Pauline Martin, age 18, born in a Montana log cabin, sits on stage with bouquets of daffodils after being named 1941 Daffodil Queen during pageant at Sumner High School. (T. Times, 3/1/1941, p.1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1941 : Sumner); Martin, Pauline;

The 1946 Daffodil Parade proved to be a great success and lived up to its pre-war standard of excellence. View of parade entries, possibly the Veterans of Foreign Wars marching through South Meridian Street in Puyallup. Crowds of people are gathered on both sides of street to watch the Daffodil Parade. TPL-833

Daffodils--Puyallup; Parades & processions--Puyallup; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Puyallup);

Puyallup Girl Scouts proudly march down the street following their float in the 10th annual Daffodil Parade, held on March 30, 1946 in Puyallup. The Daffodil Planning Committee was not going to have a parade, due to a post war shortage of trucks and decorators, until the Puyallup Chamber of Commerce stepped in and put together the first parade in three years. The first post World War II parade was a great success. TPL-8694 (TNT 3/31/1946, pg. 1)

Daffodils--Puyallup; Parades & processions--Puyallup; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Puyallup); Floats (Parades)--Puyallup; Girl Scouts (Puyallup);

Thirty thousand spectators, three times the population of Puyallup, were estimated to have attended the 1946 Daffodil parade on March 30, 1946 in that city. The first post war Daffodil parade was 90 minutes long. On of the first groups to pass was Governor Mon C. Wallgren sitting on the back of a convertible. Young uniformed guards march on either side of the vehicle. Parade spectators line both side of Meridian Street in Puyallup. (TNT 3/31/1946, pg. 1)

Daffodils--Puyallup; Parades & processions--Puyallup; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Puyallup); Floats (Parades)--Puyallup; Wallgren, Mon C., 1891-1961;

Gloria Dinwiddie of Sumner, Queen of the 1946 Daffodil Festival, was photographed preparing for her coronation on March 29, 1946. Helping her with her crown of golden daffodils were her attendants, Patricia McPherson (far right) of Tacoma and Maxine Barth of Puyallup. The coronation ceremony took place in Sumner. The three day Daffodil Festival began with the coronation and would end with the annual sailboat races. TPL-10152

Daffodils--Sumner; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Sumner); Dinwiddie, Gloria--Coronations; McPherson, Patricia; Barth, Maxine; Crowns;

Mayor Harry P. Cain crowns Gloria Dinwiddie of Sumner, Queen of the 1946 Daffodil Festival, with a crown made of golden daffodils. Attendants Patricia McPherson of Tacoma, right, and Maxine Barth of Puyallup look on. The little crown bearer is Caryn Chervenka, age 4. The coronation took place at Guill Hall in Sumner. The three day event began with the coronation and would end with the annual sailboat races. ALBUM 13.

Daffodils--Sumner; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Sumner); Dinwiddie, Gloria; Crowns; McPherson, Patricia; Barth, Maxine; Chervenka, Caryn; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The 1946 Daffodil Queen Gloria Dinwiddie (center) stands, with her attendants Patricia MacPherson, left, and Maxine Barth, on a daffodil covered platform that was built in front of the Tacoma totem pole. The 1946 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival was the first to be held since 1942. The Daffodil committee originally did not plan to have a parade in 1946 because of a shortage of decorators and truck chassis. The Puyallup Chamber of Commerce stepped in to sponsor the parade, and managed to organize a top rate show in just a few short weeks. Although the court was presented to the people of Tacoma on this totem pole stage, the parade was only held in Puyallup along Meridian. (TNT 3/31/1946, pg. 1)

Daffodils--Tacoma; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1946 : Tacoma); Totem poles; Stages (Platforms);

A carriage pulled by twin butterflies is the Rhodes Bro. Department Store entry in the 1952 Daffodil Parade and winner of first place in the commercial division. More than one million sunshine yellow blossoms were used to decorate the 70 floats, many of them carrying out the 1952 "King Alfred" theme. The weather dawned warm and sunny, swelling Tacoma parade crowds to over 200,000. (TNT 4/6/1952, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

A float sponsored by Buck & Sons, Tractor & Implement Co., in the 1952 Daffodil Parade crosses down Pacific Ave. in front of the closed Riviera movie theatre. Two young women clad in shorts stand behind rototillers on this Daffodil covered float pulled by a tractor. Three young men perch on the narrow awning of the Riviera marquee to view the parade. Small children sit on the curb at the front of the crowd to watch the spectacle. The crowd estimated at 200,000, the largest in parade history, waited patiently for the parade which began 1/2 hour after scheduled start time.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma);

The annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade was a great success. With more than sixty entries in the Tacoma parade, the judges had a hard time selecting which ones should be sweepstakes winners. An estimated 600,000 daffodils were used on parade floats. View of the Titus Ford float, decorated by Fisk Flag and Decorating Company, four people ride in a daffodil covered Ford (T.N.T., 3/30/47, p. 1).

