Window display, Rhodes Bros. Department Store, ordered by Rhodes Bros. Just prior to Christmas Day, a window display at the downtown Rhodes Bros. Department Store highlights a fine selection of glassware and delicate evening wear. A small banner suggests thoughtful ideas for the last-minute shopper could be found in the Gift Department, fourth floor. Rhodes had been in business in Tacoma since 1892 and at their 9th & Broadway location since 1903. Their famous slogan was "All Roads Lead to Rhodes." Sixteen years after this photograph was taken, Rhodes closed the downtown store. It was spared the wrecking ball to become the University of Puget Sound Law School and later purchased by the State of Washington for office space. Photograph ordered by Rhodes Bros.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mannequins;

Two mannequins are delicately posed in the storefront windows of Rhodes Bros. Department Store three days before Christmas, 1958. They are dressed in pink nylon gown sets whose prices apparently ranged from $14.95 to $19.95. To accessorize the gowns, soft slippers, creams, makeup and jewelry are displayed nearby. Christmas lights and gift boxes flank the window and help to illuminate the recessed display. Photograph ordered by Rhodes Bros. Department Store.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mannequins;

Interior of Rhodes. Christmas time at Rhodes Bros. Department Store meant plenty of festive decorations including trees and fresh garlands to provide a merry atmosphere for its customers. View of interior featuring ladies' fine sweaters, cosmetics and assorted leather handbags taken on December 22, 1958. There was still time for the last-minute shopper to choose from a wide array of gift items. Photograph ordered by Rhodes Bros. Department Store.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Christmas decorations;

ca. 1937. Rhodes Department Store, showing elaborate linoleum work around elevators. Shoe Repair and Shine station to right, vacuum cleaner in far right foreground. Dress displayed on mannequin and man working behind column at left.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Mannequins; Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shoe shining--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Table setting display at Rhodes Department Store, for Sunset Magazine. (filed with Argentum)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Olympic Peninsula Playground display in window of Rhodes Department Store. American flag, maps and photographs, two mannequins in summer dresses and hats. Photograph taken prior to 1940's 4th of July.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mannequins; Flags--United States; Maps;

A look at the boys clothing section of Rhodes Department Store on April 19, 1946. Piles of shirts, socks and other accessories await customers.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Rhodes Department Store, Shoe Department. Elevated view of the shoe department which appears to feature men's shoes, taken in April of 1946. Men's attire across the aisle.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shoes;

Rhodes Millinery Mirror Room along with other departments had recently been remodeled and modernized. The room featured modern fixtures in a renovated spacious room. Rhodes offered fashionable and chic hats for the modern woman. View of Mirror Room with hat displays and comfortable areas for women to try on their favorite hat styles (T. Times, 5/16/46, p. 10).

Millinery; Hats--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

Rhodes Department Store trimmings section. This view of the fabric department was taken in late April of 1946. Rhodes had been in business since 1903. It finally closed in 1974.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Rhodes Department Store lingerie section as photographed on April 29, 1946. The venerable downtown department store was located at 950 Broadway and offered quality merchandise at reasonable prices. Its slogan "All Roads Lead to Rhodes" was famous throughout the Puget Sound region. Rhodes had been in business in Tacoma since 1892 but would close its flagship store in late December of 1974.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lingerie;

Rhodes Department Store corset shop. Undergarments are stacked neatly on two tables in this photograph dated April 29, 1946.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1960; Lingerie; Corsets;

Night exposure "back to school" window at Rhodes. August is alway the month for buying school wardrobes and this window shows what the fashionable 1953 student will be wearing that first day of school. Plaid and double breasted coats were the fashion of choice. Girls are attired in dresses and the layered look appears popular. TPL-9346

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mannequins; Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Originally built as a three story building in 1903, the Rhodes Brothers Department Store at 950 Broadway had two stories and a roof garden added in 1911; the building continued to undergo considerable remodeling through the years. To modernize the front of the store, a new facade was added at the end of the 1940s. The facade was removed in 1980 when the building was bought by the University of Puget Sound and became home to the Norton Clapp Law Center. In the early days, in an effort to bring more trade into Tacoma from the outside, the Rhodes brothers came up with the idea of highway signs, Washington's first. The signs claimed "All Roads lead to Rhodes" and gave the number of miles to Tacoma. These signs were erected as far south as the Columbia river and into southwest Washington and the Grays Harbor areas. In the days when there were few automobiles, these signs became landmarks.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

New neon sign lights up the night over the entrance to Rhodes, Tacoma's largest department store at 11th and Broadway. Rhodes was founded in 1892 by Henry A. Rhodes as a tea and coffee shop. The small shop operated in various downtown locations until it opened at its Broadway location in 1903 as a grand department store, on the model of Wanamaker's or Marshall Fields. The store continued to expand until 1925 when Henry Rhodes retired and the family business was sold. The store eventually became part of the Western Department store chain, until it closed in 1974.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Rhodes Brothers showing new sign above doorway. Coast Neon Displays, Carl Eckstein. Rhodes Brothers Department Store was built at the corner of 11th and Broadway in 1903. Over the years the front has been remodeled several times. Here is a view of the front as it appeared in June of 1950. Coast Neon Displays of Tacoma had just installed a new neon sign above the front entrance. Note that there is a parking meter next to the right front fender of the Cadillac convertible.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Coast Neon Displays (Tacoma); Cadillac automobile;