My category is under "Services" then "Women Owned Business"

Curious about Tacoma history?

Have you ever walked past a building in Tacoma and felt it almost… looking back at you? Like it knows something. Like it’s holding a story in its brick and glass and creaky stairwells. And you’re this close to hearing it.

Most of us move through the city like it’s just streets and storefronts. But what if it’s more than that? What if that distinctive home on the corner has seen decades of laughter and loss? What if the historic structure downtown has survived fires, booms, busts—and still stands like a quiet witness?

Tacoma is full of stories. Hidden in plain sight. And you don’t need to be a scholar or a history buff to feel their pull—you just need someone who knows where to look… and how to tell them well.

This is where Tacoma History Comes Alive comes in.

Patty Rivers Mannie is a 4th generation Tacoman and Tacoma historian who helps you uncover the real story behind the places you pass every day—your office building, your neighborhood landmark, the home you’ve always wondered about.

Because once you know what happened there…you can’t unsee it. You can’t walk by the same way again.

What is the building that’s been calling your attention? And what might it be ready to tell you?

Call Patty for a consultation on historic research of your home or click below to view her schedule of upcoming Tacoma history presentations.

Upcoming Presentations

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.

The History of 6th Ave

When Tacoma’s streetcars were still humming and the Narrows Bridge gateway began here, 6th Avenue was already doing what it still does best. Moving people through, connecting neighborhoods, keeping the city in motion. Kmart is gone. Shakey’s is gone. PhotoMat, the tiny booth-like time capsule you drove past without thinking is gone too. But the road stayed. Come hear the story of 6th Avenue, decade by decade, as it keeps changing but never stops bustling.

Historic Buildings in Tacoma

What if the buildings you drive past each day are whispering to you, asking you to stop? See me. I am still breathing. Hear my story. Union Station, Willamette Building, Provident Building, Old City Hall. All of these buildings are still standing but are we listening? They hold stories of hardworking men and women, who toiled each day making a life for themselves. Bricks, classroom chairs, soap, mattresses and beer were all manufactured in Tacoma. Come hear their stories.

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.

Tacoma Narrows Bridges - Yes, All three!

History of South Tacoma

This area was known as Edison to honor Thomas Edison, a friend of the railroad owner, before transitioning to the name South Tacoma. The Northern Pacific Railway moved its railway shops from downtown Tacoma to the prairie land which is now known as South Tacoma. Soon South Tacoma became a bustling route for early auto travel, Highway 99. Many small business owners opened cafes, taverns, churches and built homes in this bustling neighborhood which stood on its own. You will be interested to learn about the South Tacoma Cycling Company, Edison Soft Drink Parlor, Tillicum Toy Factory, Steve’s Gay 90’s and the Settle Meat Market.

Upcoming Presentations

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

What People Are Saying

I always enjoy receiving your emails about your Tacoma history programs, keep them coming!

~ Bonnie
You are just so darn good at what you do!
~ Dee
You have great communication skills
~ Marc
I grew up in Tacoma and never knew there was so much history here!
~ Debbie
Your Tacoma history presentation brought back so many memories of
my childhood.
~ Dr. Comfort
I didn’t grow up in Tacoma. Thank you for giving me insight into how Tacoma became a city.
~ Amy
I was telling a friend of mine how you have become our foremost Tacoma speaker on original topics such as the Westmoreland Terrace neighborhood. My friend said he already knew this about you!
~ Tom S.
Thank you for giving our residents fun insights on where they live.
~ Trista
You always give such wonderful details when you give a presentation. The women in your presentation I have never heard of, and you deliver their stories so well.
~ Shirley
You are so well known in our community for telling fascinating stories of Tacoma’s history.
~ Eric
Wonderful as always.
~ Terri
You gave such an interesting presentation on the history of Tacoma Confectioners. You did great!
~ Chris F.
Thank you so much for your presentations, they are wonderful!
~ Lily
You have such a calming voice. I just love listening to your Tacoma history videos.
~ Lisa
Everybody in Tacoma knows Patty.
~ Brie
Patty ROCKS!
~ Vernon

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

Tacoma History Comes Alive

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