Tacoma's Stadium Bowl was under construction in April of 1909. Designed by local architect Frederick Heath and built by Western Engineering Co., the bowl had an original seating capacity of 23,486. It was dedicated on June 10, 1910. Stadium Bowl has been damaged several times over the years by mudslides and was forced to close in 1949. It did not reopen until about 1960. After renovation and rededication in 1980, it suffered further mudslide damage in 1981. BU-11552

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1900-1910; Progress photographs;

Construction of Stadium Bowl. Stadium High School (then called Tacoma High School) looms over the site of the Stadium Bowl under construction in September of 1909. Standing in sharp contrast in the foreground is an unidentified man in overalls holding the reins of his sturdy horse who is harnessed to a sled of some sort. In the pre-tractor, pre-truck days, horses were commonly used to haul materials to and from construction sites. BU-11577, TPL-1541

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1900-1910; Horses--Tacoma--1900-1910;

Tacoma's Stadium Bowl under construction in December of 1909. The building of Stadium Bowl adjacent to Stadium High School (then called Tacoma High School) continued during the winter months of 1909. It would be dedicated the following June of 1910. Stadium Bowl would suffer from multiple mudslides over the years which forced closure more then once. BU-11586

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1900-1910; Progress photographs;

Stadium Bowl's stands are packed with students and adults in this circa 1920 photograph. Lines of young boys and girls occupy the field while the school band plays on the outdoor stage. This is believed to be "Stadium Day," held each year in May. The "Castle," the massive turreted brick structure otherwise known as Stadium High School, overlooks the Bowl. G55.1-093

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930;

President Warren G. Harding and his wife visited Tacoma on July 5, 1923. A crowd estimated at 25,000 in the Stadium Bowl braved drizzling rain to give President Warren G. Harding and his wife a very warm welcome. Those in attendance had been asked to bring small American flags to wave upon the President's arrival in the Stadium. Thousands more had stood for hours on Pacific Avenue awaiting the Presidential special at Union Station. The Presidential party, including Cabinet Secretaries Herbert Hoover and Henry C. Wallace, motored to the Tacoma Hotel for a public reception after which President and Mrs. Harding visited the disabled veterans at Cushman Hospital prior to the Stadium appearance. The Hardings left Tacoma via the transport USS Henderson, which circled the bay close to Stadium, so that the crowds could give one last cheer. (TDL 7-5-23, p. 1) B8286; G68.1-074; TPL-901

Harding, Warren G.; Presidents--United States; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Guests--Tacoma--1920-1930; Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930;

4th of July celebration at Stadium Bowl. 35,000 jammed into Stadium Bowl in 1924 to celebrate Independence Day with pageants and fireworks. Mounted horsemen from Troop F, 11th U.S. Calvary, bands, sailors and school children stood in the center of the vast bowl with the imposing Stadium High School to the left. The American Legion sponsored the festivities. G55.1-036; BU-11,612 (TNT 7-5-24, p. 1-article)

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930; Spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

4th of July 1924. These rows of fireworks lined up against a fence will soon be exploding into Tacoma skies at the 4th of July celebration held at Stadium Bowl in 1924. An estimated 35,000 people crammed into Stadium Bowl to watch the pyrotechnic display. G20.1-013

Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fireworks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

This display of fireworks at the 1924 4th of July celebration held in Tacoma's Stadium Bowl fully expressed what the people of Tacoma thought the correct name should be for our mountain. Tacomans waged an ultimately fruitless battle against the name "Mount Rainier" for Pierce County's majestic mountain. Residents insisted that the original Native American name, "Tacoma," be reinstated and references in local newspapers always referred to "Mt. Tacoma." TPL-308; G20.1-032

Fireworks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

4-man color guard awaits entry to the Stadium Bowl 4th of July celebration in 1924. They would join some 5000 soldiers, sailors and marines inside. Thousands would fill the massive bowl to view parades and fireworks at the American Legion-sponsored event. G67.1-121 (TNT 7-5-24, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 6-8-24, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 6-15-24, A-3 article)

Flag bearers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Flags--United States; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Stadium High School Intermediate football team. Coached by William M. Jolliffe (third from left, back row), the Stadium team lost to Lincoln twice and tied the final scoreless game of the 1924 season. The team, with no players over 150 pounds, still exerted fine effort and perseverance despite playing a better team. G46.1-032 (1925 Tahoma yearbook, p. 91)

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Jolliffe, William M.;

Stadium Tigers football team in formation at Stadium Bowl on November 20, 1924. This was the school's second-team who would have a season of victory with their 2-1 record over crosstown rival, Lincoln. Howard M. Carr was the team's coach. TPL-9715; G46.1-035 (1925 Tahoma yearbook, p. 90)

