Miss Alaska, Nina Whaley, visited the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on May 19, 1964, as part of a busy schedule promoting Alaska's summer tourist season. She is pictured above (center with large purse) smiling as she gazes at the outdoor seal and otter exhibit. TRUEBLOOD 1064

Whaley, Nina; Beauty contestants; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Aquariums--Tacoma;

This seal has scrambled out of the water in order to grab a tasty snack from visiting Alaskans, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Seveck and Nina Whaley, reigning Miss Alaska (far right). The trio were personal representatives of Alaska governor William Egan who traveled to Tacoma to aid Tacoma's Chamber of Commerce campaign to promote Alaska's tourist industry. The Sevecks were professional entertainers and guides. TRUEBLOOD 1064 (TNT 5-21-64, B-4)

Whaley, Nina; Beauty contestants; Seveck, Chester; Seveck, Chester--Family; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Aquariums--Tacoma; Seals (Animals);

Miss Alaska, Nina Whaley, (third from front) and Mr. and Mrs. Chester Seveck visited the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on May 19, 1964. The Alaskans were in town to promote their state's summer tourist season and had just arrived that morning. They are pictured above wearing fur parkas while standing in front of the polar bear exhibit. TRUEBLOOD 1064 (TNT 5-19-64, p. 1-article)

Whaley, Nina; Seveck, Chester; Seveck, Chester--Family; Beauty contestants; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Polar bears--Washington;

An unidentified family exits Never Never Land at Point Defiance in June 1965. The popular park attraction first opened in 1964. Alfred Pettersen, who also designed "Wooded Wonderland" in Victoria, British Columbia, was the first manager. The two facilities were said to be the only two "enchanted forests" on the continent. Sadly, Tacoma's enchanted forest has been plagued by petty vandalism over the years.

Parks--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Never Never Land (Tacoma); Amusement parks--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. A tree shaded path in Point Defiance Park. A rustic bench stands next to the path. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma)

ca. 1900. A peacock sits on the rustic gate to the fence that surrounds the Lodge at Point Defiance.

Peacocks; Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma)

ca. 1900. Two women sit on a rustic bench, next to a path, in Point Defiance Park. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma)

ca. 1900. A view of Wright Park from Division Street looking south circa 1900. The tower of the Pierce County Court House just makes it into the photograph at the far left. The parks two statues stand on pedestals on either side of a gravel road that winds through the park. A bicycle leans against a sapling tree. From the collection of Don Cooper. TPL-8288

Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910; Wright Park (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma--1900-1910; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1892. Wright Park close to Division Avenue, looking east. Very little vegetation is visible in this circa 1892 photograph of Wright Park; a statue and pond are in the center with very few trees. Ornate building to the extreme left is the original Annie Wright Seminary at 611 Division. Other homes in the background are the 1889-built Queen Anne home of John Holgate at 111 So. G and the home built for Charles Clancey in 1890 at 103 So. G. There are several paths leading to the park from the various houses in the neighborhood. TPL-376

Wright Park (Tacoma); Lakes & ponds--Tacoma; Sculpture--Tacoma--1890-1900; Houses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1890-1900;

ca. 1900. A man hand feeds a deer as a number of deer crowd around him. The deer are in a fenced in area at Point Defiance Park. A large wooden building stands at the far left in the photograph. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Deer; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910

ca. 1900. A young nanny pushes a baby in an ornate pram through Wright Park in Tacoma. They have stopped by one of the ponds in the park. A white swan is at the edge of the pond. The tower of the Pierce County Court House just makes it into the photograph at the far left. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910; Governesses;Baby carriages

Lake in Wright Park. Sepia photograph taken on July 2, 1896, commemorating the coronation of the Queen of Roses, Elizabeth Dunster (Mrs. Harrison G.) Foster. Mrs. Foster was crowned queen in Tacoma's first annual Rose Carnival by Governor John H. McGraw. She was presented the silver key to the city by Mayor Angelo V. Fawcett. 15,000 viewed the coronation exercises held at Wright Park, some of whom are pictured above. (Tacoma Morning Union, 7-3-1896, p. 1)

