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After the parade on the 26th of May in Seattle it was back to work, and on the 27th Illinois, Kearsarge, and Minnesota steamed to the shipyard at Bremerton, and on the 28th, The Connecticut, Kansas, Vermont, and Louisiana sailed for San Francisco where Missouri had already departed. The Louisiana, Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Virginia remained and went to Tacoma for a three day visit.
The Northwest
the fleet in commencement bay
At let a cabinet cardstock photograph of the Battleship Wisconsin configured in "dress ship" with a boat alongside disembarking visitors. Above, real photo postcards of the ships anchored in the Bay.
decoration day!
There are few days in the life of the City of Tacoma that have been as grand as this one. The City had planned a reception with a Memorial Day Parade, Illumination of the harbor and battleships, fire works, and festivities throughout the City. Special rates were offered on all railroad lines for all points in the Northwest. Tacoma was ready to Greet the Fleet!
tacoma daily news may 27th
The day was "indescribably beautiful" for the fleet's arrival. "Soft sunshine and light, wandering winds delighted the multitude, filled the land with fine odors, and drew a smile of welcome along the crinkled face of the bay. Nature, as well as the human world, seemed waiting with eager excitement for the coming of the moving, far-reaching hand of the Nation's Power."
The City of Tacoma was visited by more than 200,000 people on the 27th of May to see the arrival of the great fleet. They congregated on the streets, lined the waterfront and bluffs overlooking Commencement Bay and crowded the street cars and interurban trains that were under double-services for the celebration.
Images from the Tacoma Daily News, May 27th, 1909
the cruise of the america's armada
This is a six-panel souvenir postcard of the Atlantic Fleet that was sold through Truedson Drug Company in Puyallup, Washington, just down the road from Tacoma. The reverse presents the fleet formation by division and squadron listing the command of each ship. Depicting "Fighting Bob" Evans, this was a card that was issued for the fleet in San Francisco that made its way to the Northwest for sale.
photographs from richard wesley konter, uss new jersey
This group of photographs are from Richard's visit to Tacoma. (other photos can be seen at this site under "Letters Home" or this link. His descriptions are vivid, "Fleet at Tacoma Washington. Visitors on the Quarter Deck of the New Jersey. The ship inside and out being filled with many hundred persons." "Early morning visitors greeting hours 10 am to 5 pm. Launches flying back and forth all day." "I am invited by school children during fleet week to take part in Memorial exercises day before Decoration Day."
The photograph in the upper center shows a "WELCOME" sign and the arch constructed across Pacific Avenue. In the background is the Northern Pacific Railway company decorated for the fleet's visit.
decoration day in tacoma
Five-thousand people, including 1,000 sailors and marines from the battleships were in the parade that passed down Pacific Avenue. It began at 11 am on Saturday morning and included veterans of the Civil War and the Spanish American War. The onlookers lined the streets 50 deep on each side and peered from windows, roofs, and balconies. Hours before the parade was to form on Commerce Street, crowds assembled along the line of the march. On Pacific Avenue from the waterfront, where the marines landed at the north, to 20th Street on the south, and from the City Hall on Commerce Street to Jefferson Avenue on C Street multitudes thronged.
These real photo postcards show the parade in process down Pacific Avenue with the clock tower of City Hall looking down. In the background can be seen the fleet in Commencement Bay.
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