ca. 1900. A bicycle leans against a young sapling at the north entrance to Wright Park in this photograph from around 1900. The road curving through the park is Yakima Avenue, which was closed to traffic by the Metropolitan Park Board in 1922. The two "dancing maidens" that stand at either side of the entrance were purchased by Clinton P. Ferry, the "Duke of Tacoma", in Brussels and presented to the city in 1891. Somewhat worse for wear after over 100 years, they still stand at the north end of the park. The tower at the far left is the tower on the old Pierce County Court House which stood at 1012 South G Street. (This image appears on the reverse of BU-10705)

Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910; Wright Park (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma;

The spring tournament of the Northwest Lawn Bowling Association was held in Wright Park May 30 through June 2, 1946. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Wood of Vancouver, B.C. dominated the tournament. Mr. Wood defeated George Wilkinson in the final of the men's event, and Mrs. Wood defeated Mrs. Lew Thomas of Tacoma to take the ladies title. (TNT 06/03/1946 p.7)

Wright Park (Tacoma); Lawn Bowling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northwest Lawn Bowling Association;

ca. 1900. Wright Park looking east circa 1900. The park by this time enjoyed the emergence of a more park-like setting with the planting of hundreds of trees and landscaping to replace the tree stumps and brush originally situated on the land donated by Charles B. Wright in 1886. It would eventually total 27 acres of an oasis in what was becoming an urban part of town. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-7 G41.1-124A, TPL-374

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1910. Two women, names not provided, pause to enjoy the sights of Wright Park's Bird Lake while on a rustic wood bridge circa 1910. Thanks to the planned design of Edward Schwagerl and execution by Ebenezer Roberts, Wright Park delighted its visitors with many rustic features including bridges and elevated flower planters. Located near downtown Tacoma, Wright Park provided a relaxing and soothing atmosphere in what was increasing becoming an urban area. (McGinnis: Tacoma's Wright Park, p. 29)

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Pedestrian bridges--Tacoma; Bird Lake (Tacoma);

ca. 1910. Clarence R. Sharpe, Manager, (2nd from left) standing in front of the Longmire Springs Hotel in this circa 1910 photograph. From the collection of Beverly Knoll.

Longmire Springs Hotel; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Sharpe, Clarence R.;

On Wednesday July 12, 1899, 375 members of the National Editorial Association and their wives arrived in Tacoma for a short visit. They were met at the Tacoma depot by a reception committee consisting of members of the Tacoma Press club, various citizens, and the Tacoma Military Band. After breakfast at the Hotel Tacoma, the editors were taken by barge to the Point Defiance waterfront where their visit included a clambake. It was anticipated that entertaining the newspaper men and their wives would cost a substantial amount of money, and plans were made to raise the required $700. The Military Band was directed by Julius Adler and played daily concerts at Tacoma Parks, travelling from site to site on a tiny private streetcar. Their uniforms consisted of dark trousers and scarlet coats with bright blue trim. This photograph was recently donated by Ann Jorgensen and is from the Alta Scofield Collection/TPL (TNT 6/25/1950, PG. D-11, names of band members in caption)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Tacoma Military Band (Tacoma); Military bands--United States;

ca. 1905. Families are pictured in this circa 1905 photograph enjoying a pleasant day at Point Defiance Park at what is now called Owen Beach. People dressed more formally back then with ladies and gentlemen in hats, suits and for women, long skirts. Even small children were not seen barefoot. The lack of benches did not prevent visitors from sitting on the somewhat rocky terrain to view the Sound. The beach would later be named Owen Beach in 1959 in honor of longtime Metro Parks employee, Floyd Owen. In the early days of the 20th century, the beach, then only accessible by boat or walking, was called "new" beach or sometimes "Picnic Beach." (metroparkstacoma.org)

Owen Beach (Tacoma); Beaches--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

ca. 1910. Several fountains shoot plumes of water into the air above the pond at Pt. Defiance Park. Part of the park's greenhouse peeks out from behind the bushes. Although the area seems void of visitors in this circa 1910 photograph, Point Defiance Park and its (now) 702 acres was a popular destination for city residents. Handy streetcars made the trip to the large park easy for those without automobiles. Once there visitors could enjoy strolling through gardens, picnic areas and on the beach, checking out the conservatory and viewing the zoo animals.

