Pacific Northwest History

Books and resources about Pacific Northwest history, including Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska

Architecture & City Planning

Stadium highschool circa 1909  from the Northwest Room at The Tacoma Public Library

Stadium High School, circa 1909

This building, "started as hotel in 1890, (the Tourist Hotel or the Olympian), never completed, converted to a high school in 1905" when architect Frederick Heath remodeled the building. Stadium Bowl was built in 1909, it has been remodeled many times because of mudslides and weather damage"

- Northwest Room at The Tacoma Public Library, (TPL-6716)
(image and text cited below)

Articles & Online Collections


Sources used on this tab:

[Entrance to Stadium High School, four people in front of building.]. (c. 1909). General Photograph Collection (TPL-6716). Tacoma Public Library, Northwest Room, Tacoma, WA, United States. www.cdm17061.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17061coll21/id/4274/rec/1 

Metropolitan Parkshistoric picture of never never land at point defiance park


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. 
 

From Northwest Room at Tacoma Public Library (TPL-1926)
(click on image to enlarge, cited below)


Metro Parks Online Resources


Featured Online Articles


Videos


Sources used on this tab:

[An unidentified family exits Never Never Land at Point Defiance in June 1965.]. (c. 1965). William Trueblood Collection (TPL-1926). Tacoma Public Library, Northwest Room, Tacoma, WA, United States. www.cdm17061.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17061coll21/id/13119

The Tacoma Dome an aerial photo, circa 1983, showing the Tacoma Dome partially constructed

 

Looking at the Tacoma Dome, the cone-like Glass Museum, the historic Union Station building and Washington State History Museum, Bob's Java Jive, or any other number of curious structures in the city, it becomes clear that Tacoma enjoys a little flair!

An aerial photo of the construction of the Tacoma Dome, circa 1983

(click image to enlarge, cited below)

Featured Articles

Tacoma Narrows Bridgenewspaper clipping from 1940 showing the fallen bridge

 

Clippings from the Tacoma News Tribute, 1940

“The bridge was cracking and groaning and I was scared. As I watched the man jump from his car I was thrown to the pavement. He went down, too. We tried to get up but the swaying motion made it impossible

- From Grit City Magazine (cited below - click image to enlarge)

The Narrows Bridge, known as Galloping Gertie after it's fall, is one of the notable bridges in the city. While this page focuses on the Narrows, the Murray Morgan Bridge - and Murray Morgan himself - are worthy of note.


Articles & Online Collections


Videos


Sources used on this tab:

[Tacoma News Tribute Newspaper Clippings from 1940]. (2019). Grit City Magazine. https://gritcitymag.com/2019/11/tacoma-galloping-gertie-bridge-collapse-stories/

Metro Parks: Notable People

Noteworthy names in connection to Metro Parks
  • Nelson Bennett, Park Board President 1908-1909
  • Dr. H.A. Christoffersen, Park Commissioner 1931-1952
  • Francis W. Cushman, U.S. Congressman 1899-1909
  • Clarence Deming, Employee - Seymour Conservatory 1949-1971
  • Gustav Faulk, Employee - Seymour Conservatory 1912-1949
  • Frederick Heath, Park Commissioner 1908-1918
  • Mathilda Mayer, Employee - Secretary for Park Board 1909
  • Bernice Newell, Employee - Newspaper Reporter early 1900's
  • Frederick Law Olmsted, Landscape Architect 1822-1903
  • Floyd E. Owen, Employee - Park Superintendent 1912-1959
  • Stuart Rice, Employee - Park Board President 1907
  • Ebenezer Rhys Roberts, Employee - Superintendent of Parks before 1907
  • William Wolcott Seymour, Park Commissioner,
  • Mayor Eva Stewart, First Female Park Commissioner 1951
  • J. Ralph Williams, Park Commissioner 1953-1970

Metro Parks: Notable Places

Noteworthy places in connection to Metro Parks 
  • Alling Park
  • Browns Point Lighthouse Park
  • Charlotte’s Blueberry Park
  • Delong Park
  • Ferry Park
  • Fort Nisqually
  • Franklin Park Irving Park
  • Jack Hyde Park
  • Kandle Park
  • Lincoln Park
  • Manitou Park
  • McKinley Park
  • Neighbors’ Park
  • North Slope Historic District Park

CC BY SA license

Except where otherwise noted, the content in these guides by Tacoma Community College Library is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. When reusing or adapting this content, include this statement in the new document: This content was originally created by Tacoma Community College Library and shared with a CC BY SA 4.0 license.

Tacoma Community College Library - Building 7, 6501 South 19th Street, Tacoma, WA 98466 - P. 253.566.5087

Instagram logo

Visit us on Instagram!