Friday, October 2, 2026
The Olympia Heritage Commission recommended removing the historic wooden tugboat Sandman from the Olympia Heritage Register because of extensive damage to the vessel.
The 116-year-old tugboat, a longtime fixture on the Olympia waterfront and host tug for Harbor Days since the event began in 1975, was listed on the Olympia Heritage Register in 1990 because of its significance to the city’s maritime history.
It is also listed on the Washington State Heritage Register and National Register of Historic Places.
The commission’s recommendation to delist the tugboat, which was made on July 22, was due to years of deterioration that worsened after the Sandman (also known as Sand Man) was removed from the water for repair in 2023. After several years out of the water, the wooden structure deteriorated further.
Historic Maritime Foundation Executive Director Aaron LaPointe said more than 75 percent of the Sandman’s planks are rotten or significantly deteriorated. He also described areas of the deck that are unsafe to walk on and warned the vessel could eventually tip or collapse.
The Port of Olympia took ownership of the tug after no bids were received at an impound auction in July 2025. Port officials determined restoring the vessel was not feasible.
Port of Olympia and Historic Maritime Foundation officials are instead working to preserve the Sandman’s history.
Plans include documenting and creating 3D models of the vessel, distributing historic artifacts to local organizations for public display, and reusing working components on other historic vessels.
Port Executive Director Alex Smith said that it is important to honor the tugboat.
“We want to make sure we’re somehow preserving and recognizing its heritage and its part of our maritime history in Olympia," Smith said.
LaPointe said the goal is to allow the Sandman’s legacy to live on through artifacts that can be publicly displayed and parts that can help keep other historic vessels operating.
The foundation also plans to create a display at Harbor Days showing where Sandman artifacts have been relocated and collect stories from community members who remember the tug.
Commissioner Bill Cotter supported distributing the tugboat’s artifacts throughout the community and reusing some of its components on working historic vessels.
“I think it’s a great idea that if some of them can live on working vessels," Cotter said.
He called the proposal a thoughtful approach and the best possible outcome given the Sandman’s condition.
After the commission’s vote, Olympia Historic Preservation Officer Brittany Gillia, said the Heritage Register will be updated.
The Port of Olympia and the Historic Maritime Foundation staff will remove and temporarily store selected artifacts to be offered to local museums, nonprofits and working historic vessels through an application process.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
TheVirtualOne
Finally some common sense in dealing with this festering money drain. Get over quickly with salvaging the useful components and move on. Enough time and money has been wasted on this already.
Wednesday, July 29 Report this
Boatyarddog
We don't have to Canniableize the Sand Man For Histories Sake, but to be RESPECTFUL we Should Finally Place PARTHIA in It designated "stall"
It continues to sit in The Boatyard Painted up and NOT ON DISPLAY? WHATS the holdup? Who knows! It's POO Confusion as Usual.. Daily Dockage on Thurston county Taxpayers or Is The Foundation footing storage?
Wednesday, July 29 Report this
WhamboMPS
It's not "Sandman," it's "Sand Man." Just look at the photo...
Wednesday, July 29 Report this
JnNwmn
The Port owns the tug and they can't keep it afloat.
Wednesday, July 29 Report this
Snevets
This seems like the same article from months ago but if it IS going to be parsed out can the Port please take down the "Coming Soon Sand Man" sign & fencing by the Farmers Market?
Thursday, July 30 Report this
Person of Interest
In reading about the Sand Man it was used commercially as a tug hauling sand and gravel. It was a fixture at Harbor Days. Over $500,000 was spent to restore it but it b came abandoned by the Foundation established to restore it. It rang up some hefty unpaid storage bills of over $20,000 leaving the Port to deal with the cost of removal. The Port winds up with the abandoned boat and now the public is footing the bill on its removal. It was delisted from the Historical Register. The Port is now trying to find homes for some of the remaining artifacts in the boat. The decision making around the restoration and preservation of this boat deserves some reflection and hopefully there are some lessons learned.
Saturday, August 1 Report this