ca. 1885. The area around what is now 9th and Broadway as viewed circa 1885. The real estate business on the right side is Hewitt and Hill at 901 C. (now Broadway). The white building with a bell tower in the center is the old Pierce County Courthouse at 920 C (Broadway). The Courthouse was built circa 1882 and sold to John S. Baker in 1905. It was demolished a few years later. BiCentennial Project #75346-71

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1900; Hewitt & Hill Real Estate (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma);

ca. 1887. This view of Pacific Avenue, looking north from 10th, was taken in 1887. Horse drawn carriages and wagons fill the unpaved street. The Fife Hotel, 742-50 Pacific Avenue (at left background), was still under construction with scaffolding visible. The building at 930 Pacific Ave. was home to the Tacoma News. The News and The Daily Ledger, both founded in 1883, were the two biggest newspapers in Tacoma at this time. The Ledger was a morning paper; The News was an evening paper. Some years later, both papers were bought by Sidney A. Perkins. Ultimately, they were taken over by The News Tribune. Copy made August 31, 1950. (TPL-2297 and TPL-8147)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890; Carts & wagons--Tacoma; The News (Tacoma); Newspapers--Tacoma--1880-1890; Fife Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890; Building construction--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1890. This is a view looking up South 9th from A Street in downtown Tacoma circa 1890. The big building in center of photo (to the right of 9th) is the Fife Block Building, later the Hotel Donnelly. Across 9th from this bulding is the Wright Building. Built in 1874 it was the first brick building in Tacoma. Although massive brick and stone structures were being constructed in the commercial business districts, streets were still rough and unpaved.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Wright Building (Tacoma); Fife Block Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1892. East side of Broadway between South 9th and South 11th circa 1892. Stores include Taylor's Millinery at 913 South C (now Broadway) and the Lawrence Brothers Hardware Store at 915-917 South C. Upstairs in the hardware store building were offices for Shank & Murray, (John Shank, Frederick Murray) attorneys. The Tacoma Bazaar, decorated with dual awnings, was adjacent to the Lawrence Brothers store.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Taylor's Millinery (Tacoma); Lawrence Brothers Hardware (Tacoma); Tacoma Bazaar (Tacoma);

ca. 1893. A juxaposition of old and new is visible along the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue circa 1893. A horse-and-buggy is waiting patiently at the curb while the Sixth Avenue-Glendale electric streetcar motors on by. Passengers aboard the streetcar could sit in the doorless front section, absorbing much fresh air, or ride in the enclosed rear portion. On the left side of the photograph is the large California Building, 1110-16 Pacific Avenue, and the recently completed (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce St., is at the end of the street (rear). (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-64

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Street railroads--Tacoma--1890-1900; Mass transit--Tacoma--1890-1900; Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1890-1900; California Building (Tacoma); Old City Hall (Tacoma);

ca. 1894. Business district of Tacoma (copy of original), circa 1894. Many of the streets surrounding Pacific Avenue in the 1890s, even then the heart of the city's financial district, were filled with a hodgepodge of wood framed buildings and more substantial brick structures. At the foreground are the Pioneer Paint Store, sellers of wallpaper, mouldings, paints, and glass and W.H. Robison's, where new and second hand goods could be purchased. The Freeman & Boggs livery stable, near left center, stood near the corner of 13th & Pacific. George A. Boggs, who was City Treasurer before going into private business, had been sent away to the state pen in Walla Walla after auditors found a $109,000 shortage in the city books. Also in the far right background is the steeple of the original St. Leo's Church near So. 11th & "D" St. S7.2, TPL-378 (Researched by Murray Morgan)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Business districts--Tacoma--1890-1900; Freeman & Boggs Livery (Tacoma); Pioneer Paint Store (Tacoma); W.H. Robison (Tacoma);

ca. 1900. This view of hilly 11th Street was probably taken in the late 1890s or very early 1900s. The street is relatively empty of traffic with pedestrians having time to stop and talk while still in the roadway. Peoples department store, built in 1895, is on the left side of 11th while the Fidelity Building, built in 1890, is at 9th & Broadway on the right hand side. The Fidelity Building is pictured without its additional six stories which were not added until 1909. The Fidelity Building was demolished in 1949 to make way for the F.W.Woolworth Co. Bldg. TPL-9915