Wright Park (Tacoma); Lakes & ponds--Tacoma; Rose Carnival (Tacoma);

ca. 1892. Sunday afternoon strolls through Wright Park were already popular before its trees had been planted. Its rolling knolls were seeded in blue grass and woven with two miles of walks. A small lake near I Street and statues, donated by C. P. Ferry, dot the landscape. Annie Wright Seminary, left, and homes along G Street line the horizon. Wright Park is one of several parks designed by landscape gardner and artist E. O. Schwagerl. French-007

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1890-1900; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--Buildings;

ca. 1909. A view of the buildings at Longmire Springs in Mount Rainier National Park in 1909. Several rustic wooden buildings are shown along with a number of tents. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Longmire Springs (Washington); Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Tents

ca. 1909. A lone hiker stands at the edge of a cliff of glacial ice, part of the Nisqually Glacier, looking toward Mount Rainier. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Nisqually Glacier; Mountaineering--Washington--1900-1910; Snow & ice climbing; Rainier, Mount (Wash.)

ca. 1909. Giant trees tower over a rustic road through Mount Rainier National Park. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.);

ca. 1909. Tipso Lake in Mount Rainier National Park in 1909. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Tipso Lake--Pierce County--1900-1910

ca. 1909. A small group, on horseback, with camping equipment, ride through Indian Henry's Hunting Ground in Mountain Rainier National Park. The group is with Albert Henry Barnes who was on a photography excursion to Mount Rainier. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Mount Rainier national Park (Wash.); Indian Henry's Hunting Ground; Horses;

ca. 1909. Photograph taken on an excursion to Mount Rainier in 1909 near Longmire Springs. The woman second from the left, holding an unidentified child, is Helen Shaver. The man to the right, with his left hand on his hip, is Albert Henry Barnes. From the collection of Don Cooper.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Camping--Pierce County--1900-1910; Shaver, Helen; Barnes, Albert Henry;

Opening of visitor's center on Mt. Rainier. Senator Henry Jackson, a principal speaker at the September 3, 1966, event, is being interviewed while seated on a rock buttress. The dedication drew a large crowd of visitors and dignitaries, including the senator, Congressman Floyd Hicks, Director of the National Park Service George B. Hartzog, Jr., and Tacoma city manager, David Rowlands. The visitors center would later be renamed in honor of Senator Jackson. (TNT 9-4-66, p. 1-article; TNT 9-4-66 magazine p. 8, p. 17-articles)

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Visitors' centers; Jackson, Henry M., 1912-1983; Legislators--Washington--1960-1970; Interviews;

Opening of visitor's center on Mt. Rainier in 1966. Crowd of people at reception. The official opening took place on September 3, 1966, and drew many visitors and a host of dignitaries including Congressman Floyd Hicks, Director of the National Park Service George B. Hartzog, Jr., Tacoma City Manager David Rowlands, Pierce County Commissioner Harry Sprinker and Senator Henry M. Jackson. Senator Jackson, a principal speaker at the dedication, indicated that the facility was the largest of its kind in the federal parks system. The building at Paradise was circular and built of reinforced concrete with a pre-cast frame. 65-foot roof beams rested on Y-columns. It had a glassed-in third story observation deck. It was designed by George Wimberly of Honolulu who worked along with associate Gerald Allison of the Tacoma firm of McGuire & Muri. (TNT 9-4-66, p. 1-article; TNT 9-4-66 magazine, p. 8, p. 17-articles)

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Receptions; Visitors' centers;

Opening of visitor's center on Mt. Rainier. Senator Henry M. Jackson and his sister, Carol and Lester Nulby (sic) are photographed along with an unidentified woman at the official September 3, 1966, opening of the new Paradise Day Lodge. Senator Jackson is second to the left in the group of four. He was the main speaker that day. The building would later be renamed for Senator Jackson. (TNT 9-4-66, p. 1-article; TNT 9-4-66 magazine, p. 8, p. 17-articles)

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Visitors' centers; Jackson, Henry M., 1912-1983; Legislators--Washington--1960-1970;

John Rutter, Supt. of Mt. Rainier National Park (left) and George B. Hartzog, Jr., head of the National Park Service posed together on September 3, 1966, at the official opening of the new visitor's center on Mt. Rainier. Hartzog, in suit, has his hand on Rutter's shoulder. At that time the building was called the Paradise Day Lodge. Senator Henry M. Jackson was the main speaker at the opening and in 1987 the building was renamed in his honor. (TNT 9-4-66, p. 1-article; TNT magazine 9-4-66, p. 8, 17-articles)

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Visitors' centers; Rutter, John; Hartzog, George B.;

ca. 1979. Fireman's Park at 9th & A St. On the left is Tacoma Savings & Loan at 101 So. 9th St. Almost out of the picture on the right is the Bowes building at 100 So. 9th St. The photograph is taken from 9th St. facing east.