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Fountains--Tacoma;

ca. 1930. Point Defiance Park Pavilion circa 1930. The octogonal pavilion was built in 1903 by concessionaire Edwin Ferris and quickly became a popular location for boat rentals, food stands and a fine restaurant which featured clam chowder. Visitors to Point Defiance Park were able to be dropped off via ferry at the pavilion to spend the day strolling among the hundreds of beautifully kept acres, walk the waterfront, revel in the clean air and visit the zoo. The octagonal pavilion was demolished by the late 1930s. (metroparkstacoma.org)

Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

ca. 1928. Two young people hold a brass plaque dedicating the new field house at Ferry Park. In 1928 the field house was built and equipment purchased thanks to a $2,000 donation from the Kiwanis Club. Ferry Park, covering just over 1/2 acre at S. 14th & Cushman, was Tacoma's first park. It was donated to the city on May 14, 1883 by C.P. Ferry when he platted the Ferry Addition to the city. Ferry Park was the site of another first, the first organized playground program during the summer months beginning in the 1920s. (www.metroparkstacoma.org)

Ferry Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1903. The lake at Point Defiance, circa 1903. Much of the early design of Point Defiance can be laid at the feet of Welsh landscape gardener, and Point Defiance's first superintendent, Ebenezer Roberts. He saw the park as an island of peace and beauty to be used and enjoyed by the people of Tacoma. He also sought to preserve its wildness. He was also one of the forces behind the city obtaining sole ownership of the park in 1905. His vision of rustic beauty shaped the early look of the park. In those days, the animals were housed in the pens seen behind the lake. Elk, bison and deer would gather to eat at the animal pavilions, the small buildings in the pens. Ducks inhabited the lake. In the photograph, a woman in a floor length skirt stands at the top of the lake, taking in its beauty.

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma; Lakes & ponds--Tacoma;

ca. 1910. Carl W. Sharpe (left), and Clarence R. Sharpe, Manager, sit on the front porch of the Longmire Springs Hotel. From the collection of Beverly Knoll.

Longmire Springs Hotel; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.)

ca. 1915. Created from the stump of a massive cedar tree, this bandstand stood in 27-acre Wright Park and was the scene of many civic and formal occasions and celebrations. Two unidentified men are pictured on the bandstand in this circa 1915 photograph. Fire destroyed the bandstand in 1930. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-11 (www.metroparkstacoma.org-short article)

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tree stumps--Tacoma; Bandstands--Tacoma;

ca. 1908. Families enjoy a sunny day at McKinley Park circa 1908. The 22-acre park was a gift to the City of Tacoma by the Tacoma Land & Improvement Co. in 1901. It was named after President William McKinley who had died that year. The park was covered with trees, shrubs and grass and it took a few years to develop it for the public. Usage of the park diminished after the freeway was constructed along its northern border in 1962 but rebounded with the addition of new playground equipment, new restroom and improved pathways. (metroparkstacoma.org)

McKinley Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1918. Photograph by Albert Henry Barnes of the Mazama party making its way on horseback across Paradise Park, Mount Rainier National Park, circa 1918. Mazama is a Spanish word for "mountain goat" and also the name of the climbing club of Portland, Oregon. The Mazama climbing club was organized on the summit of Mount Hood on July 19, 1894. It was the second climbing club to be organized on the Pacific Rim, the first being the Sierra Club which was founded by John Muir in 1892.The Mazamas had many outings on Mount Rainier beginning in 1897. (ORIGIN OF GEOGRAPHIC NAMES OF TACOMA/PIERCE COUNTY WASHINGTON by Gary Fuller Reese; www.mazamas.org)

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Packtrains--Mount Rainier; Pack animals--Mount Rainier; Horses; Mazama Climbing Club (Mount Rainier);