Day 1 - Saint Malo, Louisiana
📌APIA Every Day (1) - Saint Malo was a historic fishing village in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, situated along the shores of Lake Borgne. It is recognized as the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States and possibly the oldest Asian-American settlement. The exact date of its establishment is disputed, with some accounts suggesting it was formed as early as 1763 or 1765 by Filipino deserters and escaped enslaved people from Spanish Manila galleon trade. These settlers, often referred to as Manila men or Manilamen, played a significant role in the defense of New Orleans when they were recruited by local pirate Jean Lafitte to join the "Baratarians" in support of American forces led by Andrew Jackson. The settlement of Saint Malo was destroyed in 1915 by the New Orleans hurricane, and its remnants assimilated into New Orleans.
Saint Malo's history is closely linked to the origins of dried shrimp in Louisiana. The Manilamen introduced this culinary innovation, contributing to the seafood industry by preserving and concentrating the flavor of shrimp through boiling, brining, and sun-drying. They transported dried shrimp globally and significantly influenced Louisiana's modern-day shrimp industry. The Manilamen's arrival in Louisiana remains shrouded in mystery, with various theories suggesting they came on Spanish trade vessels in the mid-1700s or were Filipino sailors and servants who jumped ship during the Manila-Acapulco trade route. Their legacy, however, has often been overlooked, with their story fading over time due to assimilation, limited historical records, and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
PHOTO 1: Drawing by Charles Graham based off sketches by J. O. Davidson - Hearn, Lafcadio (1883). "Saint Malo: A Lacustrine Village in Louisiana". Harper's Weekly. 27: 204.
PHOTO 2: Marker location: 29° 52.054′ N, 89° 51.617′ W. Marker is in St. Bernard, Louisiana, in St. Bernard Parish.
PHOTO 3: Location of Saint Malo, Louisiana
LEARN MORE:
The Historic Marker Database: St. Malo
History Channel: The First Asian American Settlement Was Established by Filipino Fishermen
BBC Rediscover America: Saint Malo: The first Asian settlement in the US
Medium: These Filipino Fishermen Built the First Asian-American Settlement in the United States
The Asian American Education Project: Manilamen: The First Asian American Settlement
#apiaeveryday #asianamerican #aapi #filipino #filipinoamericanhistorymonth #historicpreservation #historicmarker #louisiana #stmalo
