In this collection, discover the city's early notables and uncover the stories behind the historic landmarks.

This book will look at the socio-economic conditions which led to the City of Tacoma, Washington, hosting a grand Independence Day celebration at the dawning of the 20th Century. The special events planned during that week attracted guests from every corner of the state. Transportation systems were woefully inadequate for the throng that arrived, setting the stage for an epic disaster. All of those who were involved in the tragedy were ordinary folks looking to celebrate our nation's independence. In a moment, their lives were inexplicably changed.

The Tacoma-Pierce County area has enjoyed a rich tradition of baseball from the sandlot beginnings in 1874, to the first professional game at the "Eleventh Street Ball Grounds" in 1890, to the "100 Day Wonder" known as Cheney Stadium, which was opened in the spring of 1960. While Tacoma has laid claim to five Pacific Coast League championships since the 1904-1905 season, it was the players who competed in the City, Valley, Sunset, Community, Timber, Commercial, Industrial, and Shipbuilders leagues that formed the backbone of the sport. Among notables that have dotted local rosters or competed in the major leagues are Ron Cey, "Indian" Bob Johnson, Mike Blowers, Jon Lester, Steve Whitaker, and Aaron Pointer, as well as Baseball Hall of Famers Walter Johnson, Joe McGinnity, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, and Willie McCovey.

For more than 150 years, the activity on and around Commencement Bay-since the 1840s, when Charles Wilkes first named it, to the present day-has been a barometer for measuring Tacoma's maritime and industrial growth and development. Wilkes's early exploration assured the inclusion of Puget Sound within the boundaries of the United States following negotiations with Great Britain in 1846. Drawn to the deep waters of the south shore of the bay, the Northern Pacific Railroad established its transcontinental terminus here in 1873 and, in the process, created the city of Tacoma. In the early years, the waterfront was alive with the sights and sounds of commerce. The "longest wheat wharf in the world" lined the south shoreline, longshoremen handled cargo, the Mosquito Fleet carried people to and from the municipal dock, and the Puyallup River delta was transformed into the bustling Port of Tacoma.

Listed on the local Tacoma Register, the Washington Heritage Register, and the National Register of Historic Places, the North Slope is the largest residential historic district in Washington. Perched atop Job Carr's Hill, it is a trapezoid with streets at an angle, or sloped, to the grid designed by city planners. The bulk of the neighborhood was built on a 166-acre farm belonging to the Carr family. Purchased in the 1860s from the federal government, it was sold in the 1880s for residential development. The first homes in the North Slope were built from 1888 to 1893 for tycoons, bankers, and railroad men. Renowned residents included Gov. Ernest Lister, John Q. and Virginia Mason, and Bing Crosby, who was born in the North Slope and baptized at St. Patrick's Church.

When Allen C. Mason launched his Point Defiance line in the early 1890s, the Proctor area became one of Tacomas first streetcar suburbs. Before this time, Tacomas North End was a remote, unsettled region populated only by those visiting the citys horseracing track. After Mason established a streetcar stop at the intersection of North Twenty-sixth and Proctor Streetsnear the racetrackbusinesses began to line the thoroughfare. By 1900, houses had been constructed within walking distance of the line, and a residential neighborhood provided the impetus for the construction of schools, a firehouse, churches, and a library. By the 1920s, the neighborhood had expanded and changed to reflect the introduction of the automobile as well as the districts popularity with University of Puget Sound students studying nearby. The community spirit that emerged then continues to this day.

A traveler's guide to Washington state, focusing on historical sites. Sections on various regions describe local history, with entries on towns and sites offering information on festivals, museums, and historic districts. Contains b&w photos, and a chronology. c. Book News Inc.