[cid:447f88c1-a706-4a78-8f6a-c0076cf74f56] [cid:5f98747b-5aec-4ea0-9797-c5b621e41306] Contact Zachary Sokolik, HHM Telephone 253.858.6722 Email marketing@harborhistorymuseum.org Website www.harborhistorymuseum.org MEDIA RELEASE May 16, 2018 Contact Allison Bujacich, GHBS Telephone 253.857.9344 Email allisonworrell@hotmail.com Website www.gigharborboatshop.org locaL ORGANIZATIONS TEAM-UP FOR NEW EXHIBIT “Salmon, Seiners, and Life on the Sea” opens May 26, 2018 at Harbor History Museum Gig Harbor, WA – Created by Gig Harbor BoatShop and Harbor History Museum in partnership with Skansie Netshed Foundation and Harbor WildWatch, “Salmon, Seiners, and Life on the Sea” will not only feature the story of the Avalon as typical of many early purse seiners in the area, it will explore the past and present of Puget Sound’s salmon fisheries and generations of fishing families and fishing towns along Northwest shores. “Salmon, Seiners, and Life on the Sea” will be on view May 27, 2018 – September 16, 2018 at Harbor History Museum. In 1929, the Skansie Ship Building Co. in Gig Harbor launched the Avalon, a 66-foot wooden purse seiner. It was one in a long line of the family’s boat building tradition, and was fished first by Andrew Skansie then later by his sons Antone and Vince Skansie. The Skansies fished the boat for more than six decades, traveling from Gig Harbor to the salmon fisheries along the Northwest Coast. Moored at the Skansie’s net shed, located in the center of town, the boat was a Gig Harbor icon along with other well-known seiners such as the Genius, Victory, Veteran, and Shenandoah. In 2015, after sinking in Hood Canal, the Avalon was declared derelict and scheduled for demolition. The BoatShop partnered with the Department of Natural Resources to save Avalon from the wrecking ball and instead thoughtfully deconstructed the historic vessel. This process allowed the BoatShop to recover artifacts that will be featured in the exhibit, including Avalon’s iconic wheelhouse which was salvaged and restored at the BoatShop and will serve as the centerpiece of this compelling exhibit. Dismantling Avalon piece by piece also allowed the BoatShop to develop accurate construction plans detailed enough to build a Skansie purse seiner, significant because there are no known construction drawings for this vessel. [cid:d6eb9d0b-3775-466c-942c-b60596d93d48] [cid:1d007fcc-2ab0-44b6-862e-e86c91af2455] Along with the Avalon wheelhouse, the exhibit will feature a brief history of the Skansie Ship Building Company as well as a Story Skiff, a scaled-down version of a seine skiff that would have been used to set the net. The Story Skiff was built by BoatShop Volunteer Bill Isaacs from historic plans from Whatcom Museum’s H.C. Hanson Collection. Visitors will also be able to view wall-sized plans of the Avalon and artifacts keyed to their original location on the boat. Salmon fishing is a viable and important industry, feeding millions of people around the world. But what does it take to be a fisherman, and how has that life changed over the past five generations? From boats to nets to fishing communities around Puget Sound, visitors will discover the who behind the fish on their table. The Fishing Life and Sustainable Fisheries portion of the exhibit will feature key innovations that impacted the fishing industry. Stretched from Wheelhouse to Story Skiff is a representation of a seine net that shows the different types of salmon caught in Northwest waters. Also featured in the exhibit is a map of various fisheries and tips for what we can do to help save the salmon. This exhibit was made possible in part by support from Pierce County Landmarks & Historic Preservation Commission, RPM Foundation, Gig Harbor Commercial Fishermen’s Civic Club, Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard, Seattle Marine & Fishing Supply Co., Foss Waterway Seaport, as well as private donors. Also, courtesy of the RPM Foundation, this project has received the help of three interns, Nathan Patrick, Josiah Pollock, and Caeden Erdmann. Together they have been learning to interpret, conserve, and restore various artifacts while also helping with the fabrication of the upcoming “Salmon, Seiners, and Life on the Sea” exhibit. The RPM Foundation supports restoration and preservation training programs for the next generation of automotive, motorcycle and marine craftsmen. The services, resources and grants provided by RPM safeguard the future of the collector vehicle industry by sustaining hands-on training for young adults. “Salmon, Seiners, and Life on the Sea” brings together past and present in a unique way. The exhibit draws upon the expertise of commercial fishermen, boat builders and restorers, wildlife scientists, and fishing families. It digs deep into our fishing heritage archives and invites new generations into the salmon story. Questions and inquiries may be directed to Zachary Sokolik, Marketing & Events Coordinator at Harbor History Museum at marketing@harborhistorymuseum.org<mailto:marketing@harborhistorymuseum.org>. ### Image credits: Avalon Image #1 (1990) by Guy Hoppen Avalon Image #2 (2015) by Joel Rogers About Harbor History Museum: Harbor History Museum creates opportunities to experience the heritage of the greater Gig Harbor communities by collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich history of the area. Our vision is to be the cornerstone that provides a gathering place and a sense of identity for our community. Founded in 1964, the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society dba Harbor History Museum opened its new facility in 2010. The museum campus includes an 1893 fully restored one-room school house; a 65-foot fishing vessel currently under restoration; 7,000 square feet of exhibition space; and a 900-square foot library, research and meeting room. The Museum provides a variety of public education programs. Our core educational program is the Pioneer School Experience (PSE), which serves over 1,400 students every year. Led by a trained “School Marm,” the children experience a pioneer school classroom complete with lessons, recitations, music, recess, and lunch. Our permanent exhibit features professionally designed exhibitions, larger-than-life experiences, and opportunities for hands-on exploration of our region’s rich history and unique heritage. Artifacts, video kiosks, hands-on exhibits, computer interactives, and a small theater bring Peninsula history to life in our permanent galleries. In addition, the Museum provides 3-5 special exhibits throughout the year so there is always something new to see and experience for our members and visitors. SUMMER HOURS (May – Dec.) — Tuesdays–Saturdays 10 am–5 pm, Sundays 1 pm–5 pm. ADMISSION – Complimentary Admission for all visitors courtesy of the City of Gig Harbor. CONTACT – 253-858-6722, www.HarborHistoryMuseum.org<http://www.HarborHistoryMuseum.org>, Marketing@HarborHistoryMuseum.org<mailto:Marketing@HarborHistoryMuseum.org> About Gig Harbor BoatShop: Gig Harbor BoatShop is a 501c3 not-for-profit located in the historic Eddon Boatyard on Gig Harbor’s working waterfront. We are a passionate organization with deep community connections to local working waterfront traditions past and present. The BoatShop is tasked with perpetuating and interpreting the Eddon Boatyard and the local working waterfront by delivering programs that focus on boat restoration and repair, boatbuilding, and boat use. Join us and help provide community access to hands-on working waterfront activities and an intact historic boatyard space that’s been characterized as a “remarkable treasure.” Become a member, volunteer in the shops, visit the boatyard, or engage in a BoatShop skills program - it’s your community boatyard. The boatyard facility hosts working, hands-on activities for youth and adults like the Family Boat Building Program, where participant families or groups build a skiff in a weekend. To get the community and our guests on the water the BoatShop provides the seasonal BoatShop Boat Livery Service using classic small boats restored by the BoatShop's Community Boat Restoration Program. The BoatShop is inspired by maritime traditions past and present, and is dedicated to perpetuating working waterfront skills, uses, and traditions at the historic Eddon Boatyard and aboard classic vessels of Puget Sound.