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Tacoma’s legacy of historic buildings and strong architectural icons is matchless for a Pacific Northwest city its size. Looming in the distant perspective of Tacoma’s principal boulevard, Pacific Avenue, is the Italianate tower of Old City Hall, built in 1893. The building recalls the lofty first years of the city, when the transcontinental railroad broke through the last range of mountains on its westerly course to the Pacific Ocean where it connected with the saltwater of Puget Sound in Tacoma. The City of Tacoma burst into being in 1873 around a breathtaking natural harbor called Commencement Bay. Twenty years later, the city completed construction of this magnificent public building evoking the splendors of Florence and promising the commerce and culture of the world’s great seaports.
More than a century later, Tacoma’s Old City Hall continues to be one of the city’s most visible landmarks whether approached by land or sea. Its bell tower clock chimes the hours each day. The building’s design and careful restorations seem to defy time. Old City Hall’s unmistakable silhouette is one of the symbols of the City of Tacoma and is a centerpiece of a rich historic district overlooking the bay.
Of course, Old City Hall is best appreciated in person during a visit to Tacoma. Just walking around the building and seeing its fine detail and ornamentation is an unforgettable experience. In the event you’re not in Tacoma and would like a sense of the building’s physical presence, we've provided a 3-D model of Old City Hall for you. It will help prepare you for seeing the real thing.
To create a model of Tacoma’s Old City Hall, you should print the flat model on the heaviest letter-size paper your printer will handle (suggested 80lb.+ Cover stock). You can either print the model in color, on brick-colored paper, or on white paper and hand-color it before assembly.
Download B+W model: page 1, page 2, page 3
Download Color model: page 1, page 2, page 3
Cut out the pieces of the model with scissors or X-Acto™ knife: 2 elevations, two hipped-tower roofs and a flat roof. Follow the cut-and-bend notes, and make all bends before gluing. You can use a glue stick, rubber cement or water based paste to assemble. Apply glue on flaps for assembly.
The model of Tacoma’s Old City Hall was designed and drawn by architect Gene Grulich of Grulich Architecture + Planning Services, 707 Court A, Tacoma, Washington, USA 98402-5202