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Peoples (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1900. Copy of print made from glass plate. Pacific Avenue appears devoid of traffic other than one streetcar in the early years of the 20th century. This photograph was taken early one morning in the vicinity of 9th & Pacific; the distinct image of the Old City Hall can be observed clearly a block ahead. The names "Hotel Donnelly" and "Grand Theatre" have been imprinted onto the photograph. The Hotel Donnelly was probably one of the earliest hotels in the city, as it was listed in the 1893-94 City Directory. It was located on the northwest corner of Pacific Ave. & So. 9th St. The Motoramp Garage was to later be built on this site. Hotel Donnelly was in close proximity to the Hotel Revere, whose sign can be seen protruding from the building. The Hotel Revere, by 1907, was operated by John Fawcett and located at 732 1/2 Pacific Avenue. The Grand Theatre's first mention was in the 1907 City Directory. It was located on the northeast corner of Pacific & So. 9th. Sullivan & Considine were listed as proprietors and Dean B. Worley as manager. Date of original print is not known; copy from glass plate was made on October 3, 1958. TPL-8546

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotel Revere (Tacoma); Old City Hall (Tacoma); Cities & towns--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. Copy made from glass plate, Richards Studio. This may be a street scene from Yakima, Washington, circa 1900. The street is wide enough for a streetcar and many passing horses and carts. There are some carriages parked along the raised sidewalk. People could conduct business at the Yakima Valley Bank, get their teeth checked at Yakima Dental or buy a $12 suit at the Empire. Copy of glass plate made on October 3, 1958.

Commercial streets--Yakima; Street railroads--Yakima; Carts & wagons--Yakima;

ca. 1905. Copy from glass plate, Richards Studio. View of South 11th and Pacific Ave., circa 1905. Streetcars once ran up 11th Street, an additional source of transportation besides the horse & cart and the occasional automobile. A few pedestrians are spotted crossing carefully as there are no visible "stop" signs for oncoming traffic. United Cigars, Tacoma Oyster and the Union Dental Co. are some of the visible businesses in a building on the corner of 11th & Pacific. That building was later demolished and the Rust Building constructed in its place. The building at the left foreground is the Equitable Building, 1102-04 Pacific. The Fidelity Building is on Broadway at the northeast corner of 11th. Additional stories would be added later. The tower on the County Courthouse is dimly seen to the rear of the photograph. Copy from glass plate made on October 3, 1958. TPL-9912

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Street railroads--Tacoma--1900-1910; Equitable Building (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma);

An early automobile shares Pacific Avenue with two street cars and a horse drawn wagon in August of 1907. The buildings on the east side of Pacific include: the Tourist Hotel, 1013 Pacific Avenue; The Royal saloon, 1015 Pacific Ave.; the Berlin Building, on the corner of South 11th and Pacific Ave.; and the Peoples Store, 1101-07 Pacific Avenue. Of the buildings in this two block section of Pacific Avenue, only the Peoples Store is still standing. TPL-8101

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Business districts--Tacoma--1900-1910; Street railroads--Tacoma--1900-1910; Automobiles--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1907. Copy of photograph of Rhodes Department Store, circa 1907. View of three story building by Ambrose J. Russell and Frederick Heath, Architects, 1903. Photograph was taken after repairs to building. Richards Studio copy made on 11-31-1937. (filed with Argentum)

Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1900-1910; Department stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1910. Copy made from glass plate, Richards Studio. South 11th Street looking east. The steepness of South 11th St. is evident in this view from possibly the early 1900's. Traffic seems very light, with only a streetcar, one automobile and one man keeping pace with his team of horses. Tacoma would not experience parking problems in the downtown area for quite a few years. A glimpse of Peoples Store on the corner of 11th & Pacific can be seen as well as a meat market believed to be owned by William T. Dickenson further up on 11th. The Perkins Bldg., on A St., has flags flying. The Stone-Fisher department store, later known as the Fisher Department Store then the Bon Marche, is to the foreground, far right at the corner of Broadway and 11th. Copy made from glass plate on October 3, 1958.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Street railroads--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Horses;

ca. 1911. Street scene in Grandview, Washington. Copy of customer print. Asahel Curtis traveled to Grandview in Yakima County in 1911 to photograph several areas of town. Print #20733 was taken of the business district including the Grandview State Bank. Several men are pictured outside the bank while three horse-drawn buggies go by. Photograph ordered by Dr. C.B. Coulter of the University of Puget Sound. (University of Washington Digital Collections)

Commercial streets--Grandview; Grandview State Bank (Grandview); Carriages & coaches--Grandview;