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1947 : Tacoma); Daffodils--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Fisk Flag & Decorating Co. (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Daffodil Parade, Times. The Junior Chamber of Commerce reminded the crowd that it will require research and education to "Fight to Conquer Cancer".

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Daffodils--Tacoma; Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Cancer--Tacoma;

Carsten's float turns the corner from Broadway to 9th St. in the 1950 Daffodil parade. The parade route in Tacoma started from the line up area on 17th to Broadway, turned on 9th and continued down Pacific back to 17th. Crowds are in places ten people deep to watch the parade, with some standing on ladders for a better view. The best viewpoint belongs to those watching from the upper windows and the fire escape. A large group of people watch the parade from the top of Rhodes department store. To the right of the picture stands the Junior Chamber of Commerce's "Safety First" sign, noting the number of deathless days in Tacoma traffic.

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

Daffodil court members stand between the wings of floral doves in this tribute to the "American Way" produced by St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company, winner of the first place commercial entry award. A huge floral daffodil dominates the center of the float, followed by a fountain at the rear of the float. The float had just turned the corner from 9th onto Pacific. The Daffodil parade has been held annually since 1934 except for World War II years, and was suggested as a use for the blooms of the Puyallup Valleys' Daffodil bulb crop that were either thrown away or used as fertilizer before the parade's inception.

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

Tacoma Seed Company, 805 Pacific Ave., sponsored this entry- a Sunbeam Greenhouse pulled by an automobile. The greenhouse is full of hot house flowers including some daffodils. The crowd on Pacific Ave. bundled up in coats, hats and blankets against the brisk spring weather look longingly at the warmth inside the greenhouse. Tacoma Seed Co. was also featured prominently at the Flower Show that was part of the Daffodil Festival celebration.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Tacoma Seed Co. (Tacoma);

The crowd disperses from the 900 block of Pacific Avenue after the completion of the enormously successful 1950 Daffodil Parade, leaving a large job for the street cleaning crew. One man descends from the Federal Finance Co. awning, where he had scrambled up to better view the parade. The Daffodil Festival and its parade were the brainchild of the cities of Tacoma, Puyallup and Sumner. A volunteer Board of Directors from these cities, representing Chambers of Commerce, businesses and growers, toiled throughout the year without pay to plan the festivities. Ski and yacht clubs planned events in conjunction, and professional growers worked with womens' garden clubs on the Flower Show. The whole Festival was ruled over by a teenage Daffodil Queen elected from one of the three sponsoring cities.

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

This "hooked" and flower bedecked King Salmon is one half of the float sponsored by the Young Mens Improvement Club in the 1950 Daffodil Parade, the other half is the boat and fisherman pulling it down Pacific Avenue. This ingenious two part float was the third place winner in class 3. The float celebrated the dominance of King Salmon in Northwest commercial and game fishing. (TNT 4/2/1950, pg. A-8)

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

This float by Tacoma City Lights carried Queen Nancy Jean Davis (at rear) of Sumner, Princess Audrey Rentsch (left) of Puyallup, and Princess Betty Hurlong (right) of Stadium High in Tacoma down Pacific Avenue during the 1950 Daffodil Parade. The float was decked with thousands of daffodils and tulips befitting the royal trio. The trio were very busy during the Festival and throughout the Spring attending functions and representing the Puyallup Valley area.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Davis, Nancy Jean; Rentsch, Audrey; Hurlong, Betty;

This floral tribute to the daffodil, Puyallup Valley's bright yellow herald of Spring, won the first prize commercial entry award for St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company in the 1950 Daffodil Parade. The daffodil industry was established in the Valley in 1926. The area's farmers were dealing with the failing hops industry brought on by Prohibition and a hops virus that decimated the crop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture was looking for a location to establish a bulb industry, for daffodils, tulips and irises, to rival that of Holland. The Valley had the perfect growing conditions for daffodils and soon established itself as the leader in the industry, producing bulbs that bested those of Holland, being larger and earlier.

