Public Programs Archive

The City Museum is excited to host guest speakers, Fred Thorsteinson and Annette Smith for December's Coffee and Collections presentation on the sinking of the SS Princess Sophia. Fred and Annette will present the full story of the sinking with underwater video footage of the wreck from bow to stern.

Annette is an Alaska Pioneers Member, a mom, a scuba diver and a captain of a 43 foot whale watching boat. She retired from a 33 year career in the information technology field. Annette loves the Princess Sophia: ?She is a spectacular shipwreck with a story starting with great joy as the last trip out for the winter and ending in great tragedy. She is the Pacific Northwest?s worst marine disaster. ?

Fred was born in Seattle, Washington. His family moved to Juneau in 1957. He graduated from Juneau Douglas High School and received an Associate of Arts degree from the University of Alaska Southeast, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Alaska Anchorage and a Master of Science degree in Business and Organizational Management from the University of La Verne.

Fred retired from active duty with the Alaska Army National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel and from the State of Alaska where he worked as the Regional Utilities Engineer for the Southeast Region of the Department of Transportation.

In retirement, Fred volunteers for many civic organizations. He is the District Commissioner for the Maritime District of the Boy Scouts of America, Adjutant for American Legion Auke Bay Post 25, Past President of the Pioneers of Alaska Men?s Igloo No. 6 and Past Grand President of the Pioneers of Alaska.

As a member of the Pioneers of Alaska Fred is working with other members of the organization to create a memorial to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Princess Sophia and to preserve the history of Juneau?s heroic response to the disaster.