The Lesser-Known History of Stadium Bowl
August 3, 2018When Stadium Bowl first opened in 1910 it was a pretty big deal. Theodore Roosevelt visited a year later and had this to say about it: “I have visited, I think, most of the cities of the world, and there is not one of them which has such a stadium as this, situated with such…
89 Years Ago Tacomans Were Obsessed With Flying to Tokyo
July 30, 2018Look up Harold Bromley in the history books and you’ll find photos of a man ready to take off for Tokyo from Tacoma Field. There are shots of the crowd of thousands, which began gathering at 2 a.m. on July 28 of 1929 to see the pilot off on the historic 4,762 mile flight. There are…
Paying Homage to the Murray Morgan Bridge
June 28, 2018A while back we asked some of our readers what symbolized Tacoma in their eyes. While “Bikini barista stand” gave us a good chuckle, the most popular answer was the Murray Morgan Bridge. Tacoma is full of symbols, some more obvious than others. The Murray Morgan Bridge was our easy favorite though. It’s been around…
Snapshots of Father’s Day in Tacoma History
June 17, 2018Judging by photos from decades past, all-out Father’s Day pampering is a time-honored Tacoma tradition. Here we take a look at snapshots of what Father’s Day has been like in Tacoma history, including a birthday note for a cat named Tricia. Father’s Day, 1950 as noted in the Tacoma Public Library’s Northwest room files: “Dr.…
A Rare Look at the Remnants of Tacoma’s Realart Theater
May 29, 2018Just inside 5415 So. Tacoma Way you’ll find wall art from a Chinese restaurant, graffiti from the building’s medicinal marijuana growing days, a modern apartment, and a small glimpse of what was once the Realart Theater. Built in 1919 by Radnor Pratsch (who, yes, went by “Rad”), the Realart opened its doors in 1920. Along…
Tower Bells to Jail Cells: A Rare Look Inside Tacoma’s Old City Hall
May 18, 2018Old City Hall is one of the most prominent structures in Tacoma, but for the last decade it’s been little more than a curious ornament on the city’s skyline. Before the city bought the building, it had fallen into disrepair after a failed attempt at converting it to condos. Throughout the building, remnants of past…
Snapshots of Mother’s Day in Tacoma History
May 13, 2018Sorry to make your hanging basket and brunch date look bad, but the bar for great Mother’s Day gifts in Tacoma was set pretty damn high decades ago. Here we take a look at snapshots of what Mother’s Day has been like in Tacoma history, including one son who took a big plunge to impress…
Long Time Tacoman, Bob Piatt, Remembers Tacoma of the 1940s
April 11, 2018Tacoma has museums, photo archives at the library, and many websites dedicated to preserving its history. However, a truly invaluable way of learning about the history of a city you love is talking to someone who actually lived it. One such person in Tacoma is Bob Piatt. Bob is a charming 81 year old man…
An Inside Look at Tacoma’s Historic Armory
April 5, 2018On South 11th and Yakima sits a building where Prince Olav of Norway, President Taft, President Truman, President Wilson, and Orson Welles have all paid a visit. A building that holds over 100 years of monumental history, it once held home and garden exhibitions, boxing matches, car shows, and rock concerts. It was also home…
A Look at Easter Sunday in Tacoma History
March 31, 2018The way Easter is celebrated changes a little from place to place and from year to year. We took a look at the image archives at the Tacoma Public Library to see how things have changed through the years here in Tacoma. In the 1940s Brown & Haley touted their Almond Roca as the…
A Rare Look Inside the Coolest Vacant Tacoma Building You’ve Never Noticed
March 23, 2018Sitting a block down from one of Tacoma’s busiest intersections at Sprague and 7th Ave. sits a 105 year old building that, for the last decade, has sat vacant and largely ignored by passersby. Given its prominence and ideal location, it’s hard to believe it’s sat empty for so long. Once you get a look…
Snapshots of Saint Patrick’s Day in Tacoma History
March 17, 2018Spin the dial back on what Saint Patrick’s Day has been like in Tacoma history and you’re as likely to find a triumph as a tragedy. Here we take a look at bits of our past, ranging from the start of a tradition to an old-ass cat with no fucks left to give. March 17,…
