History of Tacoma, Washington, USA

1885 - Tacoma riot of 1885

1889 - A TACOMA BUILDING COLLAPSES. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED AND SEVERAL BADLY INJURED.
Tacoma, May 14. - About 6 o'clock last evening a wind storm struck a building which was being constructed for a hotel. The structure collapsed, burying about twenty workmen in the debris. One hundred citizens and laborers just returning home from their day's work were soon at work endeavoring to rescue the imprisoned men. In a few minutes one body was taken out. It was that of WALTER BATES, who was building the hotel. The body of a working man named McCONNELL, and the bodies of two others, unknown, were taken out, and W. H. SNELL, city attorney, who received fatal injuries. The workmen rescued were severely injured, as was REV. McKEE, who had taken shelter in the building from the storm. The storm passed through the houses on that street, and when it struck a new store being erected between Eleventh and Thirteenth, it severely injured the workmen there. Another building in the southern portion was also demolished.

All over Puget Sound the storm is very severe. No other casualties... Read MORE...

1895 - Tacoma
Tacoma, ta-ko'mah, a city and seaport of the state of Washington, and the capital of Pierce co., is situated at the head of navigation on Puget Sound, about 100 miles from the Pacific coast. It is the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, also the port of the Northern Pacific Steamship Company, making direct connections with China and Japan. Tacoma has 67 churches, 17 public schools, a boys' college, a ladies' seminary, 20 banks, 2 theatres, fine hotels, and is the seat of a Methodist university. Three daily and 10 weekly newspapers are published here. Its manufacturing appliances consist of saw-mills, shingle-mills, woollen-mills, flour-mills, a dry dock, a smelter, and car-shops which cost $1,250,000,-the capital invested in these enterprises in 1893 aggregating $9,215, 500, and the output $10,426,500. The jobbing trade in 1893 was $15,164,000. Tacoma has superior facilities for transacting and handling shipping business. The docks and wharves in front of the city are... Read MORE...

1906
Tacoma, a city and subport of entry, capital of Pierce co., Wash., is situated on Puget Sound, 80 miles from the Pacific coast and 23 miles (direct) S. by W. of Seattle. It is on the Northern Pacific, the Tacoma Eastern and other railroads. Tacoma occupies a site of rare beauty, commanding a magnificent view of Mount Rainier (Tacoma). It has the advantage of an excellent harbor, where superior facilities are afforded for transacting and handling shipping business. The docks and wharves in front of the city are several miles in extent, and ships load here with wheat, lumber, and coal for all parts of the world. Tacoma is the seat of the University of Puget Sound, Whitworth College, Annie Wright Seminary, Pacific Lutheran University, etc., and among its notable public buildings are the city-hall, court house, chamber of commerce, opera-house, and the Ferry Museum of Art. The manufactures comprise lumber and shingles, iron and steel, flour, beer, cars and boilers, etc. The city has also... Read MORE...

1940 - July 1 – The first Tacoma Narrows Bridge opens for business, built with an 8-foot (2.4 m) girder and 190 feet (58 m) above the water, as the third longest suspension bridge in the world.

wikipedia.org
July 1, 1940

1940 - November 7 - The Galloping Gertie bridge at Tacoma, WA, collapsed in strong winds resulting in a six million dollar loss, just four months after the grand opening of the new bridge.
The winds caused the evenly sized spans of the bridge to begin to vibrate until the central one finally collapsed. From that point on bridges were constructed with spans of varying size.
WeatherForYou.com
November 7, 1940

1950 - October 15 - The second Tacoma Narrows Bridge opens.

wikipedia.org
October 15, 1950

1953 - March 1 - KTNT TV channel 11 in Tacoma-Seattle, WA (IND) begin

historyorb.com

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Tacoma:
Point Defiance Park: This 760-acre park offers stunning natural beauty, including gardens, a zoo, and walking trails. Don't miss the Point Defiance Rose Garden and the 5-Mile Drive, which offers panoramic views of Puget Sound.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: Located within Point Defiance Park, this family-friendly attraction features a wide variety of animals, including tigers, penguins, and sharks. It's a great place to spend a day with the kids.

Museum of Glass: Tacoma is known as the "City of Glass," and this museum pays homage to that reputation. You can watch artists create glass art, explore the collections, and learn about the history of glassmaking.

Tacoma Art Museum: If you're an art lover, you'll appreciate the collection of American, European, and Asian art at this museum. It often features rotating exhibits, so there's always something new to see.

Washington State History Museum: Dive into the rich history of Washington State, from Native American cultures to... Read MORE...