Day 127: Panama Hotel, Seattle, Washington

📌APIA Every Day (127) - The Panama Hotel, situated in Seattle's Chinatown-International District, was designed by Sabro Ozasa, the first Japanese American architect in Seattle, and completed in 1910. The building served as a workingman's hote featuring a sento (public bathhouse) in the basement, which was a central part of Japanese immigrant culture. The sento, Hashidate Yu, is one of only two intact sentos in the United States, reflecting the communal bathing practices that were essential in urban Japan.

During World War II, the Panama Hotel became a critical site for the Japanese American community in Seattle. Following Executive Order 9066 in 1942, many residents stored their belongings in the hotel's basement. The owner, Takashi Hori, provided a secure place for these possessions, which remained there throughout the war. After the war, many items were unclaimed, as numerous families did not return to Seattle. In 1985, Jan Johnson acquired the Panama Hotel and discovered the unclaimed belongings in the basement. Recognizing their historical value, she created a museum to display these items, offering a glimpse into the lives of Seattle's Japanese American community before and during the war. The collection includes photographs, clothes, and everyday items, providing valuable insights into the community's history.

It now operates as the Historic Panama Hotel Bed & Breakfast, maintaining its original early 20th-century charm. The Hashidate Yu is available for tours, and the hotel's Asian Tea and Coffee House remains a popular spot. The hotel continues to serve as a reminder of Seattle's Nihonmachi and the experiences of Japanese Americans during a turbulent period in U.S. history. The Panama Hotel was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006 and is a possible lodging option for APIAHiP’s 2024 National Forum in September!

LEARN MORE:

National Park Service: Panama Hotel

National Trust for Historic Preservation: Panama Hotel

National Park Service: Panama Hotel National Historic Landmark Nomination Form

Panam Hotel & Japanese American Musem of Seattle: History of Panama Hotel

Seattle Times: Seattle’s Panama Hotel Deemed a National Treasure

#apiaeveryday #japanese #japaneseamerican #japaneseamericanhistory #seattle #washington #japaneseincarceration #wwii #immigrants #architecture #architectualhistory #historicpreservation #culturalpreservation #chinatown #sabrooazasa #panamahotel #naionalhistoriclandmark #aanhpiheritagemonth #historicpreservationmonth