Opening of Wapato Park in June of 1938. Park visitors stroll along gravel paths to reach the lake where crowds have gathered at the lake's edge. The park is located in the city's south end, and encompasses roughly the area from South 72nd to South 64th and from Sheridan Avenue to Alaska Street.

Wapato Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dedications--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wapato Lake (Tacoma);

Zoo workers prepare to open the sturdy wooden crate containing the Yellowstone Park grizzly bear. The crate has been moved as close to the cave opening as possible to allow safe release of the wild bear. The 2 year old female cub was intended to replace the bear that escaped in 1937 and was never recovered. (T. Times 6/27/1838, pg. 3)

Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Grizzly bears; Zoos--Tacoma--1930-1940; Zoo animals; Zoo keepers--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A lone Grizzly bear imported from Yellowstone National Park lies resting on a bare wooden platform in a man-made, stone cave at Point Defiance Zoo. The young female cub was brought in to replace the bear that escaped from the zoo in July of 1937 and was never found. If she looks a little lonely, it is because her intended mate broke out two weeks ago, June 12 or 13th, and has not been found. He went over the wall of the pen leaving only some hide and hair on the prongs designed to keep him in. He was recovered July 3rd in the park. (T. Times 6/14/1938, pg. 1; 6/27/1938, pg. 3; 7/4/1938, pg. 1)

Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Grizzly bears; Zoos--Tacoma--1930-1940; Zoo animals;

Summer day camps, hosted by the Tacoma Girl Scout Council, attracted children to the Lincoln Park pool. A large group of children wearing swimsuits squeal as Donny O'Conner splashes them with water. The Girl Scout Day Camps were held three days a week for the past several weeks at Puget and Lincoln Parks. Several hundred children participated. (T. Times, 7/12/1938, p. 1).

Lincoln Park (Tacoma); Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Camps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing in water; Pools; O'Conner, Donny;

Tacoma Girl Scouts enjoyed summers at day camps held three times a week at Puget Park and Lincoln Park. Often accompanying the girls were tag-alongs, sons and younger children of adult volunteers. A group of youngsters sunbathe on the lawn next to the pool at Lincoln Park. Parents bask in the afternoon sun as chaperones. The camps would supply summer fun for hundreds of children in the Tacoma area. (T. Times, 7/12/1938, p. 1)

Lincoln Park (Tacoma); Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Camps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Girl Scout Day Camps included outdoor summer activities like volleyball. In July of 1938, day camps sponsored by the Tacoma Girl Scout Council were held three days a week at Puget and Lincoln Parks. In this photograph eight girls participate in a volleyball game. Tennis courts and trees in dot the background at Lincoln Park. (T. Times, 7/12/1938, p. 1).

Lincoln Park (Tacoma); Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Camps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Volleyball; Children playing outdoors; Sports; Playgrounds--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Girl Scout Day Camp, sponsored by the Tacoma Council, was held three days a week at Puget and Lincoln Parks. Here the Girl Scouts take a break to serve some refreshments from the Camp Kitchen at Lincoln Park. The campers are, left to right, Jean Coulter, Carol Betts, Dorothy Spence, Patricia Mozle, Jacqueline Baker and Patricia Aitchison. Approximately 256 Girl Scouts attended one or more days. The most popular activities were crafts, dramatics and archery. (T. Times 7/12/1938, pg. 1)

Lincoln Park (Tacoma); Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Camps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Outdoor cookery--Tacoma--1930-1940; Coulter, Jean; Betts, Carol; Spence, Dorothy; Mozle, Patricia; Baker, Jacqueline; Aitchison, Patricia;

The Tacoma Times - Park District Bicycle Contest was held at the end of July and in early August 1938. To compete in the final events held in the Stadium Bowl on August 5th, boys and girls first had to compete in one of the District preliminary contests held throughout Tacoma. This unidentified young man is competing in one of the obstacle races, probably in the District 1 meet held at North 9th and Monroe next to Jefferson Park.

Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Jefferson Park (Tacoma); Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma;

The second day of preliminaries for the Tacoma Times/Metropolitan Parks bicycle races was held on Friday, July 29, 1938 at Wright Park, South 5th and I streets. District No. 2 included Wright, Central, and Ferry playgrounds. Sideline crowds of children cheer as boy lifts bicycle over wooden hurdle.

Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wright Park (Tacoma); Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma;

Artist view of Mount Rainier in the distance between two tree-covered hills divided by farm land and a meandering stream. The area is identified as O'Hop Valley.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Valleys--Washington; Croplands--Tacoma;

Just the top of the lodge, with its extending waving flag and pole, can be seen above the Spring snow pack at Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park. The occasion of the photograph is "Bremerton Day" at Mount Rainier.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Snow;

Four women and one man salute the camera from their perch on a long toboggan at "Bremerton Day" at Paradise, Mount Rainier in March of 1939. They are enjoying the deep snow on this early spring day.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Winter sports; Snow; Sleds & sleighs; Toboggans;

Bremerton Day at Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park. Skiers enjoy spring skiing, frolicking in the snow at Paradise.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Skiers--1930-1940; Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Winter sports; Snow;

This view of the Pond Garden in "The Bowl" at Point Defiance Park, taken in June of 1939, is from just southwest of the park entrance looking northeast. Vashon Island can be seen in the distance through the trees. Originally a U.S. military reservation, Tacoma was given permission to develop the land into a park in 1888. The south end of the park was first transformed into formal gardens under the direction of E. R. Roberts.

Parks--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

View from south to north of "The Bowl" area of Point Defiance Park with automobiles moving and parked along road. Pond Garden in the background. The crown jewel of Tacoma's park system was obtained from the US military in 1888. In the beginning, the south end of the park was developed as a much more formal garden than we are accustomed to now. Many of the smaller trees have been trimmed into spheres and cones.

Parks--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A boy is playing on the beach at Point Defiance with a girl who is wearing a dress, sandals, and ribbon in her hair. She is pouring water from a Snow White watering can into a decorated bucket. The young boy is identified as the son of Margaret Russell Herrod. This photograph is a cropped version of D8433 image 3. TPL-9163

Beaches--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Children playing in sand--Tacoma; Herrod, Margaret Russell--Family;

Unveiling of the Fort Nisqually monument at its dedication at Point Defiance Park. Group of approximately 30 men, women, and one girl wearing period costumes, circa 1840's, watching YMBC Airshow Princess Kathryn Hurley unveil the rock monument with its memorial plaque. The monument is being dedicated in conjunction with the Washington State Jubilee. It commemorates the establishment of the original fort and its reconstruction by the YMBC. (T. Times 7/21/1939, pg. 14)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Fort Nisqually (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Dedication of Fort Nisqually monument at Point Defiance Park. Group of approximately 30 men, women, and one girl wearing period costumes, circa 1840's. The woman to the left in modern dress is Miss Kathryn Hurley, Jubilee princess of the YMBC air show, who unveiled the monument. The monument recognizes the establishment of the original fort in 1833 and its reconstruction in 1934 by the YMBC. It is the first step in further development of the historic site. (T. Times 7/21/1939, pg. 14)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Fort Nisqually (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On July 20, 1939, the Fort Nisqually monument was dedicated at Point Defiance Park. The monument recognized the establishment of the original fort in 1833 and its reconstruction in 1934 by the YMBC. Posed behind the rock with its memorial plaque and wearing 1840's costumes were, left to right, W. P. Bonney (secretary of the Washington State Historical Society); Mrs. P.H. Crothers; Marilyn Crothers (the young girl posing beside the monument); Mrs. N.A. Harris; Mrs. George Gilbert; Eva Bigelow (Mrs. W. P.) Bonney; Mrs. J. H. Pirtie; Mrs. J.H. McAdams; Mrs. L.J. Mahlberg and Mrs. Van R. Layton. The women were from the Daughters of Pioneers and they were wearing antique dresses from 2-3 generations ago. Marilyn Crothers was attired in her grandmother's "Sunday best" frock. Mrs. Bonney wore a bonnet made by her mother, Mrs. Daniel Bigelow, 3/4 of a century ago. Mrs. Bonney was the daughter of Daniel and Ann Elizabeth Bigelow of Olympia. (T. Times 7/22/1939, pg. 5)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Fort Nisqually (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bonney, William P.; Bonney, Eva Bigelow;

Dedication of Fort Nisqually monument at Point Defiance Park. The monument commemorates the establishment of the original fort and its reconstruction by the Tacoma Young Mens' Business Club. Eleven adults and one girl posing in front of the factor's house at the rebuilt Fort. They are wearing period costumes, circa 1840's. William P. Bonney poses in the front row and directly left is his wife. Tacoma Times columnist E.T. Short is to the left of the back row. The monument dedication took place in conjunction with the Washington State Jubilee. It was the first step to further development at the Fort, sponsored by the Daughters of Pioneers, the YMBC and the park service. Future plans called for equipping the blacksmith shop and granary with period tools, refurbishing the factor's house and assembling a collection of farm tools. (T. Times 7/31/1939, pg. 14; 7/22/1939, pg. 5)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Fort Nisqually (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bonney, William P.; Bonney, William P.--Family; Short, Edgar T.;

