied with jesters. Two Shriners flank the float.

The Rotary International float at the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. The float is in the shape of a yacht, strung with bunting with a person in a sailing hat at the front.

Unidentified float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. The float depicts a mountain made out of daffodils, a sheet for the snowcap and green crepe paper grass. There is a Paul Bunyan character skiing down the mountain with a beard and a red cap.

Jordan's Sunbeam Bread float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. Children are on float waving and Union Station can be seen in the background.

Pacific Lutheran Church's Parkland of Playland float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. A person rides under a candy cane canopy over the slogan, "Learn to Work, Play, Live Better."

Steve Pease & Wife in carriage being pulled by a horse wearing a hat at the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background.

Rhodes Brother Department Store float at the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. The float features models waving in dresses with large, anthropomorphic fish and coral and starfish figures. The Rhodes Brothers logo can be seen inside of a shell.

A parade of military personnel marching down Pacific Avenue holding flags in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. A large Coca Cola sign and what is now the Murray Morgan bridge can be seen in the background.

United State Naval Reserve Station float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue. The float has five people waving, including a somewhat obscured daffodil queen.

An unidentified float carrying five waving people in swim suits in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background.

Morton Loggers Jubilee float at the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background.. The float appears to be a flatbed vehicle covered in daffodils and green crepe paper and is carrying a large log.

The Independent Order of Foresters Float in the 1956 Daffodil Parade on Pacific Avenue with North Pacific Plywood Inc. building and water tower in the background. The float has multiple people in uniform waving and holding flags with felled log in the center of the vehicle.

The Majorettes lead by Shirley Hunter at the 1954 Daffodil Parade with the Murray Morgan bridge visible in the background.