A view across the Tideflats and adjacent pond shows the expanded Kaiser Aluminum plant in November, 1957. Built originally for Olin Corporation in 1942, and purchased by Kaiser four years later, heavy demand for aluminum products post-war made expansion of the plant necessary. Kaiser spent nearly three million dollars in 1952 to improve their Tacoma plant facilities which led to a large increase in aluminum production. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Storage tanks at Kaiser Aluminum are massive in nature; they dwarf the Canadian National Railroad boxcars that are motionless in front of them. Olin Corporation Aluminum Plant was the first occupant of the 3400 Taylor Way site; it was sold to Kaiser Aluminum in late 1946. Kaiser spent nearly three million dollars in 1952 to expand its plant, thereby increasing aluminum production accordingly. Easy access to rail transportation made delivery of its product fast and efficient. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Canada;

Kaiser Aluminum, Tacoma Works rectifier station addition. Exterior of building with train tracks beside it. The Kaiser plants were taken over from the federal government in 1947 by Henry J. Kaiser. The plant in Tacoma was an aluminum reduction plant; it produced pig aluminum from treated ore and then sent it to a fabricating plant to be made into a finished product. The plant underwent a expansion and modernization program in 1952, at a cost of $2,850,000, to increase capacity by 1/3, an annual production of 66, 400,000 pounds.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma works rectifier station addition, Kaiser Aluminum. Other side of building with plant and yard on right, Dodge truck lower left. The plant underwent an expansion and modernization program, beginning in 1952, to increase production. Construction in the expansion program included an extension to the rectifier station building. The rectifier station is where power is converted from alternating to direct current.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dodge trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Kaiser Aluminum's Tacoma plant near the southeasterly edge of Tacoma's tideflats was expanded at a cost of $2,850,000 in 1952, increasing by one third the plant's aluminum output. November 1952 marked the fifth anniversary of the operation of the Tacoma plant. Four alumina storage towers are seen in front of the plant facilities. Mount Rainier is seen rising majestically over the Tacoma tideflats. (TNT Supplement, 11/2/1952, p.3) TPL-9617

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Another view of the large American Wheelabrator machine that handled studs at the Kaiser Aluminum plant; this September 20, 1955, photograph shows the Kaiser employee with his cart nearly full of the metal studs. He appears to be inserting the stud onto the long extension of the large machine. Photograph ordered by American Wheelabrator & Equipment Corporation.

Machinery; American Wheelabrator & Equipment Corp. (Tacoma); Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A sign attached to the piece of American Wheelabrator machinery gives warning to only load a maximum of 78 studs per cart at the Kaiser Aluminum plant. A Kaiser employee, properly complying with safety regulations, wears safety goggles and heavy gloves when working with the studs. This area of the massive Kaiser plant might have been known as "Davey's Salt Mine" as scrawled on another piece of machinery. Photograph ordered by American Wheelabrator & Equipment Corporation.

Machinery; Aluminum; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; American Wheelabrator & Equipment Corp. (Tacoma); Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Kaiser Aluminum; Arc building, looking southeast. The Kaiser Aluminum plant was located about 5 miles north of downtown Tacoma. It had been obtained in 1947 by the huge Kaiser business conglomerate built by Henry J. Kaiser. It was purchased from the Defense Plant Corporation. Kaiser modernized the closed plant and began a series of expansions. In 1956, a $2,000,000 expansion was complete with the creation of 18 new "super size" reduction cells. The improvement also included the erection of a mill-type building to house the 420 ft. potline, office and laboratory buildings, an added electric substation and installation of aluminum bus bars and auxiliary electrical equipment. (Kaiser Aluminum News, August 1956)

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Kaiser Aluminum; new pot room; Interior view, Arc building. A man drives a modernistic piece of equipment, a mechanical arm with a tractor base. This new 420 foot potline at the Tacoma plant has 18 "super-size" reduction cells, increasing primary aluminum production by 15%. The Tacoma plant is a reduction plant, it uses power from hydro electric sources to reduce alumina to aluminum. In 1947, Kaiser bought the Tacoma plant from the Defense Plant Corporation which had operated it as a war emergency plant and closed it after VJ day. Its proximity to plentiful electric power, supplied by the Bonneville Power Administration, made it the perfect location for creating aluminum "pigs" by electrolysis. The plant on the Tideflats ran on a 24 hour, around the clock basis. (Kaiser Aluminum News, August 1956)

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1956. Kaiser Aluminum plant. The new 420 foot potline at the Tacoma reduction plant; the result of a $2,000,000 expansion. The line contains 18 new "super size" reduction cells that will increase aluminum production by 15%. The Bonneville Power Administration will provide the power to reduce the ore to pure metal by electrolysis. Dissolved in solution in long lines of reduction cells ("pots",) alumina ore is subjected to electrical current. The chemicals recombine, the aluminum separates from the oxygen and settles as pure metal, aluminum. (Kaiser Aluminum News, August 1956)

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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;

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;

Aerial view of new rod mill at Kaiser Aluminum on February 24, 1969. Smoke billows from the new 500-foot stack. Kaiser's new aluminum rod mill began operations in December, 1968. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers, Inc.

