People gathered on the rocky beach at Point Defiance Park. Numerous boats on Puget Sound are visible in the background. (T. Times).

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

Point Defiance Zoo. Mr. Cook, the animal keeper, with a tortoise.

Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Zoos--Tacoma--1930-1940; Zoo animals; Turtles; Zoo keepers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

One of the new exhibits at the Point Defiance Zoo in 1937 was a pair of black wolves kept with a lone coyote. The trio are shown here in a screened in cage being viewed by zoo goers. The Richards photographer, shooting for the Tacoma Times, was allowed by Zoo keeper George Jones to go into the cage to shoot the year old animals, obtained from the Seattle zoo on a swap. His only advice was that the wolves were friendly as long as their ears were up. The coyote was a native of this region, while the black wolves no longer inhabited their ranges in Montana and Wyoming but could be found in remote areas of Canada and Alaska. (T. Times 4/16/1937, pg. 4)

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

Not wanting to cause a panic, the management of the Point Defiance Park zoo did not immediately notify the public when a 600 pound grizzly bear escaped from his cage in July of 1937. Several men including Park Superintendent Sherman Ingels (in suit) and an unidentified police office inspected the bear's cage, but were unable to determine how he had managed to escape. The two year old grizzly was last seen by an unidentified woman near the park's riding stables. He succeeded in evading capture, and was never seen again. A second grizzly bear escaped in 1938; that one was recaptured. (T.Times 7/14/1937, p 8)

Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Zoos--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Ingels, Sherman; Grizzly bears;

Cold weather kept an icy grip on Tacoma in early January of 1937. Temperatures hovered around 15 degrees in town for several days, freezing the water in Wright Park's swan pond. By the time these nine youngsters had laced up their skates for a little night skating the temperatures had already climbed to about 32 degrees and snow was in the forecast. From left to right: Burrell Bresemann, Will LaPoint, Ray Hall, Don Heselwood, Shirley Quinn, Johanna Pitzl, Jack Alvord, Ed Carlin and Bob Taylor (standing). Although a teenager had nearly drowned when he fell through the ice at the swan pond several days earlier, ice skaters were using the pond again in apparent safety. (T.Times, 1/9/1937, p. 1; T.Times 1-7-37, p. 1-article on cold weather).

Wright Park (Tacoma); Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ice skating--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bresemann, Burrell; LaPoint, Will; Hall, Ray; Heselwood, Don; Quinn, Shirley; Pitzl, Johanna; Alvord, Jack; Carlin, Ed; Taylor, Bob;

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.;

The funeral for James T. Gregory, 81, was held August 2, 1938 at Mellinger's Chapel. This photograph is of the service for his cremation. It was in the Oakwood Hill Crematory Chapel in Oakwood Cemetery. Mr. Gregory, of 1318 S. 4th St., died of a heart ailment. He was well known in lumber, mining and banking circles. He was president of Vilas Lumber Co. in Oregon, vice president of Warren-Soule-Fairhurst Co. of Tacoma, a director of the National Bank of Washington and former president of Tacoma Tidewater mill. Born near St. Thomas, Ontario, Mr. Gregory moved first to Duluth, Minn. In 1901, he came to Tacoma. He was a lifelong bachelor and member of the Elks, Masons and Afifi Temple of the Shrine. (T. Times 8/1/1938, pg. 7; information supplied by an employee of Piper-Morley-Mellinger) TPL-8770

Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flowers--Tacoma; Gregory, James T.--Death & burial;

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;

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;

Packed bleachers and covered stand at Athletic Park. Spectators are there on August 16, 1924, to watch teams battle it out in the sixth round of baseball's City League. Athletic Park had a capacity of 4,500. G53.1-051 (print has been damaged)

Athletic Park (Tacoma); Athletic fields--Tacoma--1920-1930; Baseball--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Dining al fresco in heavily wooded Manitou Park on June 16, 1921 are two out-of-state tourists. Travelers came equipped with canvas tents, cooking supplies and even comfortable folding chairs all stuffed into their automobiles. Most visitors only stayed one night at the free campgrounds before moving on. 1921 was a busy summer camping season for Manitou Park: it was estimated that about 11,000 tourists visited the park in roughly 2,770 cars. It was a large increase from the previous year's totals of 3,600 visitors and 900 cars as word-of-mouth spread about the beauty of the Northwest and the welcome accommodations . (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-19-21, E-7; TNT 7-18-21, p. 3-article; TNT 9-21-21, p. 8-article )