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Four members of Stadium High School's first team demonstrate football positions on their home field of Stadium Bowl a few days prior to the big November, 1924, inter-city clash with Lincoln High. Harold Pirret did double duty as a tackle and end. Samuel Hansen was selected to lead the Tigers into battle as their captain and played both halfback and on the line. Robert Warnick, according to the Tahoma yearbook, played aggressively and well. Frank Jurich, left end, also won praise from the school yearbook for his quick feet, fine tackling and blocking and secure pass catching. (From L-R Pirret, Hansen, Warnick, Jurich) . The Stadium season would come to an end with a 3-0 loss to Lincoln who took home the Mark L. Davis' trophy. G46.1-033 (1925 Tahoma yearbook, various pages)

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Pirret, Harold; Hansen, Samuel; Warnick, Robert; Jurich, Frank;

Although the "first teams" of various sports seemed to get most of the attention, there were other teams worthy of mention as well. Athletes of these teams played just as hard and with as much enthusiasm as their brethren. The group pictured above on November 25, 1924, was the Midget team from Stadium High School. They were practicing within the confines of Stadium Bowl. G46.1-037

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Stadium High School track team. Cold December weather in 1924 did not deter these Stadium High School athletes from posing inside Stadium Bowl in traditional running gear. Stadium would be defeated in the annual interscholastic meet with Lincoln by a 72.5 to 56.5 score. Jack Cavin (second from right, back row) would be the high point man with 16 points to his credit. G46.1-020

Track athletics--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Cavin, Jack;

13 National Park buses parked compactly inside Stadium Bowl in June of 1925, just in time for the 26th opening season of Mount Tacoma and Rainier National Park. Each vehicle had four rows of seats where passengers could get plenty of fresh air and unrestricted views of The Mountain. The park buses were equipped with General Tires. Photograph ordered by General Tires. TPL-6199; G70.1-130

Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Miss Tacoma at Stadium Bowl. "Miss Tacoma's" face is not clear due to this double exposure where a young sailor's image has been blended with her own. She posed standing in a late-model automobile with a number of sailors surrounding her during the 1926 4th of July celebration at Stadium Bowl. Dorothy Rothermel was chosen as 1926's Miss Tacoma. TPL-2054; G42.1-136

Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rothermel, Dorothy; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sailors--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Every nook-and-cranny in Stadium Bowl is jam-packed for 1926's 4th of July festivities. 40,000 witnessed the celebration of the 150th anniversary of American independence. Participants in the night's celebration included marines from the battleships in Commencement Bay and the guns of battery B, 10th Field Artillery from Camp Lewis. The program was sponsored by the American Legion and was held on Monday, July 5th. Stadium High School overlooks the Bowl on the left. BU11,616 (TDL 7-6-26, p. 1+) TPL-10131

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930; Spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Dr. Hinton D. Jonez (left), prominent Tacoma physician and civic leader, catches a ride aboard a police sidecar during the 1927 4th of July festivities. Dr. Jonez directed the American Legion Stadium program. It was the ninth year that the American Legion put on the 4th of July Stadium celebration. The other civilian passenger was tentatively identified as a Mr. Hayward. Names of the two police officers were not given. A uniformed band is gathered behind the men and motorcycles. G42.1-013 (TNT 7-2-27, p. 1-article)

Jonez, Hinton D.; Motorcycles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Tacoma's first known night baseball games were played in the Stadium Bowl on April 25, 1930. The Tacoma Teamsters Local # 313 team, pictured above with coaches and ball boy, shut out the City Lumber team 6-0 in the second half of a doubleheader. In the first game of the evening, the Firemen defeated Northern Pacific 5-1. These games opened the 1930 Industrial Baseball League season. With 18 teams in the circuit, there were undoubtedly other games played under the gigantic floodlights at the Stadium Bowl later in the season. (TDL 4-25-30, p. 10, 4-26-30, p. 8) TPL-875; G53.1-003

Firsts--Tacoma; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Uniforms; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Pre game military show featuring a formation of soldiers and sailors during the November 11, 1935 Armistice Day Navy-Army Football Game at Stadium Bowl. For Bremerton Sun. (filed with Argentum) (see D410 for more images of the same event.)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Military personnel--1930-1940;

