Historian, UWT Lecturer, Michael Sullivan To Relate Stories of Explorers, Smugglers, Shipwrecks

Michael Sullivan, noted local historian, preservationist, and popular UW Tacoma teacher and lecturer will be the featured speaker at Points Northeast Historical Society Annual Meeting, Tue, Feb 10, 7pm at St Matthew Church. (6800 Eastside Drive, Browns Point).

He is known for his captivating slide presentations and story telling ability which make the past come alive and relevant to the present. One of his students posted, “This guy is amazing! Very knowledgeable about Tacoma and very enthusiastic. Truly if you love history or are from this area, this is a must take class.” 
 
He will talk about “Maritime Stories Around Commencement Bay and South Puget Sound.” Among the stories to be featured are expeditions by some early explorers like Charles Wilkes who named many of the local landmarks, tales of local shipwrecks, role of smugglers and prohibition characters, and Thea Foss (“Tugboat Annie”).

Sullivan has been an advocate for historic preservation from the local level (Tacoma City Historian) to the national (Board member for National Historic Register) and international (Principal with Artifacts.Inc, which produced a comprehensive study, “A Maritime Resource Survey for Washington Saltwater Shores” and has been involved in promoting legislation to create a National Maritime Heritage Area for the Northwest.

His talk is free and open to the public. More info: (message) 253-927-2536 or pointsnortheast.org.