Camping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Manitou Park (Tacoma);

For over 60 years the Narcissa Whitman Fountain graced Wright Park. Erected in 1899 at a cost of $400, partially donated by the school children of Tacoma, the fountain was made of handsome bronzed iron with two gourd-like drinking cups within easy reach of the children for whom the fountain was intended. Atop the fountain stood the statue of a woman in Greek robes bearing a water vessel. The fountain was dedicated to Narcissa Whitman, a pioneer teacher and Christian missionary who was killed by the Cayuse Indians. The statue disappeared from the top of the fountain in the 1960s, and Metro Parks removed the fountain some years later. The Parks Department still has the fountain in storage. (Chechopoulos: History of Wright Park, p. 7-8) G41.1-125; TPL-486

Wright Park (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Mount Rainier (then called Mount Tacoma by locals) from the viewpoint of Tipsoe Lake. This photograph was taken in late August of 1929 but the mountain still has a cap of snow. G76.1-090

Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

Mt. Rainier (then called Mt. Tacoma by locals) presents a wintery face upon Tacoma's downtown business district in February of 1930. The image of the mountain appears to have been altered to increase its grandeur. Major buildings before it were the Rust Building (950 Pacific Ave.) and the imposing 17-story Washington Building with the Brotherhood Bank neon rooftop sign (1019 Pacific Ave.). TPL-6713; G8.1-020

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Cityscapes; Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1930-1940;

This is the newly decorated Point Defiance Pavilion dining room, empty at the moment, but ready to greet Easter throngs in April of 1930. The park had formally opened for the summer season on April 20th. Besides the refurbishment of the Pavilion dining room, early spring blooms and spruced-up picnic grounds helped convey the brightness of a new season. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-20-30, 4C)

Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma);

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. 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;

This may be the Nisqually Glacier as photographed by Marvin Boland on September 20, 1922. It is one of the larger glaciers on the southern side of Mt. Rainier (then called Mt. Tacoma by locals). G76.1-086 (print has been clipped on left corner)

Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

This is the Point Defiance Pagoda as viewed in February of 1923. Built in 1914, the Point Defiance Pagoda with its ornate roof resembles a 17th century Japanese lodge. Its original use was as a streetcar station. Hard working Tacomans would flock to the park on Sundays, often the only day of rest, and were able to enjoy the elegant station with its couches, fireplace and comfortable chairs. The restrooms were truly awe inspiring with its enormous stalls, marble walls and in the ladies' room, an attendant equipped with hand towels. The streetcar station was in use until 1938 when motorized buses became common. Although the restrooms remained open for park visitors, the Pagoda slowly slipped into disrepair until a park district bond provided funds for restoration in the mid-80's. The Pagoda is still in use nearly a hundred years after its original construction as a beautiful site for weddings, receptions, banquets and family gatherings. G41.1-043 (Dutton: "Tacoma's Exotic Pagoda" Tacoma's Monthly, 2/94; www.metroparkstacoma.org)

Point Defiance Pagoda (Tacoma);

Only the tip of Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) is visible among the clouds on this spring day in 1925. The view of The Mountain was taken from the Odd Fellows Temple in downtown Tacoma. Some of the prominent businesses/buildings noted are: Puget Sound National Bank Bldg on the far right edge; the towering Washington Building near center, the Winthrop Hotel at the left edge, and the Y.M.C.A. with its rooftop signage in the left foreground. G8.1-075

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Young Mens Christian Association (Tacoma);

Ohop Valley with white capped Mount Tacoma (Rainier). Ohop Valley is south of the Puyallup River in south central Pierce County. G76.1-068

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Ohop Valley (Wash.);

A large group of children enjoy the refreshing coolness of the circular Lincoln Park wading pool in late July of 1926. Both swimming suits and regular play clothes are in evidence. Several trees provide shade on these hot summer days and the flower gardens in the background present both beauty and scent for the enjoyment of all. G41.1-011

Wading--Tacoma; Pools--Tacoma; Lincoln Park (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.)