Day 81: Stedman-Thomas Historic District, Ketchikan, Alaska
📌APIA Every Day (81) - The Stedman-Thomas Historic District, situated in Ketchikan, Alaska, served as a hub for several Asian American and Pacific Islander groups from the early 1900s to the 1940s. Initially, both Tlingit Native Americans and White settlers inhabited Ketchikan. However, as the fishing industry in the Pacific-Northwest expanded, diverse ethnic groups began migrating to Alaska. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hispanic, African Americans, and Alaskan Native Americans settled in a part of Ketchikan known as "Indian Town" as segregation took hold, with the North side catering to White settlers and the South side becoming home to non-white populations. This settlement allowed Asian businesses to thrive along Stedman Street, meeting the needs of the fishing community.
The onset of World War I created a demand for seafood, transforming Ketchikan into a prosperous fishing hub. Consequently, Indian Town expanded, evolving into a self-contained community to meet the rising demand. It was during this period that restrictions on Japanese and Chinese immigrants became stricter, prompting Filipinos to migrate North to work in the Alaska canneries. This migration marked the earliest settlement of Filipinos in Alaska. As more Filipinos began to migrate, a Filipino Social Club, later becoming the Filipino Community Club in 1938, took place in a building on Stedman St. Compared to the other ethnic groups residing in Ketchikan, Filipino-Alaskans, known as Alaskeros, have previously played a significant role in the district's history. While their presence in Alaska dates back to the early explorers, it wasn't until the 20th century that many settled in the region. Initially working seasonally in Alaska's salmon industry, by 1950, Ketchikan had become home to most Filipino-Alaskans. When World War II started, the evacuation of Japanese residents to incarceration camps disrupted the community. Japanese residents were forcefully removed to the Minidoka Concentration Camp [APIA Day 32], shrinking available labor in the area. As a result, the harbor intensified Indian Town's role in supporting the industry.
Currently, the district features 47 buildings reflecting its early 20th-century character, and today it remains a thriving commercial and arts neighborhood reminiscent of its fishing community origins. Ketchikan was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1990s. While some of the historic structures no longer exist in the area, the ethnic communities continue to reside in the area, especially the Filipino community.
LEARN MORE:
NPS: Stedman-Thomas Historic District
Historical Marker Database: Stedman-Thomas Historic District
KPUtv: Live in Ketchikan: The First-Ever Filipino-American Festival
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