Jubilee Princess Elizabeth Johnson presents trophies to the winners of the motorboat races at the Water Carnival, held July 16, 1939. The Water Carnival was the kick-off celebration for the Washington State Golden Jubilee. It was attended by over 30,000 spectators. The 3 1/2 hour show included inboard and outboard races. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Racing--Tacoma; Johnson, Elizabeth;

Crowd scenes from the Water Carnival held July 16, 1939 in conjunction with Tacoma's Golden Jubilee celebration. Spectators crowd the Point Defiance Pavilion several people deep to watch the races and water activities. At the end of the dock is the covered throne for the Jubilee princesses. A crowd of over 30,000 turned out to watch the 3 1/2 hour entertainment. Events included log rolling, waterskiing and races, with events sometimes held 2 or 3 at a time.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma);

Some of the Jubilee Princesses pose, seated in chairs on the viewing stand, in front of the crowds at the Water Carnival, held July 16, 1939 at Point Defiance Pavilion. The princesses are, left to right, Kathleen Hurley, Golden Jubilee Hostess Queen Amy Lou Murray, Venette Maybin, Princess of the Water Carnival, Lucille Courtney and Elizabeth Johnson. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma); Hurley, Kathleen; Murray, Amy Lou; Maybin, Venette; Courtney, Lucille; Johnson, Elizabeth;

A crowd, estimated at 30,000 filled the dock and all the decks at the Point Defiance Pavilion on July 16, 1939 to watch the various spectator events at the Golden Jubilee Water Carnival. Highlights of the day included an exhibition of log rolling put on by the "World Champion" Swanson brothers of British Columbia, and a five-man boat race. (Boat No.4 is in the lower right corner.) The show climaxed with a thrilling tug boat race from Crab Point to the Pavilion. TPL-587 (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma); Racing--Tacoma; Sea Scouts (Tacoma);

Miss Pierce County Margaret Franich presents loving cup trophies to the winners of the Golden Jubilee Water Carnival speed boat races. Although it is the middle of July, it must have been chilly by the water because Miss Franich is wearing a coat. Races were held in the inboard catagory and two divisions of outboard races.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Franich, Margaret;

A laughing, soaking wet courtier, Carnival Admiral Kenny Johnson, knelt at the feet of Water Carnival Princess Venette Maybin at the Golden Jubilee Water Carnival, held July 16, 1939 at Point Defiance. The princesses to the right of the Queen were Lucille Courtney (left) and Elizabeth Johnson. Part of the entertainment was surfboard riders, towed at dizzying speeds, zipping between the anchored yachts and smaller crafts. The one getting the most laughs was Kenny Johnson, clad in his mock admiral's uniform, who mounted a surfboard and quickly slipped off into Commencement Bay, spraying water and bubbles, right in front of the pavilion. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Johnson, Elizabeth; Courtney, Lucille; Maybin, Venette;

Golden Jubilee Water Carnival at Point Defiance, July 16, 1939. Crowd gathered on dock in foreground, yachts and smaller vessels in background. A ferry can be seen in the distance. At the end of the dock is the canopied throne of the Jubilee Princesses. Over 30,000 people turned out for the opening event of the Golden Jubilee. They were rewarded with a three and 1/2 hour show filled with races, log rolling, water skiing and a teaser sample of the upcoming air show by Tex Rankin.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma;

Employees of the Pacific Match Company, Tacoma, Washington, pose for an outdoors group company photograph for Tacoma's Golden Jubilee celebration. Tacoma held a massive celebration in July of 1939 of Washington's fifty years of statehood with a grand parade, water carnival, air show and pageant. Everyone got into the spirit of the jubilee by wearing hats and bonnets as proudly worn by Pacific Match's employees shown above. (Ron Neslund Collection)

Pacific Match Co. (Tacoma)--People; Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma;

