Wharf scene on Commencement Bay, terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Tacoma, Washington Territory. Photograph was taken circa 1885. Masted ships are docked waiting to unload/load cargo.

Three-masted ship "Eldorado" at old coal bunkers, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. These are believed to be the Northern Pacific coal bunkers projecting into Commencement bay that were completed in 1882 at a cost of $250,000 and considered at that time to be the most modern of their type on the North Pacific Coast. Ships like the "Eldorado" were a common sight waiting to take on loads of coal. (Hunt, "The Coal Bunkers," History of Tacoma) KING006, TPL 1076

View of three ships including a sidewheeler at the Northern Pacific dock, Tacoma, Washington Territory. The sidewheeler included in this circa 1885 photograph is possibly the "North Pacific," an early steamboat that operated in Puget Sound. Several people are already on board. KING-004, TPL-1096

Boats at Northern Pacific dock, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. The owners of the warehouse in the center of photograph were not identified. The large building to the far left is the Blackwell Hotel, considered New Tacoma's first hotel. Built by the Northern Pacific Railroad, it opened on January 1, 1874 and closed in 1884. It was razed during the summer of 1901. KING-002, TPL-1095

This early 1880s photograph by C. E. & Hattie King is of the Tacoma waterfront. Several European Americans are standing near Indian canoes moored along the shoreline. The location is believed to be south of the James Williams salmon cannery in Old Tacoma. The Kings brief period of photographing Tacoma views documents the blending of cultures and history--the presence and traditions of local Native Americans and the presence of newer Americans establishing homes, industries and towns in the West. KING 016, TPL-3746.

In this circa 1886 photograph, a Native American family lounges in their long boat near the shore. In the background can be seen the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge. The canoe is loaded with supplies, probably returning or setting off for the family's hunting ground. The Puyallup tribe members were primarily hunters, gatherers and fishermen. During this time period, their village was believed to be located at the foot of North 15th. KING-015, TPL 2894.

A group of Puyallup Indians with their longboats (canoes) on the Puget Sound around 1886. Behind them can be seen the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge. The Puyallups were primarily fishermen, hunters and gatherers. The local salmon provided their primary food source, but was also a symbol of reverence to the tribe. In the Medicine Creek Treaty of 1854, they ceded many of their territories but retained their fishing rights. Their village at this time was believed to be at the foot of North 15th. KING-014, TPL 2895.

ca. 1908. Battleships in what is probably Commencement Bay - off Tacoma with the tree covered cliffs of Browns Point in the background.

ca. 1908. Steam locomotive No. 10 probably on the Tacoma & Eastern Railroad outside Mineral, Washington.

ca. 1908. Northern Pacific Railroad workers at South Tacoma Shops. Steam locomotive and crew

ca. 1908. Tacoma Steam Laundry wagon and driver. The wagon is piled full of bags of laundry. Even the driver's seat is packed, leaving no room for him to sit. From copy negative. Similar to BROWNING-073.

Hill Hardware Co. wagon & driver at east end of Wagon Bridge, Steilacoom Lake. Driver is C. L. Whitney. In 1908 the Hill Hardware Co. was at 2317-2319 Pacific Ave.

ca. 1908. Man standing next to Tacoma Steam Laundry wagon piled high with bags of laundry.

ca. 1910. Unidentified young man, holding a metal milk pitcher in each hand, stands next to a horse-drawn mik wagon among the trees. The wooden panels on the side of the wagon say "Jersey Milk."

ca. 1908. Young man standing behind a "Flying Merkle" motorcycle. The young man is wearing a shirt with the words "Flying Merkle" on it.

ca. 1908. Young man sitting on a " Flying Merkle" motorcycle.

ca. 1910. Clown with top hat on unicycle. Street is paved with brick. Building to rear of clown has signs for "Baldwin Real Estate" and a large banner for a clothing sale starting March 31st.

ca. 1936. Ford V8 logging truck and flat bed trailer parked on street near park. For Phillip Becholdt. (filed with Argentum)

Ford trucks--1930-1940;

The old London Dock and the Waterside Milling Company plant were destroyed by fire shortly after noon on Tuesday, January 7,1936. Flames and thick black smoke engulfed the warehouse building and dock while firemen and equipment on land fought to quell the fire. The City fireboat and four Foss tugs were also called into action and together, they managed to contain the fire to stop it from spreading to other nearby warehouses and docks. It was reported that a wood dust explosion caused the $260,000 fire. The Waterside Milling Co. specialized in the manufacture of wood flour, which was a finely powdered form of wood. (T. Times, 1-7-36, p. 1-article; T.Times 1-8-36, p. 1+-article; TDL 1-8-36, p. 1-article & various photographs; 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 94-95).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fireboats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smoke--Tacoma; Waterside Milling Co. (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Double launching of two new U.S. Navy Destroyers, "Cushing" and "Perkins" at Navy Yard Shipbuilding dock on December 31, 1935. Huge crowds lined both sides of the waterway; some were standing in front of wooden buildings while others were seated on benches. The crowd at the Navy Yard launching was estimated at 8,000. (Bremerton Sun).

