The Tacoma Historical Society

The Tacoma Historical Society’s
Exhibit Center

photograph by John Leach

Preserving, promoting, and presenting Tacoma’s history

747 Broadway, Tacoma, Washington
(in the Old City Hall Historic District)

 Open Wednesday through Saturday
noon to 5 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. on third Thursdays.

A selection of vintage photos, prints,
books, T-shirts, and other Tacoma-themed
merchandise is available in the THS store.

call 253-472-3738 for more information
Admission free; donations requested.

Current Exhibition: “Passenger Trains of Puget Sound”

This is a collection of historic photos from the days when everyone traveled by train, courtesy of local author, photographer and Burlington Northern retiree Jim Fredrickson.

A Northern Pacific Railway advertisement in the May 13, 1918 Tacoma Daily News proclaimed: “Four Trains Each Way to Portland. Three Daily to Aberdeen-Hoquiam. High-back Seat Coaches, Observation Cars, Dining Cars on Day Trains. Coaches and Standard and Tourist Sleeping Cars on Night Trains. Electric Lights on All Trains.”

In addition to the four Northern Pacific Railway trains between Tacoma and Portland, there were four Oregon, Washington Railway and Navigation (Union Pacific) trains and three Great Northern trains for a total of 11 trains that ran daily throughout the Puget Sound region.

This exhibit is on loan from the White River Valley Museum in Auburn, WA

This Exhibiton will be displayed through September 28, 2008

Exhibit Area Name Honors Tacoma Visionary Allen C. Mason
The Tacoma Historical Society’s exhibit space was officially named for visionary Tacoma entrepreneur Allen Chase Mason in a ceremony at the exhibit center on May 18, 2006.

Mason was born in Illinois in 1855 and came to Tacoma in 1885. Known for his generosity and civic-mindedness, Mason developed much of Tacoma’s North End and built a streetcar line to Point Defiance.

Learning of Mason’s death in 1920, Tacoma Mayor Crocket Riddell declared, “Mr. Mason has done more for the present and future of Tacoma than any other man in the city’s history.”

Exhibition Sponsor: The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

Curator: Jim Hoard

Exhibit Design & Consultation: Chris Fiala Erlich

 
Tacoma Historical Society Policy on Collections pdf file download link

Monthly Meetings of the Tacoma Historical Society
Generally on the second Monday, 7pm, at the main Tacoma Library
(Olympic Room)  Call for more information ~ (253) 472-3738
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