On December 17, 1912 Nicholas Decker was awarded the sum of $3,000 by the U.S. District Court in Seattle for injuries that he sustained in the spring of 1912 while working as a linesman's helper for the Tacoma Rail and Power Co. in Tacoma. This photo taken as evidence for Mr. Decker's trial shows a man believed to be Mr. Decker's lawyer standing in the center of South C Steet (now Broadway) close to the spot where Mr. Decker was injured. South C at the time was crowded with a variety of businesses including the Fawcett Hotel (at right), M. Furuya Co., Japanese Foods, the Elgin Hotel (at left, 1502 1/2 South C) with S. Fukutomi as proprietor and M. Yamane's laundry next door at 1506 South C. (T.Times 12-17-1912 p.1-article)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Actions & defenses--Tacoma--1910-1920;

In December of 1912 Nicholas Decker sued the Tacoma Rail and Power Co. in U.S. District Court. He sought $10,000 in damages for injuries that he alleged he sustained when a company wagon in which he was riding was upset. Lineman's helper Decker and another company lineman were thrown from the wagon onto the bricks of South C Street (now Broadway). This photo which was taken for the trial shows a wagon similar to the one in which he was riding parked on South C between South 17th and South 15th near the Rainier Hotel where Dr. K. Ito's sign hangs from the building. Plaintiff Decker was awarded $3000 damages on December 17, 1912. (T.Times 12-14-1912, p. 3-article; 12-17-1912, p. 1-article)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Actions & defenses--Tacoma--1910-1920; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1910-1920; Signs (Notices);

ca. 1915. Copy made from glass plate, Richards Studio. Looking east on South 11th St. toward bridge. Giant letters proclaiming "Municipal Light and Power, Cheapest in the U.S.," are painted on the 11th Street Bridge. Downtown Tacoma appears vibrant, with streetcars providing convenient transportation, and plenty of people on the sidewalks. Businesses located on or near 11th at that time included the Purity Lunch and the Warburton Apartments; signs for those can be hanging on buildings on the right side of the photograph. The Warburton was listed then on South "C" Street; this would become Broadway. The Perkins Bldg. is on A St. near the entrance to the bridge. Copy of glass plate made on October 3, 1958.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Street railroads--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma;

This is a view of the Provident Block from March of 1919. It was located on Pacific Avenue between South 9th and South 10th Streets. The six-story Provident Building (later renamed Security Building before reverting back to the Provident name in 2006) is in the center of this slice of Tacoma's business district. It is surrounded by smaller establishments including several restaurants, Thomas Billiards, and Bloom & Alexander Money & Loan. The Olympus Hotel is one block up the street on the far left. Of special note is the entrance to a "Ladies Only" comfort station in the middle of 10th Street right outside of Washington Dye Works. The actual bathroom was located under the street; it was the only public restroom for women downtown at that time. TPL-2499 ; G61.1-012

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Business districts--Tacoma--1910-1920; Provident Building (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Billboards--Tacoma--1910-1920;

An unidentified party of four from Bremerton posed in front of a parked automobile on the east side of Pacific Avenue near South 8th St. in May of 1919. The well-dressed couples were perhaps out on a Sunday drive. In the background looking north are the Eau-Claire Apartments, Auto Parts Supply Co., D.C. Modrall & Co., Jim's Place (restaurant) and a tailoring establishment. TPL-1640; G61.1-009

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Business districts--Tacoma--1910-1920; Couples--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Downtown Tacoma street scene. Not much traffic or people visible at South 11th & A Streets on this spring day in 1920. A streetcar has just made a turn onto A Street from South 11th as it moves past the L. Schoenfeld & Sons store at 105-11 So. 11th. This would be the Schoenfeld furniture store location until 1924 when they would move to the skyscraper at 1423 Pacific Ave. To the left of the photograph is the Federal Building, home of the federal courts (until 1992) and the Main branch of the Post Office. Also on the left is a portion of the towering Puget Sound National Bank building with spire. G57.1-121

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma); Federal Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

This is what the South 17th & Broadway & Jefferson area looked like in April of 1920. The 11-year-old Carlton Hotel, with the address of 1552 Jefferson Ave., is in view in the center of the photograph. A juxtaposition of old and new modes of transportation is on the left - a horse-driven cart is next to a modern streetcar. Power lines create geometric designs above. TPL-1363 G59.1-039

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. In 1920, Pacific Avenue was taking on a new look. Buildings had been demolished and work had begun on William R. Rust's 12 floor Rust building at 950 Pacific Ave. (under construction in this photograph.) Left to right, the buildings are 948 Pacific Ave. - home to Burnside hats on the ground floor and the Dayton Agency upstairs. The Dayton Agency, according to their signage, carried supplies for bicycles and motorcycles and did repairs. Next comes 946 Pacific with Scobey Cigar Co. downstairs and Naubert & Manning English Billiards upstairs. The following building at 942-44 Pacific Ave. included Walk Over Shoes, M&M Hat Store and Phil Friedman Jeweler downstairs with the Peterson & Cooksie Billiard Parlor above. The Shriners must have been in town at the time of the photograph because most of the buildings are decorated with bunting, Shriner emblems and American flags. G61.1-032

