Name: Ports & Popcorn - The Port of Tacoma: A Journey Through Time
Start: 2025-04-03T18:30:00-07:00
End: 2025-04-03T20:00:00-07:00
Location: 606 Fawcett Ave

Join us at The Grand Cinema for a free speaker series with Port of Tacoma historian Rod Koon!
About this Event

The Port of Tacoma: A Journey Through Time

Rod Koon, Historical Researcher/Writer, Port of Tacoma (Ret)

The presentation will begin in the late 1800s and covers some of the highlights and milestones that have shaped the development of the City of Tacoma, the Port of Tacoma and our Puget Sound region for more than a century. You will learn how the Port of Tacoma was created by Pierce County voters in 1918, enjoy rare film footage of a monorail cargo handling system the Port used in the 1920s, details on how shipbuilding in the Tacoma Tideflats and Port facilities helped support our nation’s World War II efforts, how the Port emerged as a leading “world class” container port, and much more! Rod will also be available after the presentation along with several historic Port of Tacoma artifacts and ephemera to explore.

Rod Koon was hired by the Port of Tacoma in January 1983 as its first communications manager. For 38 years, he held a variety of communications, marketing and public relations positions at the Port until he retired in October 2021. His knowledge and passion for the Port of Tacoma and for telling the Port’s story led him to research and write a history book about the Port in 2023. Rod has done a variety of freelance historical research and writing projects for groups ranging from United Way of Pierce County to the Courtyard Marriott Tacoma Downtown. He is currently writing a history book about the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. A Tacoma native, Rod attended Bellarmine Prep and Stanford University and played on the tennis team at both schools. He has been recognized for his leadership and community efforts with awards presented to him by the Tacoma Propeller Club, the Transportation Club of Tacoma, Tacoma Sunrise Rotary and the City of Tacoma. Rod is also an accomplished singer/guitar player and songwriter—as well as a big Beatles fan.