Tacoma's History Presentations

Have you ever passed a building in Tacoma and wondered about its history? Are you curious about a distinctive home or the story behind a historic structure in the city? Whether you work in a historic building or simply have an interest in Tacoma’s rich past, Tacoma History Comes Alive can bring those stories to life.

SCHEDULE A PRESENTATION

Schedule a Presentation

We offer a variety of Tacoma history presentations that will entice and delight - providing you with a new way to appreciate the people and places of Tacoma history. You will hear stories you have never heard before.

Tacoma History Comes Alive – History Presentation Topics

"Notorious Crimes of Tacoma"

"The history of Stadium Business District"

What if a neighborhood story isn’t written by headlines, but by the people who unlocked the door each morning? Join Tacoma historian Patty Mannie, 4th generation Tacoman for a vivid presentation on Stadium High School, Wright Park and the distinctive entrepreneurs who shaped the Stadium Business District. You may not recognize the names Mrs. Lois Scholl, Harold Allen and Mrs. Lucy Darling; most don’t, and yet their impact still lives on in the businesses they built and in the way they encouraged others to build too.

"Downtown Tacoma's Alluring History"

The Women Who Built Tacoma

What if Tacoma was built twice … once in lumber and brick and again in courage? Join Tacoma historian Patty Mannie (4th generation Tacoman) for a vivid presentation on “The Women Who Built Tacoma” about female entrepreneurs who saw what could be and built it anyway. Meet Bethel Schneebeck, Miss Alice Humble, Mrs. Violet Green and Elsbeth Haering, strong women, business owners, well ahead of their time. Hear the compelling stories of how these businesswomen shaped the Tacoma we live in now through vision, risk, persistence and a kind of quiet defiance that still echoes in our streets and storefronts.

Tacoma Confectioners - Why Tacoma is So Sweet

Why is Tacoma so sweet? Tacoma Confectioners – Why Tacoma is So Sweet is a delicious history presentation on the surprising truth: Some of America’s iconic candy stories begin right here. Mars Candy Company, Brown & Haley, Marcoe Candy and Johnson Candy all started in Tacoma. In this gripping presentation Patty Mannie – 4th generation Tacoman and Tacoma historian guides you through what was happening in our city that made sugar into legacy. Who were the men and women who mixed, wrapped, shipped and dreamed? What did it take to turn a small local operation into something that still lives on today?

Christmas in Tacoma

What if Christmas isn’t something we invent each year but something we inherit? Christmas in Tacoma is a warm, story filled history presentation tracing how the city has celebrated the season for over 140 years. In this compelling history presentation, Patty Mannie, 4th generation Tacoman and longtime Tacoma Historian guides you through the years of Christmas in Tacoma. From a booming Christmas tree business to carolers carrying harmony down dark streets, to snowy evenings that turned Tacoma into a postcard you could live inside. You will hear how traditions formed, how neighborhoods gathered and how people found light in the long nights. Not perfect, not always easy but real and beautiful.

Willits Canoes & the History of Day Island

How did two brothers from Iowa create a canoe building legacy in Tacoma? Meet Earl Willits and Floyd Willits who build over 900 canoes during their lifetimes, right on the shore of Commencement Bay. The photographs they took and the journals they wrote still live on today, peering through the lens they saw life. Shaped like a seahorse, Day Island is not really an island, it’s a peninsula however, don’t tell the residents this as their legacy of family homes and stunning views are sublime.

Our Tacoma history presentations are 25 minutes long, with an additional 10 minutes for questions and discussion. If you are interested in a specific Tacoma history topic, we can also tailor a presentation to pique your curiosity.

Our presentations are available to community groups, clubs, and businesses. Monetary fees are collected at the time of the presentation.

Contact Patty today at 253-208-0135 to schedule a presentation or click below to schedule online!

Schedule a Presentation

Call 253-208-0135 or email me with any questions you may have about our Tacoma history presentations.

History is more than a lesson in a book or an internet search. History is a passion for sharing stories and carrying on meaningful traditions.

~ Anonymous