Contemporary Filipino American Art Exhibition

Stockton’s Filipino American History

Stockton’s Filipino settlers began to arrive around 1898, with many working in the agricultural fields of the Central Valley. Stockton was the center of Filipino-American life through much of the 20th century, where the “Little Manila” community was one of the largest Filipino populations in the world outside of the Philippines. Sadly, in the 60s/70s the city’s redevelopment of downtown and building of a cross-town freeway through the Little Manila neighborhood displaced many Filipino Americans by destroying their homes and businesses.

The city’s attempt to gentrify downtown by destroying the Little Manila and Chinatown neighborhoods failed miserably. The empty spaces where people once lived, went to school, worked, and owned businesses became known as the "Freeway to Nowhere" because it was left unfinished for over 20 years. Many Filipino Americans who lived in this South Stockton neighborhood did so because of the socio and economic injustice at that time.  This history, and the sense of community for Filipino Americans cannot be erased. There is still a large Filipino American population living in Stockton.  Little Manila Rising, a non-profit community organization, located near the old neighborhood at S. San Joaquin Street continues to advocate for the neighborhood and the larger historically redlined South Stockton community through historic preservation, the arts, and finding equitable solutions for public health, environmental justice, and educational issues.      

In addition, Stockton is home to the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Museum.  The national museum is located in downtown Stockton and was established in 2015.  The national museum showcases the contributions that Filipino Americans have made to the United States.  Stockton was chosen as the site of the Museum because of Stockton's significance in Filipino American history from the 1920s to the 1960s.  In addition, the FANHS Stockton Chapter was established in 1992 and for the past thirty years its mission has been to collect, record and share Filipino American history, culture and experience of Stockton and San Joaquin County.  Both the FANHS National Museum and the FANHS Stockton Chapters are non-profit organizations staffed by unpaid volunteers who donate their time and services.