Golden Jubilee Water Carnival at Point Defiance, July 16, 1939. Jubilee Princesses Kathleen Hurley, left, and Venette Maybin, Marine Princess, present trophies to the winners of the tugboat race. Pictured, left to right, are Kenny Johnson, Carnival Admiral and master of ceremonies, Miss Hurley (later Princess of the Air Show,) Drew Foss, winner of the Golden Jubilee trophy, Miss Maybin and Bill Gersdacher, skipper of the Fearless. Drew Foss captained the Peter Foss, winner of the event; in second place was the Fearless, owned by the Tacoma Tug and Barge Co. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Hurley, Kathleen; Maybin, Venette; Foss, Drew; Johnson, Kenny; Gersdacher, Bill;

On July 16, 1939 an unidentified woman in high-topped logging boots took part in the birling exhibition that was part of the entertainment at the Water Carnival held at Point Defiance Park on the opening day of the Washington State Golden Jubilee celebration in Tacoma. Tacoma had major events scheduled for every day of the jubilee celebration from the first day on July 16th through Sunday the 23rd. The Water Carnival attracted 30,000 spectators to the four-hour saltwater spectacle that include boat races, an air show by Tex Rankin and his star flyers, and exhibitions of diving, water skiing, life saving techniques, and birling. Birling, the art and science of log rolling, was popular in the logging regions of the Pacific Northwest. (TNT 7/17/1939 p.1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Logs;

Golden Jubilee Water Carnival at Point Defiance, Sea Scout races. The Scouts pull hard at their oars, trying to propel their boat to the winning position. Spectators watch from surrounding boats of many different sizes. The North End Sea Scouts defeated the South End craft in the mile long cutter race. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma); Racing--Tacoma; Sea Scouts (Tacoma);

The most exciting event at the Golden Jubilee Water Carnival, held July 16, 1939 at Point Defiance, was the tugboat race. Five tugs churned through the choppy water from Crab Point to the Pavilion, a course of 1 1/4 mile. Winner Peter Foss crossed the finish line in 10 minutes, belching black smoke and carrying Captain Drew Foss to victory. Other competitors were the second place Fearless, owned by Tacoma Tug & Barge Co., the Capt. O.G. Olson from Olson Tug & Barge, the Foss #12 and the Morning Star of Shelton. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma; Racing--Tacoma;

An enormous crowd of 30,000 has turned out to watch the water races and entertainment at the Golden Jubilee Water Carnival, held July 16, 1939 at Point Defiance. They line every available inch of dock and window space at the Point Defiance Pavilion. Large yachts and smaller crafts have also docked to enjoy the show. This was the kick off event for Golden Jubilee, the celebration of Washington State's 50th anniversary of statehood.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

Officials of the Golden Jubilee Water Carnival, held July 16, 1939, wave and tip their Jubilee hats to the photographer in between races.The men wear ribbons stating that they are "Officials." They are posing on the canopied throne set up for the Jubilee princesses and the Marine Queen. A portion of the crowd of 30,000 can be seen on the Pavilion in the background. One man on the left takes his own picture of the photographer.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

Golden Jubilee Water Carnival at Point Defiance, held July 16, 1939. Part of the entertainment was a thrilling water ski show presented by Mrs. Margaret Rust and Don Callison of Hoods Canal. Mrs. Rust is pictured just rising up on her skis from the water. Her yacht Electra was docked nearby, so that she could view the remainder of the show in comfort. (T. Times 7/17/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Water skiing--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust, Margaret;

Newly paved Pacific Avenue looking south from 9th Street. Automobiles and pedestrians are using the new street and sidewalks. A signal light hangs in the center of the intersection. Good view of buildings in 900 and 1000 blocks of Pacific Avenue.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Pacific Avenue showing improvements. Barricaded section south of South 15th Street. Automobiles and buses on newly paved street looking north to Northern Pacific Headquarters Building. Schoenfeld's and Sprague Buildings prominent.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Pacific Avenue showing improvements. Grand opening of new $73,000 paving work on July 17. New, unblemished street looking north from South 12th. Golden Jubilee signs and banners hang from wires strung across avenue in preparation for the big parade. Bank draped with flags.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Decorations--Tacoma;

