Olympia Heritage Commission Meeting: Sandman Tugboat Delisting (July 27, 2026)

The Olympia Heritage Commission met on July 27, 2026, at 5:32 PM (adjourned at 6:34 PM) primarily to conduct a public hearing and deliberation on the removal of the historic Sandman tugboat from the Olympia Heritage Register. The meeting also included updates from committees and approval of a letter of support for an adaptive reuse project.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda and minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public provided testimony during the public comment period for non-business items or during the public hearing for the Sandman tugboat removal.

Discussion Items

• Sandman Tugboat Removal from the Olympia Heritage Register: Staff historic preservation officer Brittany Gilliam presented a briefing on the Sandman, a 60-foot wooden tugboat built in 1910, listed on local, state, and national registers. The vessel had suffered extensive rot and structural deterioration after sitting on land for three years following a failed impound auction in July 2025. The Port of Olympia assumed ownership and, with the Historic Maritime Foundation, explored restoration options. Aaron LePoint, director of the Historic Maritime Foundation, described severe damage including rotten hood ends (estimated $200,000 repair), over 75% of planks rotten (each costing $5,000–$10,000 to replace), a collapsed deck, and unsafe conditions. He noted that most of the boat was rebuilt in 2000–2001 using lumber from Mount St. Helens blowdown, which is prone to rapid rot due to delamination. The preferred preservation plan includes: artifact removal and distribution to public organizations (applications now open on Port website), an archaeological survey completed (3D models created), and a public send-off at Olympia Harbor Days with a booth displaying the artifact locations and a community story collection. The wheelhouse may be removed for display if structurally viable. Alex from the Port of Olympia thanked the commission and emphasized the goal of preserving the vessel's legacy despite deconstruction.
• Other Updates: The Heritage Review Committee conducted a site visit and scheduled another for window replacement permit review. The Certified Local Government (CLG) grant update included opportunities for commissioners to attend Preserve WA (October 6–8 in Ellensburg) and a historic preservation field school at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (three weeks in August–September). The More (Museum, Outreach, and Recreation) Committee reported on planning for a trivia night series, potentially at Three Magnets Brewing, with collaboration from the Big Little House Museum and the Olympia Historical Society. A letter of support for an adaptive reuse proposal for the KGY building (presented by University of Washington student Nora Yao) was reviewed and approved for submission.

Key Outcomes

• The commission voted unanimously to remove the Sandman tugboat from the Olympia Heritage Register (motion carried by voice vote with no opposition).
• Staff will formalize the delisting and provide documentation to the Port and Historic Maritime Foundation.
• The commission approved sending a letter of support for the KGY building adaptive reuse project to the Port's executive director.
• Next steps for the Sandman include artifact removal within weeks, artifact dispersal by end of summer, and the Harbor Days event booth.
• The CLG grant application will include two commissioners for Preserve WA attendance; staff will finalize numbers by July 31.
• The trivia planning will proceed with a date target of late August, pending venue confirmation.