Mildred Stiles, left, and Viola Barth were photographed dancing the charleston on top of a giant model straw hat in front of the Tacoma totem pole celebrating the arrival of Straw Hat Day in 1926. During the twenties Straw Hat Day in May was the date when men discarded their heavy wool hats for cooler straw skimmers and the rush to summer was on! In Tacoma, the date was celebrated with a parade where Tacoma's finest showed off their new bonnets from vehicles and floats. In May of 1926, the celebration was cancelled by a torrential downpour.