Waterfront scenes. Artistic view of bay with Mount Rainier in background. Photograph from December of 1939. Ordered by Frank Ross.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Bays (Bodies of water);

Series of pictures of the bears at Point Defiance. Photograph of two black bears with what appears to be a cub. Three native black bear cubs were being added to the zoo in January of 1940. They were donated by the state game farm. (T. Times 1/9/1946, pg. 5)

Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Bears; Bear cubs;

Scenes at Mount Rainier on New Year's Day, 1940. Four young men standing beside automobile with ski rack on roof parked beside small, log building with hip roof. One of the men, possibly P. Arthur Rosellini, is pointing to a fifth companion, or at least his boots, protruding from under the vehicle's carriage. Stewart James may be the man leaning against the car at the far right. (T.Times 1-5-1940, p. 9-other photos of individuals at Mt. Rainier)

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Automobiles--1940-1950; Men--Clothing & dress--1940-1950;

Winners of the ski races on Bremerton Day at Mount Rainier pose with their trophies on March 31, 1940. The trophies are for, left to right, the junior race, the women's slalom and the perpetual trophy given by the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce. Carl Stingle of Bremerton won the Kitsap junior slalom event while Harriet McCord of Seattle won the women's slalom. Don Amick of Seattle, Washington Ski Club ace, took the men's slalom in a crowded field of nearly 100. (TNT 4-1-1940, p. 10-article only)

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Skiers--Bremerton--1940-1950; Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1940-1950; Winter sports; Stingle, Carl; McCord, Harriet; Amick, Don; Awards;

On June 9, 1940, there would be a double dedication ceremony at Point Defiance, for the new boathouse (pictured) and the new museum at Fort Nisqually. Construction on the boathouse was started in December of 1939 and completed June 1, 1940. It was the largest west of Chicago, 345 x 125 feet, and cost $21,497. It was constructed of wood and built adjacent to the existing cement pavilion, which would now be converted to an expanded aquarium. The lower deck contained 500 boat lockers, 50 motor boat lockers and space for 200 concession rental boats. Live bait, fishing gear and electric hoists were available. The lower deck had 50,00 square feet and the upper promenade and balcony contained 20,000. Upstairs were the concessions including the restaurant and lunch room counter seating. A dining and banquet room were scheduled to be completed in the future. The restaurant would serve fresh salmon dinners at all times, or you could bring your own salmon catch and have it prepared and served to you. New were marine gas accommodations and berths for commercial craft, such as the excursion boat the Virginia V. (T. Times 5/7/1940, pg. 1 & 11)

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

Man beside a 1934 Chevrolet Sedan in Fireman's Park on "A" Street beside the A.V. Fawcett Memorial Fountain. Photograph is labelled "shop negatives" and simply "Jim by his car."

Fireman's Park (Tacoma); Angelo Vance Fawcett Memorial Fountain (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile;

1941 Ski Carnival at Mount Rainier. Queen, Virginia Davis, another young woman and two young men beside fireplace at Paradise Lodge. (T.Times)

National parks & reserves; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Tacoma Winter Carnival (Tacoma); Fireplaces--Paradise; Davis, Virginia;

Dick Ross, left, and Jerry Geehan, right, flank a KMO microphone and an unidentified announcer at the 10th annual Tacoma Winter Sports Carnival. Brilliant sunshine and a thick coating of snow brought a huge crowd out for the winter fest. (T.Times, 1-27-41, p. 1)

National parks & reserves; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Tacoma Winter Carnival (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; De Soto automobiles; Geehan, Jerry;

The snow on Mount Rainier glistens in the sunlight inviting a bumper crop of skiers for the 10th annual Tacoma Winter Sports Carnival. Skiers can be seen dotting the snow, enjoying the perfect ski conditions. (T.Times, 1-27-41, p. 1)

National parks & reserves; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Tacoma Winter Carnival (Tacoma);

A smiling Virginia Davis, Queen of the Tacoma Winter Carnival, took a breather, sitting on the official DeSoto's fender with an unidentified man after the crowning ceremony on January 26, 1941. The official cars were supplied by Winthrop Motors.

National parks & reserves; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Tacoma Winter Carnival (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; De Soto automobiles; Davis, Virginia;