ca. 1952. Float sponsored by the Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot for an unidentified parade, possibly May Day or Armed Forces Day, circa 1952. The float is populated by people dressed in costumes of different countries. It features cutouts of tanks and mobile units rolling up to the top of a globe emblazoned with "Unity, Strength, Freedom." The float is hung with red, white & blue bunting. Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot was located approximately 13 miles south of Tacoma between Ft. Lewis, Madigan Army Hospital and McChord Air Force Base. MROD was established in 1942 as a motor base to supply motorized equipment to the Western Defense Command. In addition, it received and repaired all motorized equipment from the Orient and Alaska. It was comprised of 3 warehouses, each more that 1/4 of a mile long, housing 80,000 different items ready for immediate shipment, and two large buildings containing shops and headquarters. It employed approximately 1,600 civilians ( a number that doubled during wartime.) TPL-10389

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot (Tacoma);

Floral fish blowing trumpets herald the arrival of Seattle Seafair's Queen on this float inviting all of Tacoma to "Come to the Fun" at Seattle's 1952 Centennial Seafair. The Seafair float is followed by a car pulling a flatbed loaded with young women in white evening gowns.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Dancing cadets in trim Navy white double breasted mess jackets, possibly the Bremerton "crew", followed by a band led by white clad majorettes in tall headgear, marches down the steep slope of 9th St. from Broadway to Pacific Ave. On the left can be seen the marquees for the Music Box (destroyed by fire in 1963) and the Roxy (now the Pantages.) The Winthrop Hotel can be seen on the right hand side.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Drill teams; Marching bands;

Horseback riders proceed down 9th St. to Pacific in the 1952 Daffodil Parade. This is one of three mounted groups represented in the parade. Spectators perch on every available surface- fire escapes, windows, and even one precariously on the ledge of the roof of the building on the left.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma);

This daffodil covered horse and buggy was the entry of Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant in the 1952 Daffodil Parade. The Pease family (l to r) Mary, Steve and Dorothy Jean rode in the buggy. The Pease family was very active in Tacoma, with Steve often called "the unofficial Mayor of South Tacoma." Steve's Cafe (later commonly known as Steve's Gay '90s), 5238-40 So. Tacoma Way, had their grand opening in April of 1951; it closed in 1977. Behind their carriage is a rider in one of the three mounted groups that participated in the 1952 parade. (TPL-8861)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Mary; Pease, Stephen O.; Pease, Dorothy Jean;

Young women in daffodil hats and a king ride atop this 1952 float sponsored by Tacoma Vocational and Technical School. This float is very royal in keeping with the 1952 theme of "Alfred in Wonderland," a reference to the King Alfred daffodil- Puyallup Valley's most famous export. Young boys perch on the second floor ledge of the Willis Tavern, 1504-06 Jefferson Ave., to view the parade. The taller building to the right with the boys seated next to the Willis Tavern sign was the Hotel Lewis, 1520-22 Pacific Ave.; it was later demolished. (TNT 4-6-1952, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma);

The man adding a uniform hat to the top of this small totem pole is wearing a Daffodil Festival pin on his lapel in this photograph from March of 1952. The hat would perch on the carved dome of a dark-haired figure. Three official badges, one of them a Tacoma Police Department Chief badge and another a Tacoma Fire Department Chief badge, are shown against the bottom of the totem pole. A small wooden box with an engraved message on top sits on the table and the unidentified man holds a square platter decorated with an image of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Events celebrating the 19th annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival were held on April 1-6, 1952.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Totem poles; Hats--1950-1960; Badges;

The Steve Pease family in daffodil-bedecked carriage. Owner of Steve's Cafe (more commonly known as Steve's Gay '90s), Steve Pease was a well-known figure in South Tacoma. His restaurant at 5238-40 South Tacoma Way was recognized for its homestyle cooking and rollicking family-oriented entertainment. With Mr. Pease in his horse-drawn buggy is wife Mary and daughter Dorothy Jean. They rolled along in front of a number of riders on horseback during the 1952 Daffodil Festival parade.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Stephen O.--Family; Pease, Stephen O.; Pease, Mary; Pease, Dorothy Jean;

A carriage pulled by twin butterflies is the Rhodes Bro. Department Store entry in the 1952 Daffodil Parade and winner of first place in the commercial division. More than one million sunshine yellow blossoms were used to decorate the 70 floats, many of them carrying out the 1952 "King Alfred" theme. The weather dawned warm and sunny, swelling Tacoma parade crowds to over 200,000. (TNT 4/6/1952, pg. 1)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

