Silver Anniversary for Tacoma Historical Society; Program to Highlight Boatbuilding History

TACOMA, WA – Tacoma Historical Society will mark its 25th anniversary and learn about “Tacoma's First Boat Builder” when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, at the University of Puget Sound. The meeting will be held in the Rotunda at the Wheelock Student Center. The public is invited.

The speaker,  Allen B. Petrich, will tell of his research into the shipbuilding history of Tacoma and the South Sound. Petrich is a grandson of Martin Petrich, the Croatian immigrant who founded Western Boat in Tacoma in 1917.

Allen Petrich promises that no matter who you think Tacoma's first boat builder was, you will be surprised. Allen Petrich grew up in Tacoma amid the sights, sounds and experiences of the shipyard. He attended Bellarmine Prep and graduated in history from the University of Puget Sound.

The society will announce its two annual awards: The Murray Morgan Award, for significant efforts to preserve and communicate local history; the Alan C. Liddle Award, for achievement in historic preservation.

About Tacoma Historical Society:
Opened in March 2014, Tacoma Historical Society's downtown facility at 919 Pacific Avenue houses exhibits,  a gift shop, offices and a resource center  for researchers.  Hours are 11 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday. The society's collection includes some  400 bound volumes of Tacoma newspapers dating to 1883.

The society is a volunteer-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, and is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and presentation of the history of the city of Tacoma and its people.