Launchings--Bremerton--1930-1940; Spectators--Bremerton;

Launching of two new U.S. Navy Destroyers, "Cushing" and "Perkins," at Bremerton Navy Yard shipbuilding dock on December 31, 1935. Over 8,000 people stood to watch the double christening. Miss Katherine A. Cushing, Adm. T.T. Craven, Mrs. Isabel Anderson, and Governor Clarence D. Martin were among the participants. (Bremerton Sun).

Launchings--Bremerton--1930-1940; Warships--Bremerton--1930-1940;

ca. 1968. View of USS Ready, an Asheville Class gunboat, which had been commissioned on January 6, 1968. The PG-87 was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding and named after a town in Kentucky. The 165-foot aluminum gunboat was launched on May 12, 1967. Tacoma Boatbuilding had a contract to build twelve gunboats; the USS Ready was the sixth in the series. (TNT 5-13-67, p. 2; www.navsource.org/archives/12/11087.htm)

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

This unidentified vessel, believed to be a Navy gunboat, was in dry dock at Tacoma Boatbuilding in January of 1970. It appears that the paint on the boat has been stripped.

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

Undated photograph of gunboat #12 as it churns through calm waters. The ship is flying the American flag. It is possible that the patrol vessel was undergoing sea trials at the time. Photograph ordered on October 28, 1974, by Tacoma Boatbuilding.

Gunboats; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Planning committee for the YMBC "Air Circus," to be held June 13, 1937. The group meets around a luncheon table. Pictured, left to right, are unidentified, M.J. M'Caslin, chairman aviation committee, unidentified, James P. Lesher, President YMBC, Arthur Angove, past president YMBC. The Air Circus would draw over 50,000 spectators to Mueller-Harkins Airfield to view a variety of events including races, stunt flying and a parachute jump by Seattle's "Batman." (filed with Argentum under D768-11; also numbered D779-3)

Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma);

Nearly 50,000 spectators watched as Tommy Thompson, the "Bat Man", attempted to soar over Mueller-Harkins airport on June 13, 1937 at the first Tacoma Air Circus. When he stepped from the plane that had carried him aloft, a gust of wind tore the canvas webbing that supported his wings, and spinning like a top, he plunged toward the earth. Luckily he was wearing two parachutes. Although the first became tangled in his wings, the second brought him safely to land - although one of his wings was bent. The air circus was sponsored by the Young Men's Business Club of Tacoma. (T. Times, TNT)

Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In August of 1935, the west end of the Navy yard in Bremerton was known as the "Boneyard." Here unused or outdated ships rode at anchor, fastened together with intricate knots of cable. The white bow, visible in the interior of the group, was the USS Patoka. The Patoka, constructed in 1919, was outfitted with a distinctive stern mooring mast in 1924 for lighter-than-air craft. She was subsequently used as an operational and experimental base by three of the Navy's great dirigibles, USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) in 1924-1925, USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) in 1925-1932, and USS Akron (ZRS-4) in 1932. (Bremerton Sun 8/15/1935, pg. 1; www.history.navy.mil)

Boat graveyards--Bremerton; Government vessels--Bremerton; Warships--Bremerton--1930-1940;

On Thursday July 30, 1936, hundreds of Tacomans watched the annual whaleboat race, put on by the sailors docked in Tacoma for Fleet Week. Thirteen-man crews from eight ships took part in the race, with the victory going to the men from the U.S.S. San Francisco. Led by coxswain Tommy Loughran, the men from the San Francisco completed the one mile course, begins at the Old Tacoma Dock and proceeds toward the City Waterway, in 9 minutes 55.5 seconds. Following time-worn custom, the coxswain of the winning crew was tossed overboard at the end of the race. (T. Times 7/31/1936, pg. 1 &3)

Boat racing; Rowboats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowing races--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowers;

ca. 1925. A large log has been loaded behind a truck. May possibly be the same truck as A-1451. (WSHS)

Logs; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. The wheels are falling off an old pickup truck. Another truck with built-up wooden sides is parked in front of the broken down truck; it has a rope dragging behind it and it appears to have been towing something. What is attached to the rope is blocked from view by the pole. (WSHS)

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;