Grand opening of newly paved Pacific Avenue. Street level view looking north from South 13th Street. Single street signal hangs in middle of intersection. Good view of buildings on east side of street. Vehicles, pedestrians, and Golden Jubilee banners.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Decorations--Tacoma;

Grand opening of newly paved Pacific Avenue. Street level view looking north from South 13th Street. Banners are hung across the streets in preparation for the Golden Jubilee parade. Barricades can be seen on the right hand sidewalk, ready for crowd control for the parade. Puget Sound National Bank prominent on the right. TPL-9624

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Decorations--Tacoma;

Courtland and Venette Maybin and daughter Venette, a Jubilee Princess, during the Golden Jubilee Water Carnival at Point Defiance Park. Miss Maybin was also crowned reigning Princess of the Water Festival. Mr. Maybin was a Tacoma Times reporter, Mrs. Maybin was Secretary of the Tacoma-Pierce County Boy Scout Council.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Maybin, Courtland--Family; Maybin, Courtland; Maybin, Venette; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

Barber at Olympus Hotel, likely Olaf T. Grunden, wearing toupee and Golden Jubilee costume. Woman wearing waitress uniform is seated in barber chair and pinching the barber's chin. Bottles on tonic on shelf below mirror in background. Photograph taken in July of 1939.

Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Barbershops--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);

Golden Jubilee. Sonny Johns shoots arrow for archery demonstration to large group of spectators in 900 block of newly paved Pacific Avenue. Construction forms are still lying in street. Sonny was the 1938 Washington State Junior Archery champion and the Northwest Junior Champion. At the June 1938 competition, he had won the flight shoot, sending the arrow 179 feet, just 21 feet short of two blocks.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Archery--Tacoma; Johns, Sonny;

Golden Jubilee group of men and women, including cooks and waitresses, gathered around the counter of the Tacoma Auto Stage Depot, one of two bus depots in Tacoma. Menu on Coca Cola board and other advertising.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Bus terminals--Tacoma; Tacoma Auto Stage Depot (Tacoma);

Scenes from a preview performance of "Saga of the West," held July 18, 1939. The pageant would cover the history of Washington from its earliest times to the present and be presented July 20, 21 and 22nd at the Stadium Bowl. This scene depicts the pioneers first crossing the Naches Pass. A pioneer woman, Gretchen (Mrs. Percy C.) Rollins, is being assisted from her "prairie schooner" by a trio of Scouts, actually soldiers from Fort Lewis. Unfortunately the July 18th dress rehearsal was rained out about halfway through; the cast would convene the following evening for a full rehearsal. (T. Times 7/19/1939, pg. 1)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Historical pageants--Tacoma; Rollins, Gretchen;

Scenes from a preview performance of "Saga of the West." The pageant would cover the history of the west and be presented July 20, 21 and 22nd of 1939 at the Stadium Bowl. Titus Motor Co. offered the use of their 1906 Ford "Model N' for the pageant. The automobile is being cranked by Titus Service Department Superintendent Dick Frayne and is ready to go into action. This dress rehearsal on the 18th was interrupted by a downpour halfway through, causing the actors to take cover. The cast would reconvene on July 19th to complete the rehearsal.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Historical pageants--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Ford automobile; Frayne, Dick;

Group at the County Assessor's office showing their support for Washington's Golden Jubilee by wearing Jubilee hats and western clothing.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma;

Employees of Peterman Manufacturing Company, Shipping Department, wearing Jubilee hats. Businesses were encouraged to have their employees wear a variety of hats in celebration of the state's 50th anniversary.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Hats--1930-1940;

Employees of Peterman Manufacturing Company, Patching Department, wearing Jubilee hats. Jubilee Princess Elizabeth Johnson in center with banner.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Johnson, Elizabeth;

Western wear is the dress code of the day in the County Assessor's office on July 18, 1939. The public servants are helping Washington celebrate her 50th anniversary of statehood. Tacoma would be celebrating the state's Golden Jubilee from July 16-23, 1939. The Gyro Club had declared wearing "Jubilee Hats" as the way to show support.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Pierce County Assessor's Office (Tacoma); County government--Tacoma;