Water leads us home
From a nation of islands and archipelagos to the Salish Sea, stories shared here highlight the breadth of experiences and contributions of Filipinos throughout their long history in Puget Sound.
Filipinos first reached North America by boats—whether on a 16th-century Spanish galleon, an 18th-century English or American exploratory ship, or a 20th-century passenger boat as an American national. Hopeful immigrants sought education, economic opportunities, a new life, or adventure. In doing so, they built new communities, became industry leaders, and shaped the culture of their new home in and around Washington State.
A group of Filipinos arriving in Seattle by ship in the 1920s. For some, Washington State was a jumping-off point to other destinations in the U.S. For others, it was their final stop and new home in America.
Mr. Angel Quintero processes fish along the Seattle waterfront, circa 1960s. Filipinos played a major role in the development of Washington's maritime economy throughout the 20th century.
Thousands of Filipinos have served in the American military, with particularly large representation in the U.S. Navy. Here, President Truman (third row, second from right) stands with Filipino navy stewards at the Potsdam Conference in 1945.
Image by U.S. Army Signal Corps, courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Library.
Project background and acknowledgements
This exhibition reflects the work of a partnership between the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) and Maritime Washington National Heritage Area. The story of Filipinos and Washington's waterfront is a powerful one worth telling, one that led the project team to uncover forgotten stories and those often hidden from the historical record.
The work of developing the physical exhibition and its digital companion has also advanced an important effort by FANHS to document, archive, and share valuable material, cultural, and oral histories. Some stories in this exhibit are long-forgotten tales shared by Filipino old-timers. Other snippets were taken from oral histories gathered 50 years ago. Still others were written in personal family memories or recorded in new interviews as part of developing this exhibit. Collectively, the stories displayed here highlight the historical significance and presence of Filipinos on various waterfronts from the Salish Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Acknowledgements
Research
Dorothy Laigo Cordova, lead researcher
Team Members
Devin Cabanilla
Delano Cordova
Bob Flor
Joann Oligario
Antoinette Thomas
Photographs
FANHS National
Bainbridge Historical Museum
Devin Cabanilla
Bob Flor
Cynthia Mejia-Giuidici
Jeannette Tiffany
Memories
Bob Flor
Cynthia Mejia-Giuidici
Marya Castillano
Joann Oligario
Thelma Sevilla
Exhibit Creation
Jackie Peterson, Jackie Peterson I Exhibit Services
Alex Domine and Julia White, JayRay
Alex Gradwohl, Maritime Washington National Heritage Area
All images, unless otherwise credited, are courtesy of the Filipino National Historical Society.