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rust Building (Tacoma); Burnside Hats (Tacoma); Scobey Cigar Co. (Tacoma); Naubert & Manning Billiards (Tacoma); Walk Over Shoes (Tacoma); M& M Hats (Tacoma); Peterson & Cooksie Billiard Parlor (Tacoma);

Jefferson Avenue near Pacific. A few vehicles, including a Tacoma Power & Rail street car, are captured in motion on Jefferson Avenue in early March of 1921. The stately Hotel Carlton is on the right. TPL-5538; G60.1-075

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mass transit--Tacoma--1920-1930; Electric railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A streetcar climbs Jefferson Avenue as it makes its daily rounds on March 3, 1921. The Wickersham Triangle Building at 1702 Jefferson Avenue is to the far left; it was demolished in 1936. To the right of the Wickersham is the Hotel Carlton, 1552 Jefferson, now known as the Carlton Center. It was built in 1909 by Anton Huth, based on a design by C.A. Darmer, Architect. In the far background is the skyline of the 1500 block of Pacific Ave., much of which has been demolished. This curving intersection is one of the few sections of road in downtown Tacoma that resembles the unique street plan for Tacoma created by Frederick Law Olmstead; the design was rejected as impractical. G60.1-078;

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma; Mass transit--Tacoma--1920-1930; Electric railroads--1920-1930;

At first glance, this 1921 photograph taken in downtown Tacoma appears to be of two separate streets; however, it is actually looking east down 11th Street toward the 11th Street (now Murray Morgan) Bridge. The composite picture shows the many pedestrians and occasional vehicles, including a streetcar. Prominent buildings to the left (and again on the right) are the Fidelity Building, Rust Building, and unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank Building (later completed and known as the Washington Building). The building in the center of the photograph is the Stone-Fisher Department Store, later to be known as the Bon Marche. TPL-6362; G57.1-137

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

Horse-drawn mail carts and 19th Century houses, seen in the background, were still prevalent in Tacoma's Central Business District when a postal employee posed with his rig in front of the 12th Street entrance to the Federal Building in June of 1921. The Federal Building housed the Main branch of the U.S. Post Office. The horse-drawn carts transported mail prior to the advent of motorized vehicles. TPL-164; G42.1-114

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Federal Building (Tacoma); Mail wagons--Tacoma--1920-1930; Postal service--1920-1930; Postal service employees--Tacoma--1920-1930; Letter carriers--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is the view that one would see in February of 1922 of St. Helens Avenue near 7th St. looking south. The YMCA is the tall building on the right at 7th & Market. Streetcar tracks ran down the middle of the road which was not paved with smooth asphalt but more of a brick-like substance. On the left (or east) side of the street was the building housing the News Tribune and Tacoma Daily Ledger newspapers. The papers were published independently and seemed to exist harmoniously. The Daily Ledger would go out of business 15 years later. G61.1-170 TPL-10213

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma News Tribune Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Young Men's Christian Association (Tacoma);

Tacoma street scene. This is the intersection of South 56th St. and South Tacoma Way (then known as South Union Ave.), one of the area's prime business districts, as seen in March of 1922. North Pacific Bank is at the left. Northern Pacific's South Tacoma Shops were a short distance away at 52nd & South Proctor. The South Tacoma community was a thriving area containing restaurants, garages, theaters, hotels, grocery stores, real estate and other professional enterprises. TPL-2538; G62.1-003

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; North Pacific Bank (Tacoma);

Downtown Tacoma street scene. Foot traffic was heavy at 11th & Pacific in the downtown business district on April 1, 1922. Built originally for the Merchant National Bank in 1891, the large building occupying the center of the photograph was now the home of Pacific Savings & Loan Association. Its clock tower outside the structure was a familiar sight for pedestrians and motorists alike. G61.1-039

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pacific Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Pedestrians--Tacoma; Clock towers--Tacoma;

Street scene. Pedestrians cautiously cross at the intersection of Broadway and 9th in downtown Tacoma on this spring day in May of 1922. They have to keep a sharp eye out for oncoming streetcars and automobiles. The Pantages Theater is the regal structure on the left; the Tacoma Theater is on the right. TPL-3857; G59.1-003

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Theater (Tacoma); Pantages Theater (Tacoma); Pedestrians--Tacoma;