Husky dogs "mush" up a floral mountain carrying a sledded bottle, in this 1952 Daffodil Parade float sponsored by Cammarano Brothers, bottlers of carbonated beverages. It is followed by the entry from Nora's Bridal Shop, a lovely spring bride in a wide hooped dress, wide enough to hide the car that moves the float.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

Entry from the Tacoma Vocational Technical School in the 1952 Daffodil Festival parade. Women with daffodil-shaped bonnets and clothing resembling the leaves and stems of the golden blossoms ride on the float along with a man with a "scarf" of daffodils. The float is parked outside O'Farrell Distributors, wholesale liquor dealers.

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Tacoma Vocational Technical School (Tacoma);

Kiwanis float in 1952 Daffodil Parade featuring the Soap Box Derby, sponsored by the Kiwanis & the Tacoma News Tribune.The Soap Box Derby was a coaster car race held in July, with prizes for the winning builders and racers. The Kappa Sigma float follows down the parade route turning from 9th onto Pacific Ave.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kiwanis Club (Tacoma); Coaster cars--Tacoma;

Exposure of Stadium High School majorettes, marching band and drill team during the 1952 Daffodil Parade turning from 9th onto Pacific Ave. The 19th annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival had a 15 mile long parade made up of 70 floats, 21 bands, 28 marching units and three mounted groups. The parade formed in Tacoma at 17th and Broadway for a 10 a.m. kick off time moving north on Broadway to 9th, down 9th to Pacific, and down Pacific to 19th Street. (TNT 4/5/1952, pg. 1)

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Drill teams; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Marching bands;

A floral ship pulled by leaping goldfish carries a evening gown clad woman and two young sailors in the 1952 Daffodil Parade. This float was the entry by the Tacoma Savings and Loan Association and won second place in the organization division. Tacomans were warned against plucking daffodils off the floats as they passed through town as all entries had to complete the entire three-city parade route to be eligible for awards and would need every flower to look their best for judges. (TNT 4-5-1952, pg. 1-2)

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma);

Northwest Territory Centennial Parade. Float with covered wagon carrying State Centennial Queen Jackie. The float reads "They had faith and stout hearts" and represents the pioneering spirit of 1853. This was the most elaborate float in the parade. The covered wagon is being "driven" by State Centennial Queen Jackie Atkins of Port Orchard.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Centennial celebrations--Tacoma; Atkins, Jackie;

A man carefully dabs on paint on the "log" cabin as Lincoln Electric prepares its float for the 1953 Daffodil parade. A giant penny is located on one end of the float with Lincoln's head in silhouette; Lincoln Electric also used a silhouette of Lincoln on its building at South 38th and Park. Photograph ordered by Tony Ricono.

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Silhouettes;

An American flag is draped over the hood of the Young Republicans entry in the 1953 Daffodil parade. The vehicle is covered with blossoms, including flowers entwined in the tires, and is packed full of cheerful riders. A grinning cartoon elephant, resembling Dumbo, on the identification sign greets parade onlookers.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Pierce County Young Republicans (Tacoma); Flags;

Two majestic elk, festooned with blossoms, "pull" an old fashioned streetcar in the 1953 Daffodil parade. The float was entered by the Tacoma Elks Club; the surface of the float, including its sides and also the streetcar, are covered with daffodils. There is a policeman, dressed in an old-time uniform, and conductor on board along with several passengers. Photograph ordered by Jay Downs.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Elk; Street railroads--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Herb Erickson leads his students in a melody during the 1953 Daffodil parade. He was a teacher of the Honolulu Conservatory of Music; the school taught accordion and guitar to aspiring musicians. View of Erickson conducting his ensemble of accordionists, guitarists and bass player. Hundreds of daffodils cover the float, including a shell and two musical symbols, as well as a multitude of wooden notes. Photograph orderd by Floyd Piper.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Honolulu Conservatory of Music (Tacoma); Erickson, Herb; Accordions; Guitars; Daffodils--Tacoma;

Steve Pease, owner of the popular Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant in South Tacoma, often had an entry in the city's Daffodil Parades. His buggy is decorated with hundreds of blooms as it is pulled along Pacific Avenue during the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Two "street cleaners" in white uniforms stand behind an equally dazzling white wheeled trash can and a sign proclaiming "Steve's smorgasbord" as the "cleanest in town!"

