Port of Olympia to distribute historic Sand Man tugboat artifacts

As the physical condition of Olympia’s historic Sand Man tugboat continues to deteriorate, the Port of Olympia is embarking on a new initiative to preserve the vessel’s legacy. 

The 60-foot wooden tugboat was built in 1908 and operated as a commercial tugboat and towboat in the Puget Sound through 1987. 

The vessel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, and is currently housed at Swantown Marina at the Port of Olympia. 

“For many in our community, the vessel represents more than just a boat — it represents the working waterfront, Harbor Days traditions and a tangible connection to Olympia’s maritime past,” the Port of Olympia said in a July 22 news release. 

It has been out of the water for the last several years, and is financially past the point of repair, according to port officials. 

“Despite the efforts of many dedicated individuals and organizations, the financial and logistical realities associated with restoring and maintaining the Sand Man have reached a point where preservation of the vessel is no longer feasible,” the Port of Olympia said in a news release. 

In an effort to preserve the boat’s legacy, the Port of Olympia and its preservation partners are in the process of removing and creating an inventory of historic elements of the vessel. 

Those individual pieces will be made available through an application process designed to place these artifacts with organizations and institutions that can preserve, interpret and share them with the public.

“Our goal is to ensure that pieces of the Sand Man continue telling the story of Olympia’s maritime history for generations to come,” said Port of Olympia Community and Economic Development Director Mike Reid.

The artifacts that will be distributed are: 

• One propeller 
• Two name boards from the bow/bulwark
• One life ring with the heritage site plaque
• One photo of Sand Man during the Olympia Harbor Days race
• Two Harbor Days plaques, one from 2019 and one from 2022
• One aft winch, weighing approximately 500-700lbs
• One Sand Man story wooden trifold
• One compass light with compass
• Four red cleats
• One bow windlass/bit, weighing approximately 300-550lbs
• One 17-foot foremast 
• One 23-foot aft mast ( approx. 23ft.)
• Three 6-foot long boat hooks 
• One 5-6-foot smoke/exhaust stack dated 1910 
• Two 4-foot ventilation stacks 
• Two navigation light boxes with lights
• One search light
• One name board from the top of wheelhouse
• Three bronze light fixtures

Applicants are asked to submit a list of one to three they are interested in receiving. Only one artifact will be awarded to each organization. 

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sand Man Artifact Review Committee based on public accessibility, historic significance, preservation capability, educational value and community benefit. 

Applications must be received by Aug. 15. Submitting an application does not guarantee receipt of an artifact. Applicants will be selected and notified by phone and email.

For more information and to submit an application, visit https://tinyurl.com/yrsej42d.