View of the Grand Rapids' stern taken on March 3, 1970. Tacoma Boatbuilding was nearing an end to the 12-boat contract with the Navy to build aluminum gunboats for the US Navy. The Grand Rapids would be launched on April 4, 1970, with then-House Minority Leader and future President Gerald R. Ford and family in attendance. The Grand Rapids, the second ship of that name in the Navy, was named for the city in Michigan, the hometown of Gerald Ford. She would be commissioned five months later in September, 1970, and decommissioned in 1977. (www.navsource.org/archives; Marine Digest, April 11, 1970) Photograph ordered by US Steel.

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

This is the Grand Rapids PG-98 gunboat about a month before her launch date of April 4, 1970. She was the 11th of 12 gunboats built for the US Navy by Tacoma Boatbuilding. Susan Ford, young daughter of Rep. (later President) and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford of Michigan, was the ship's sponsor. The Grand Rapids was named after the hometown of Rep. Ford. The vessel would be commissioned the USS Grand Rapids on September 5, 1970 and be decommissioned on October 1, 1977. Photograph ordered by US Steel. (www.navsource.org/archives)

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

On July 20, 1939, as part of Tacoma's Washington State Golden Jubilee celebration, six Navy dreadnoughts, the powerhouses of the Pacific Fleet, entered Commencement Bay at 8:30 in the morning and dropped anchor at the mouth of the Puyallup River. The ships and their 8,000 men and officers would be in Tacoma for the Jubilee celebration and depart on Monday, July 24th. The six battleships, the USS California, USS Pennsylvania, USS Arizona, USS New Mexico, USS Mississippi and the USS Idaho, were available for tours 1-4 p.m. through Sunday. They also provided searchlight shows in the evening and their crews took part in the water carnival races. On December 7, 1941, the California, the Pennsylvania and the Arizona were stationed at Pearl Harbor. The California and the Pennsylvania were damaged; the Arizona was destroyed, with the loss of 1,104 personnel. TPL-9081 (TNT 7/20/39, pg 1-article)

Fleet Week 1938 began in Tacoma with the arrival of 4 battleships of the US fleet and their 5200 officers and men. In Tacoma for the week of July 5- 11 were the USS California, West Virginia, Tennessee and Maryland. Pictured are five U.S. Navy battleships which have dropped anchor in Commencement Bay. Northeast Tacoma can be seen in the background. During Fleet Week, officers and enlisted men will be wined and dined, a military parade will feature 3,000 troops and 4 military bands, the ships will be open for tours and boating contests will take place. (T. Times 7/5/1938, pg. 1; 7/7/1938, pg. 1) TPL-9110

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Fleet Week. Four U.S. Navy Battleships in Commencement Bay, tideflats, city and Mount Rainier in background. (Argentum)

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

During Fleet Week, July 5 through 11, 1938, Tacoma played host to 5200 officers and men of the visiting battleships, the USS California, West Virginia, Tennessee and Maryland. In return, the Navy thrilled Tacoma with a military parade, boat races and nighttime searchlight displays. Pictured are five Navy battleships anchored in Commencement Bay.

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Fleet Week, July 5 through 11 1938, Tacoma. Four U.S. Navy Battleships in Commencement Bay, tideflats in background. Taken from a high bluff, framed by trees.

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The United States fleet visiting Tacoma. View of two battleships in Commencement Bay from Northeast Tacoma looking toward the city. Ships seen in the distance over the druins of a wharf and log boom. (T. Times).

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

United States fleet visit to Tacoma. Four battleships in Commencement Bay near the Port of Tacoma. View is taken from Northeast Tacoma and shows Mount Rainier in the background. (T. Times).

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

United States fleet visits Tacoma. Four battleships in Commencement Bay near the Port of Tacoma. Mount Rainier is visible in the distance. (T. Times).

Battleships--1930-1940; Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

The whaleboat crew of the USS Salt Lake City posed, holding oars straight up, on October 27, 1936 before the starter's gun sent them to victory in the Navy Day boat race. The pictured crew finished a length and a half ahead of the crews from the USS Colorado and Texas, winning the Bremerton Sun trophy. (Bremerton Sun 10/28/1936, pg. 1)

Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton; Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Boat racing; Rowboats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowing races--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowers;

In honor of Navy Day, October 27, 1936, the crews of the USS Salt Lake City, Colorado and Texas competed in a whaleboat race in the waters of the Puget Sound at the Bremerton Naval Yard. The Salt Lake City finished a length and one half before its nearest competitor, clinching the Bremerton Sun trophy. (Bremerton Sun 10/28/1936, pg. 1).

Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton; Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Boat racing; Rowboats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowing races--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowers;

In honor of Navy Day, October 27, 1936, an engineer's whaleboat race was held at the Bremerton Navy Yard. Competing for the win were crews from the USS Salt Lake City, Colorado and Texas. One of the crews was photographed in their whaleboat with oars up prior to the starter's whistle. The race was won by the crew from the Salt Lake City, who claimed the Bremerton Sun trophy for the race. (Bremerton Sun 10/28/1936, pg. 1).

Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton; Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Boat racing; Rowboats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowing races--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowers;

Coast Artillery from Fort Worden were photographed landing from the Artillery cutter Chelan for tactical maneuvers at the Bremerton Navy Yards on March 23, 1936. The men are wearing heavy coats, ammunition belts, and helmets. The Navy Yard is in the background. (Bremerton Sun).

Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton; Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Military personnel--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Three military men: soldier, sailor and marine. Tactical maneuvers at the Bremerton Navy Yards on March 23, 1936 brought together 2500 members of diverse military groups for "war practice." (Bremerton Sun)

Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton; Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Military personnel--Bremerton--1930-1940;

On March 23, 1936, 2500 soldiers arrived at the Bremerton Naval Yard to participate in "war practice." Troops from Fort Worden arrived by the Coast Artillery cutter Chelan. Soldiers were photographed disembarking, while sailors look on. (Bremerton Sun).

Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton; Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Military personnel--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Men leaving work at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton. Young newspaper carriers are attempting to sell newspapers to the shipyard workers as they pass through the gate. Brick buildings in background. The safety clock on the building reads 12 noon; the board also records the number of "lost time" accidents for the year and compares it to the previous year. Photograph ordered by the Bremerton Sun.

Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton--1930-1940; Boat & ship industry--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Men leaving work at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Buildings in the background include the Golden Hotel and drug stores. (Bremerton Sun).

Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton--1930-1940; Boat & ship industry--Bremerton--1930-1940; Golden Hotel (Bremerton);

Men shown leaving work at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton. The men must show their badge to Navy personnel before they can pass through the gate. Wooden buildings are in the background. (Bremerton Sun).

Puget Sound Navy Yard (Bremerton); Naval yards & naval stations--Bremerton--1930-1940; Boat & ship industry--Bremerton--1930-1940

Bremerton Navy yard in July of 1930.

Cranes at the Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930.

Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930.

Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930.

Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930.

Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930. USS New York in dry dock. The battleship New York saw service in both WWI and WWII.

January 1930 would have started off as a very dark year in Tacoma without the assistance of the U.S.S. Lexington, pictured here encircled by mist at Baker Dock. She arrived in Tacoma about December 17, 1929, and remained to mid-January, 1930, to provide electricity to the City of Tacoma. A severe drought in 1929 had left dams without sufficient water. After much negotiation, the fourth largest ship afloat (at that time) was ordered by the Navy to aid Tacoma; it was the first time in history that a ship had provided power for a city. The U.S.S. Lexington, badly damaged in the 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea by Japanese fire, would be sunk by the American destroyer, U.S.S. Phelps. TPL-006.

This photograph taken in December, 1929, is of the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Lexington, who came to Tacoma's rescue in an acute power crisis due to severe drought conditions. Power cables run from the ship's generator to a transformer on Baker Dock. About this time rain finally started to fill the lakes necessary for the operation of power plants; with the addition of the Lexington's auxiliary power, Tacoma was able to once again function normally. The Lexington stopped power deliveries to Tacoma on January 16, 1930, and departed for San Francisco the following day. TPL-1857; G71.1-118

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; Power shortages--Tacoma; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Grainy December, 1929, photograph of the U.S.S. Lexington tied up at Baker Dock. After much discussion and negotiation, the U.S. Navy ordered the aircraft carrier to help the City of Tacoma by supplying auxiliary power. Severe drought conditions had rendered hydro plants inoperable and conservation methods employed were simply not enough to stave off a power crisis. The Lexington's monthlong stay would generate enough power for 25% of the city's needs. It allowed the city to turn on its streetlights, store lighting, and resume night shifts. (Tacoma Public Utilities Story: the First 100 Years: 1893-1993, p. 91-93)

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; Power shortages--Tacoma;

From mid-December, 1929 to mid-January, 1930 the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington used its enormous generators to provide electricity for the city of Tacoma. It took four powerful navy tugboats assisted by three Foss tugs to push the 33,000 ton vessel into position at the Baker Dock. A severe drought had greatly reduced the amount of electricity available to Tacoma from the city's hydro-electric dams. During its month long stay the Lexington generated enough power to furnish 25% of the city's power needs. (T.Times, 12-16-29, p. 1)

On board the U.S.S. Lexington, aircraft carrier known as the "Queen of the Flattops,"in mid-December, 1929, were those instrumental in bringing emergency power to Tacoma. L-R, Chief Engineer Lt. Cdr. H.L. White, General Electric (maker and owner of the generators) representative Robert E. Lee, Utilities Commissioner Ira S. Davisson, City Light Supt. Llewellyn Evans, Tacoma Mayor James G. Newbegin (appointed in March of 1929 to replace the resigning Melvin G. Tennent), and ship commander, Frank D. Berrien. Tacoma experienced a severe shortage of electricity due to drought conditions; the Lexington, with its enormous generators, would deliver over 4 million kilowatts or about 25% of the city's power. TPL-1775. ALBUM 16.

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; White, H.L.; Lee, Robert E.; Davisson, Ira; Evans, Llewellyn; Newbegin, James G.; Berrien, Frank D.; Power shortages--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930;