TACOMA—Celebrate Filipino American History Month at the Washington State History Museum! Join us for a special event organized by the Filipino American National Historical Society–Greater Puget Sound Chapter (FANHS-GPS) to commemorate Filipino American history and culture. The event takes place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, and is FREE as part of the museum’s Third Thursdays.
Marking the museum’s third annual Filipino American History Month celebration, this year’s theme is ANI: The Harvest of History. The event will honor the Filipino American Community of the Yakima Valley (FACYV), which stewards the historic Wapato Filipino Community Hall, the first Filipino community hall built from the ground up in the United States and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Celebrate the ani, or harvest, of this community with performances, vendors, and opportunities to connect through Philippine and Filipino American history, culture, and traditions.
A major panel discussion will explore Filipino American labor activism with Rey Pascua, Commissioner Emeritus of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, along with Sandra Bowman and Ileene Davis, family members of the late union organizer and civil rights activist Larry Itliong. Guests can also view objects from the Washington State History Museum’s collections, including a cannon from the Philippines and a nineteenth-century Philippine flag.
About The Washington State Historical Society and History Museum
The Washington State Historical Society works with our communities to explore how history connects us all. Its most prominent activity is the Washington State History Museum, located in Tacoma’s Museum District on Pacific Avenue. The museum features interactive core exhibitions about Washington in the Great Hall, rotating special exhibitions, and public events and programs covering a wide range of historical topics. The WSHS provides curriculum resources, downloadable exhibitions, and educational support statewide, as well as consultation and resources for museums and heritage organizations. For more information about the event and the museum’s exhibitions, public programs, and other offerings, visit www.WashingtonHistory.org.
- Address: 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
- Hours: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Tuesday through Sunday.
- Admission: FREE for members; $17 adults; $14 seniors (age 65+) and military (with ID); $11 students (age 6-17). Through the Museums for All program, licensed Washington Foster Parents can attend for $1 per person or $2 per family.
Author: Mario Lotmore