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Stephen O.; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960;

All of the boats entered in the 1954 Daffodil marine parade were decorated with blossoms; this particular vessel even had its initials spelled out in daffodils. The name of the boat may have been the "Mony Boy". Hundreds of flowers were used to nearly cover the entire boat, leaving barely enough room for the two lounging riders.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;

Entry #76 in the 1954 Daffodil marine parade was a long, sleek craft with two large flowered butterflies on display. Three ladies are shown on board, with two waving gently to onlookers. Thousands of spectators watched the parade from Ruston Way, surrounding hillsides and the Old Tacoma Dock. More than 200 boats, all decorated with daffodils, proceeded from the Tacoma Yacht Club to the City Waterway. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1, TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;

For 56 years, in 2008, the annual Marine Parade has brought the Daffodil Festival season to a close. Entry #99 in the 1954 Puget Sound Daffodil Regatta was covered with literally thousands of blossoms, including windshield, making it truly a floating garden of daffodils. The boats passed, one by one, in front of a reviewing yacht carrying the Daffodil queen, Mary Carlile, and her guests. Once the last boat had passed from view, the Festival would officially end. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;

Members of the Marcetta-Ki drill team from Lincoln High School perform a snappy maneuver for the thousands watching the 1954 Daffodil Parade. The unpredictable spring weather brought a day of sunshine after several days of rain; the parade enjoyed plenty of sun and 50 degree temperatures. View of drill team pausing in front of Puget Sound National Bank on Pacific Avenue; total length of the parade route in Tacoma was two miles.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marcetta-Ki (Tacoma); Drill teams;

Crowds of 5-20 people deep lined the streets of downtown Tacoma for the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Thousands jammed the windows in stores and office buildings; it was estimated that over 100,000 people saw the parade. Brilliant sunshine and 50 degree temperatures greeted parade participants and watchers alike. There were 52 floats and 135 marching units involved; view of military and auxiliary groups marching along the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. (TNT 4-10-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Suitsus, owned by Harold Thompson of Tacoma, its sails decorated with thousands of daffodils, won an honorable mention in the 1954 Puget Sound Daffodil Regatta. More than 200 boats participated in the parade, including sailboats, purse seiners, and the City fireboat which tossed thousands of gallons of colored water into the air for a beautiful water fountain effect. The surrounding hillsides, Old Tacoma Dock and Ruston Way were crammed with spectators enjoying the impressive procession of vessels. Photograph ordered by the TNT. (TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;

Thousands were expected to line the city waterfront to watch the 200+ daffodil adorned boats proceed from the Tacoma Yacht Club to the City Waterway. This would be the final activity in the 1954 Daffodil festivities. Flags and flowers decorate the purse seiners Joann and Memories, among others, as they file in single formation past a reviewing yacht containing the Daffodil queen, Mary Carlile, and guests. The Joann, owned by George J. Peterson of Peterson Boat Co., won a special award. The festival would officially end when the last boat vanished from view. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1, TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;

The men of Sigma Chi Fraternity from the College of Puget Sound took second place in the "Comic" category of the 1954 Daffodil Parade. A cardboard "Toss Fug" is pulling a trailer piled with "radioactive" soil, a fish skeleton, and signs warning "atomic pile", "world renouned Tacoma aroma", and in keeping with the vacation theme, "Vacation Tacoma - where debris meets the sea." Viewers are invited to "Watch Tacoma Grow". (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sigma Chi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Pierce County Sheriff's Posse on horseback is reaching the end of the Tacoma portion of the 1954 Daffodil Parade. The two mile route would head south on Pacific Avenue and conclude at 19th St. before reforming for the Valley swing in the afternoon. The 21st annual parade enjoyed its largest crowd ever, with estimates of 100,000 spectators. Two million daffodils were used on floats, carts, buggys, horses and people in the parade. (TNT 4-9-54, p. 1, TNT 4-10-54, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Horses--Tacoma;

An unidentified Tacoma police officer and several scouts stand at attention and salute as the Daffodil Parade passes South 12th and Pacific on April 10, 1954. They are probably saluting the Color Guard near the head of the parade. The 21st Daffodil Parade was the biggest in the history of the event with 52 floats and a crowd estimated at 100,000. The two-hour extravaganza was carried live over both KTNT-TV and KMO-TV. TPL-9623

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Saluting--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);