Fireman's Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma);

Parked in front of the Nereides Baths at Point Defiance Park in early September of 1918 was a Western Logging Company truck with a long pipe as cargo. The Nereides Baths opened in 1906 on a bluff above the boathouse. It had been designed by prominent Tacoma architect Frederick Heath and was constructed of logs, resembling a Swiss chalet. The pavilion had an indoor heated saltwater pool, the first indoor swimming pool in Tacoma. Swimmers rented gray cotton suits to frolic in the 80 degree water. The gray suits were required because the owners feared that colors would run and dye the water. "Admission to spectators" was listed as 10 cents in 1918. The baths were demolished in 1932. (thenewstribune.com, metroparkstacoma.org) G41.1-040, TPL-2799

Nereides Baths (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Pipes (Conduits)--Tacoma; Western Logging Co.;

With the Puget Sound as a backdrop, opening ceremonies for Camp Standby were held at Dash Point on June 20, 1919. Camp Standby was established for the girls of various War Camp Community Service Clubs to let them experience the great outdoors. The WCCS was formed in 1917 to organize recreational and social activities where servicemen and women could spend off duty time together. Major General W.H. Johnston delivered an address at the opening, praising the women of the WCCS for helping sustain morale during the Great War. Camp Standby could be accessed by dirt road or boat, the Chickawanna, enabling girls to live there during the summer and yet commute to work in the City. The tents, which could accommodate 50 girls, were divided into two company streets. They all faced the water. Activities offered included boating, swimming, dancing, tennis, baseball and volleyball. (TDL 6/19/1919, pg. 3; TNT 6-21-19, p. 7-article) G71.1-189

Camp Standby (Dash Point); Tents; Camping; War Camp Community Service (Tacoma);

Members of the community gathered on August 5, 1919, at the north end of Wright Park to listen to the first public children's "sing." 200 children had practiced for three months under the direction of Mrs. Zoe Pearl Park. Among the 2000 people in attendance were members of the military and undoubtedly proud parents and grandparents of the chorus. They would happily join in singing with the children some of the day's popular tunes. (TNT 8-6-19, p. 15; TDL 8-6-19, p. 1-article) G41.1-127A; TPL-939

Wright Park (Tacoma); Audiences--Tacoma--1910-1920; Concerts--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Concert at Wright Park. View of the many spectators watching children's concert; large flag hanging on line before the children. The first public children's "sing" was held on August 5, 1919, in Wright Park. It was enjoyed by about 2000 people who packed the north end of the park. The program was arranged and directed by Mrs. Zoe Pearl Park who had rehearsed the children for three months. Edward Benedict's "Tacoma, We're Proud of You" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning" were two popular numbers performed that evening. The large crowd pictured above also joined in singing the chorus of some of the songs. (TNT 8-6-19, p. 15) G41.1-127B, TPL-1463

Wright Park (Tacoma); Audiences--Tacoma--1910-1920; Concerts--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1900. This photograph of Wright Park, taken around 1900, accompanied an article entitled "Do You Remember" in a 1922 News Tribune. The newspaper had been running a nostalgic series of pictures of events and places of times past. In this view of Wright Park, taken from the east side of the park looking westward, the park appears a little sparse with many of the trees little more then saplings. Several people are using the rustic bridge to cross Bird Lake. The houses beyond the park are on South I Street between Division and 3rd. Most were already gone by 1922; the bridge was still there but had been reconstructed. The Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank now stands where several of these houses once stood. G41.1-123; TPL-987 (TNT 3-9-22, p. 11)

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

Rose garden, Point Defiance Park. Point Defiance Park has more than an acre of rose gardens for the public to enjoy. This view of the park in 1924 shows gardens neatly laid out with benches strategically placed for people to sit and gaze at the many varieties of roses. The oldest of the gardens was planted in 1895. TPL-10531

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Roses--Tacoma; Gardens--Tacoma--1920-1930;