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

New aluminum rod mill under construction. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. was building a new rod mill in 1968; it would be ready for operation in December of that year. Once fully functional, the completely automated mill would produce rod at a rate of 1,800 feet per minute. Kaiser was undergoing a period of expansion where a new 500-foot stack and the rod mill were built, a second alumina dome with 100,000-ton capacity would be completed in 1969. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. (TNT 12-13-68, C-18)

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

Interior of new aluminum rod mill at Kaiser Aluminum, 3400 Taylor Way, on November 1, 1968. This view is of one-half of Potline #4 and a cart loaded with "channels" which were lowered by crane into a slot just inside the ore hoppers visible on top of each "pot" or reduction cell. The new rod mill was nearly completed and ready for operation.The first rod would be formed in a test run on December 12, 1968. Molten aluminum would be processed into 3/8-inch rods at Tacoma's local mill and then shipped to San Leandro, California, for drawing into electrical wiring. Kaiser had reopened its Tacoma facilities in 1964 after a six-year closure and had steadily expanded since then. It was to permanently close in 2002. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. (TNT 12-13-68, C-18) (Additional information provided by a reader)

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

New aluminum rod mill under construction. Construction progresses on the new Kaiser Aluminum's rod mill on 3400 Taylor Way in early November, 1968. Covers have now been placed on the two small dome-containers. It is possible that these containers would hold the molten aluminum that would be used to manufacture the 3/8th-inch rods. Earlier photograph taken on October 18, D154922, Image 4, shows them uncovered. The mill would form its first rod in a test run on December 12, 1968. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. (TNT 12-13-68, C-18)

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

Kaiser Aluminum plant aerials. Kaiser Aluminum, located at 3400 Taylor Way in the Tideflats, had resumed production in 1964 after being closed for six years. They were still expanding in 1968 when the above aerial photograph was taken. Hylebos Waterway and Northeast Tacoma in background. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. TPL-4741

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

Smoke drifts from the new 500-foot stack at the Kaiser Aluminum plant on Tacoma's Tideflats in late October, 1968. Kaiser was undergoing a period of expansion that would see a new aluminum rod mill open for production in December of 1968. Hylebos Waterway is adjacent to the plant on left side of photograph. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers.

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

Closer aerial view of Kaiser's Tacoma plant located at 3400 Taylor Way in the industrial Tideflats. Taken on October 30, 1968, photograph emphasizes the height of what is believed to be the 500-foot stack recently constructed. Hylebos Waterway in background. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. TPL-6580

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

1969 Richards stock footage. Autumn view of Kaiser Aluminum plant in tideflats taken by air in 1969. Located on Taylor Way approximately five miles north of downtown Tacoma, the large Kaiser facility had expanded in late 1968 to manufacture aluminum rods for shipment to California for finishing into electrical conductors. 1969 would see further expansion as its second alumina dome with a 100,000 ton capacity was completed on Pier 7.

Aerial views; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Exterior of new aluminum rod mill at Kaiser Aluminum. Kaiser gradually phased in their new aluminum rod mill with its first rod being formed in a test run in December, 1968. The completely automated mill would produce rod at a rate of 1,800 feet a minute. Kaiser would produce the first semi-fabricated aluminum product for Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers, Inc. (TNT 12-8-68, A-7)

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

This is the Kaiser Aluminum plant in the tideflats as seen by air during the fall of 1972. The 500-foot smokestack was built in 1968 during plant expansion. Photograph taken on speculation.

Aerial views; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Smokestacks--Tacoma;

Smoke pours from the 500-foot smokestack at the Kaiser Aluminum plant, 3400 Taylor Way, on October 12, 1972. The company had undergone expansion in the late 1960s and built a new aluminum rod mill and second aluminum dome in addition to the smokestack. Kaiser Aluminum would permanently close in 2002 and the smokestack demolished four years later.

Aerial views; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Smokestacks--Tacoma;

ca. 1973. Standing over a hundred feet tall is this unidentified supporting structure at Kaiser Aluminum's Tideflats plant. Its size is apparent compared to the man standing at the foot of one of the supports. Even the truck nearby appears miniscule. Photograph ordered on December 19, 1973, by Puget Sound Fabricators, Seattle.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Aerial of Kaiser Aluminum plant as viewed on June 10, 1974. Smoke drifts from the 500-foot stack near the aluminum rod mill. 32 years later in July of 2006, the smokestack was demolished in front of hundreds of fascinated spectators. Color photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

Aerial photographs; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Kaiser Aluminum plant. This aerial view of the Kaiser Aluminum plant was taken on June 10, 1974. The plant was located in Tacoma's tideflats at 3400 Taylor Way. The wisps of smoke emerging from the plant's 500-foot stack appear to blend into the heavy cloud formation. Color photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

Aerial photographs; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;