On November 11, 1935, 8000 hardy fans braved the rain to pack the Stadium Bowl for the second annual Armistice Day gridiron battle between Northwest Navy and Army teams. The spectators protected themselves from the elements with umbrellas, while the pictured sailors were covered with slickers. Stadium High School loomed in the background over the stadium. The playing field for the game was a muddy mass of slime due to the cold rain that fell most of the day. The charity match was preceded by a military pageant, celebrating the end 17 years prior of the first World War. The game itself was a thriller where a forward pass in the closing minutes of the game gave Navy a 6-2 victory over Army. (T. Times 11/11/1935, pg. 1; T. Times 11/12/1935, pg. 1 & 11; Bremerton Sun 11/11/1935, pg. 1- all articles story only)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Sailors--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Soldiers, sailors, and marines from Fort Lewis and Bremerton faced off against each other in Tacoma's Stadium Bowl for a charity Army-Navy football game on Armistice Day, November 11,1935. Taps for the war dead preceded the gridiron conflict, and a 21-gun salute closed the event. Although a cold rain fell throughout the day, dampening the enthusiasm of the crowd and turning the field into a sea of mud, the Fort Lewis men put up a valiant struggle against the Navy team. In the end, neither team had much to show for their time or effort. The final score was Navy 6, Army 2. (T.Times 11/12/1935)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flags--United States;

Football players lined up for the kickoff during the November 11, 1935 Armistice Day charity game at the Stadium Bowl, pitting the Army against the Navy. The teams had trained diligently for weeks for this big event, the second annual of its kind locally. Many were experienced athletes who had played for West Point and Annapolis. The stands were packed with 8,000 soldiers, sailors and local fans, who sat in the cold and rain to watch the game. Hours of rain had turned the field into a sea of mud and slime through which both teams toiled valiantly. Navy won this contest 6-2 with a forward pass from Coombs to Singleterry in the game's closing minutes. For Bremerton Sun. (filed with Argentum) (see D410 for more pictures of the same event) (T.Times 11-8-35, p. 1-article & photograph of team members; T.Times 11-12-35, p. 11-article)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Military personnel--1930-1940;

Armistice Day Navy-Army Football Game, played to benefit charity on November 11, 1935 at the Stadium Bowl. The stands were packed with 8,000 soldiers, sailors and local fans, who sat in the rain to observe the game. The gothic spires of Stadium High School stand guard in the background over the football proceedings. For Bremerton Sun. (filed with Argentum)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940; Military personnel--1930-1940;

Armistice Day Navy-Army Football Game at Stadium Bowl. Over 8,000 people packed the stands on November 11, 1935 for a charity Army vs. Navy Armistice Day football game held at the Stadium Bowl. The Navy arrived from Bremerton on the ferry Kalakala and stayed to defeat the Army 6 to 2 on a field that resembled a sea of mud. For Bremerton Sun. (filed with Argentum) (see D410 for more pictures of the same event)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1935 Armistice Day Navy vs. Army football game at Stadium Bowl. Tacoma Mayor George Smitley (center) with Rear Admiral T. T. Craven and Brig. General C.H. Conrad Jr., commanding officer at Fort Lewis. (Bremerton Sun)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Craven, T.T.; Admirals--Tacoma; Conrad, C.H.;

Army-Navy Football game at Stadium Bowl. Rear Admiral T.T. Craven and Mrs. Craven, in fur coat, watch the activities while in the officials' stand at Stadium Bowl on Armistice Day, 1936. A military pageant preceded the second annual Army-Navy football game. Adm. Craven's counterpart, Maj. Gen. David L. Stone of Fort Lewis, was also in attendance. The Navy team would go on to defeat Army 14-0; a larger margin of victory than the previous year. (T.Times, 11-12-36, p. 1, p.17)

Craven, T.T.; Craven, T.T.--Family; Admirals--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Mayor George Smitley shakes hands with Maj. Gen. David L. Stone during the second annual Armistice Day Army-Navy football game at Stadium Bowl. General Stone is the commander of Fort Lewis. His counterpart, Rear Adm. T.T. Craven, head of the 13th Naval District, was also in attendance. Ten thousand-plus fans watched the football game and military pageant which saw Navy triumph 14-0. Navy had also won the previous year's contest 6-2. Sepia photograph taken on November 11, 1936. (T. Times 11-12-36, p. 1, 17) ALBUM 11. TPL-10453

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Stone, David L.; Generals; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Army-Navy football game at Stadium Bowl. A large unit of Army troops stand at attention and salute stadium spectators from the center field of Stadium Bowl. Over 10,000 people were present to watch the second annual Army-Navy football game held in Tacoma; for the second year in a row, Navy was triumphant. Navy defeated Army 14-0 before the eyes of Rear Admiral T.T. Craven and Fort Lewis commander, Maj. Gen. David L. Stone. (Bremerton Sun, T. Times 11-12-36, p. 1, 17).

Military parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Saluting--Tacoma; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Football--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Stadium vs. Lincoln Thanksgiving Day football game in Stadium Bowl, November 25, 1937. Stadium High School marching band and drill team form what appears to be the letters "IN" on the football field. The goal post, Commencement Bay, and Browns Point are visible in the background. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 1)

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Marching bands;