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

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;

Intersection of 11th & Pacific, Johnny Appleseed scatters the seeds of faith on this float entered by the First Assembly of God. In keeping with the 1956 theme of "Storytime in Daffodils," the church has chosen the fable of Johnny Appleseed who seeded the Northwest with groves of apple trees to provide shelter and food. This Johnny sows the seeds of faith next to a small flower bedecked church.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1956 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; First Assembly of God (Tacoma);

Sponsored by the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., Dorothy and friends on the "Over the Rainbow" float pass by 9th & Pacific during the 1957 Daffodil Parade. Rain or shine, the parade always brought out thousands of spectators. Those sitting on Morley Studio's upstairs sign and the marquee next door had excellent views. Crowds of 200,000 saw the 24th annual parade proceed through Tacoma, Puyallup and Summer. The 60 foot "Over the Rainbow" float won the inaugural President Award Plaque for the best use of daffodils. Katherine Bennett, 13, of Olympia was chosen to portray "Dorothy." Photograph ordered by St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (TNT 4-13-57, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spectators--Tacoma; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

1967 Daffodil Parade. Snow White and friends accompanied the Tacoma Vocational-Technical Institute Daffodil float on the streets of downtown Tacoma in April, 1967. Flower-bedecked float #4 is pictured passing by large crowds at 11th & Pacific while two clowns with a cart full of popcorn cross behind. "Fun 'n Fantasy" was the theme of the 34th Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival where 31 floats, 28 bands, 21 drill teams and eight mounted units paraded before 55,000 Tacoma spectators. (TNT 4-8-67, A-1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1967: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Clowns;

1968 Daffodil parade. Throngs of spectators are bundled up against a cold, brisk wind as they watch the 35th annual Daffodil Festival parade roll down Pacific Avenue on April 6, 1968. Float #13, decorated in golden daffodils, is the St. Regis Paper Co. entry, "King Midas' Golden Touch," which won the Mayor's trophy for best use of the parade's namesake flower. St. Regis was a perennial award-winning entrant in the parade. The 1968 parade was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who had been assassinated two days before. Color photograph ordered by St. Regis Paper Co. (TNT 4-6-68, A-1, TNT 4-7-68, B-4)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1968 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970;

1968 Daffodil parade. Yabba dabba do! The Flintstones, #22, won the Daffodilian trophy for most humorous entry in the 35th annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival held on April 6, 1968. Fred is perched atop a hardworking dinosaur at the quarry while baby Pebbles and her mom, Wilma, scoot along in steamroller car, pedaled by foot-power. Baby Bam-Bam visits outside the Flintstones home. The colorful float, one of 26 in the parade, was entered by the Tacoma Vocational-Technical Institute. The festival's theme was "Tales & Legends." Color photograph ordered by the Tacoma Vocational-Technical Institute. (TNT 4-6-68, A-1, TNT 4-7-68, B-3)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1968 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma);

Thousands of local residents flocked to downtown Tacoma to enjoy both the sunshine and the many dazzling floral floats in the 1958 Daffodil Parade. Pierce County Oil Information Committee's Float #33 was evidently "The Old Woman in a Shoe". Wearing a shawl and granny glasses, the shoe's owner is apparently keeping her eye on the four visible children seated on the flower-bedecked float. The float won second place in the Wholesale and Industrial Division. There were forty floats entered in various divisions among 100+ parade entries. (TNT 4-13-58, B-9)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1958 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Pierce County Oil Information Committee (Tacoma);

The people sitting comfortably in the window of Sauro's Cleanerama, 1401-05 Pacific Ave., were spared the cold, blustery winds on this day in April of 1964, and had a good view of the 31st annual Daffodil Parade as it passed by. The young ladies on this particular float seem to be struggling to keep their parasols open and not blown off course. The theme of 1964's parade was "Nations on Parade," but floats like the above also saluted Washington State's 75th anniversary of statehood.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1964 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sauro's Cleanerama (Tacoma);

Tacoma Real Estate Board float. Waving to the crowds, oars at rest, are members of the Tacoma Real Estate Board participating in the 27th Daffodil Parade on April 9, 1960. The float is passing North Coast Hotel and Eastern Electroplating at 14th & Pacific Avenue. The News Tribune called the float a "Catamaran on a Sea of Daffodils," as sixty thousand daffodils were used for decoration. Entitled "Happi Time," the entry won first prize in the Clubs and Organizations Division. The parade theme in 1960 was "Daffodils Salute Hawaii" in honor of the 50th state; Hawaii Lt. Gov. James K. Kealoha was the parade's grand marshal. (TNT 4-10-60, B-8)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1960 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Real Estate Board (Tacoma);

Waving gracefully to the crowd are seven members of the Daffodil court on April 6, 1963. Wet weather on the 30th annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil parade did not deter participants or crowds from gamely attending the event. These princesses are garbed in raingear draped over floor length ballroom gowns and carry small white parasols. Their princess float had broken down at the start of the parade, causing a delay of nearly an hour. It was decided that the princesses would walk the route; high heels and slippery streets would not prevent the determined young ladies from greeting parade spectators. They are nearing the end of the Tacoma portion of the parade as they march past the Greyhound station at 13th & Pacific. The strolling royalty were listed as Jane Mutschler, Karen Iverson, Nancy Vaughan, Karen Korsmo, Mary Ann Lambert, Loretta Huffman and Pam Burrell. (TNT 4-6-63, A-1, 4-7-63, B-9)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1963 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970;