If its sheer beauty isn't impressive enough, consider some who have performed at the Stadium Bowl: Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Louie Armstrong, Bob Hope and presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.
The Stadium Bowl on the campus of Stadium High School in Tacoma (Wash.) has a breathtaking view of Commencement Bay, and farther out is the Puget Sound.
Photo by Jeff Napier
Originally known as Tacoma Stadium, this unique field beneath
Stadium (Tacoma, Wash.) was considered an "eighth wonder of the world" when it was completed in 1910. It was built on the site of a luxury hotel that burned down in a mysterious fire before its completion.
It has a breathtaking view of Commencement Bay and Puget Sound and was spotlighted in the movie "10 Things I Hate About You."
Its architect and school board member Frederick Heath called the facility a "A poem in masonry ... a great athletic field set in the midst of superb natural scenery. In the symmetry of its terraced seats, in the enthusiasm that built the structure is the grandeur of the poetic spirit."
Over the years, Stadium Bowl has been the gathering place for celebrities from all walks of life. In 1911, future President Theodore Roosevelt spoke there to a crowd of 40,000 and stated he had seen nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Musician John Phillip Sousa performed there in 1915 before a crowd of 25,000 and praised the superb acoustics. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson spoke there before 40,000 on a whistle-stop tour.
Other big names to appear there include the likes of Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Louie Armstrong, Bob Hope, Billy Sunday and William Jennings Bryan.
It originally seated 32,000, but erosion caused enough damage to reduce today's capacity to just 15,000. The facility not only hosts Stadium High's football games, but also those of Wilson (Tacoma).
Follow us on a slideshow tour of this magnificent facility, featured on the original 10 high school football stadiums to see before you die slideshow. See 15 amazing shots, and click on this link to see even more shots from photographer Jeff Napier.
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The school's main building - including classrooms - overlook the Stadium Bowl, which was completed in 1910.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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Stadium is a 100-year-old high school located near downtown Tacoma and is a historic landmark.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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Here is a view from atop the main building looking down on the Stadium Bowl.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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The main entrance to the stadium is from above the hillside.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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Looking toward the north end zone you can see Commencement Bay, and the land in the background is Browns Point.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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The stadium originally seated 32,000 but today's capacity is 15,000.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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A fishing boat passes by on Commencement Bay behind the north end zone.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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This view shows the south end zone.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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The school underwent a major renovation and seismic upgrade in 2005-06. Students were temporarily relocated to the old site of Mount Tahoma High School, seven miles away.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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An all-weather track skirts the field, which also hosts soccer games.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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Stadium High School opened in 1906. The school was first named Tacoma High School but seven years later it was renamed to reference the adjacent Stadium Bowl.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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A remarkable 3,299 alumni showed for Stadium's 100-year celebration in 2006. It was a Guinness World Record.
Photo by Jeff Napier
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School board architect Frederick Heath called the facility "a poem in masonry ... a great athletic field set in the midst of superb natural scenery."
Photo by Jeff Napier
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Stadium will play Wilson on Friday in both schools' 2012 finale.
Photo by Jeff Napier
