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The often-overlooked tugboat, as we know it today, was invented in the early 1800s as steam-powered workhorses of the water. They were designed small enough to maneuver easily around larger ships but powerful enough to push and tow as needed. Locally, the Sand Man has been a tour-able fixture of downtown Olympia for many years. Soon the tug Parthia will join it as an interactive exhibit courtesy of the Port of Olympia and its partners. The Parthia’s hardworking career exemplifies our working waterfront and regional history around, in and on Puget Sound.

the tugboat Parthia in a boathouse being restored
Restoration of the Parthia allows her to join the Sand Man tugboat as part of a tugboat heritage walk which celebrates Olympia’s working waterfront. Photo credit: Chuck Fowler

Tugboats are Longstanding Drivers of a Vibrant, Working Puget Sound Waterfront

“Beautiful old boats are art for our downtown,” says Port of Olympia Commissioner Amy Evans Harding. “Recognizing our history as a working waterfront is critical to building a sustainable future. Honoring the Parthia is a great way to do that.”

Chuck Fowler is president of the South Sound Marine Heritage Association (SSMHA). He has been working on the Parthia rescue and restoration project for nearly a decade. The SSMHA has always had a soft spot for tugboats and is the originator of the community favorite Olympia Harbor Days tugboat festival and races.

The Association has been responsible for the fundraising, rescue and restoration of the Parthia. They’re still actively involved in its journey to becoming a waterfront attraction and educational opportunity. Eventually the Port hopes to incorporate the Parthia’s site into a tugboat heritage walk. It will become a permanent exhibit and tourist destination near both the Olympia Farmer’s Market and Marine Terminal Seaport.

The Tugboat Parthia’s Long, Storied Career on the Water

The Parthia was built in the early 1900s and its ownership passed through several maritime companies up and down the Sound. She spent nearly 40 of those years working Olympia’s iconic waters. In 1975, the Parthia became privately owned instead of commercial but she could still be found racing – and often winning – the annual Harbor Days tugboat races.

Sold again in 2016, the Parthia sadly sank during the summer of 2017. The owner offered to donate her to any person or organization who would salvage the beloved tug. The SSMHA and its partners rallied and the Parthia was towed to the Swantown Marina & Boatworks in 2017.

In early 2020, the Port of Olympia’s Commission decided to create a permanent, land-based exhibit for the Parthia. This site, on Port property adjacent to Olympia Farmers Market, will be a feature in the planned Maritime Washington National Heritage Area’s new showcase that’s underway downtown.

a rendered drawing of the tugboat Parthia on display on land under a large cover
The Port of Olympia and other community partners are working on a site honoring the tugboat Parthia as part of a planned Maritime Washington National Heritage Area downtown. Photo courtesy: Port of Olympia

The Port of Olympia Partners with Local Maritime Groups and Community Benefactors

On this sweeping project, the Port of Olympia is partnering with the South Sound Maritime Heritage Association, Thomas Architecture Studios, Forma Construction and Experience Olympia & Beyond.

More than simply rebuilding and repairing the Parthia, Fowler says that the SSMHA and members of the project are tracking down as many original fittings as they can for the exhibit. Vintage photos and artifacts were also donated by the wife of the Parthia’s former skipper Lloyd Conine.

Ron Thomas, of Thomas Architecture Studios, and his team are designing a protective canopy for the site. This ensures that visitors can read and learn safe from the elements along their walk.

“Community partnerships are one of the core values of the Port,” says Evans Harding. “Maritime history advocates have done much of the work to get where we are today, but the Port is happy to play a supporting role.”

The Port of Olympia had planned for an installation groundbreaking in November 2024 but it was postponed due to weather. Follow the Port through email updates or check their events page for details on when it will be rescheduled. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Keeping History Afloat for Generations to Come

Donations to the South Sound Maritime Heritage Association can be earmarked for the Parthia Restoration & Exhibit Fund or overall SSMHA programs which preserve the maritime heritage of Olympia and the upper Puget Sound region.

Check out the SSMHA’s website to learn more about local historic ships, places, people and even find a Tug of the Month. Consider becoming a member or even signing up to volunteer. Email ssmha@maritimeoly.org with questions or to learn more.

In Olympia’s bustling deep-water seaport, large cargo-hauling ships often catch our eye. But next time you’re in the area, look for those small, industrious tugboats which keep traffic flowing and goods safely flowing through. They may not be breathtakingly large or carefully loaded full of vital cargo, but workhorses like the Parthia are equally important. Thanks to the Port of Olympia and its partners, we can honor their legacy for generations to come.

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