If you are interested in a fascinating piece of local history, come join us to pass this information to the hundreds of visitors who tour our facilities each year. The first Japanese person to live in the USA was a young boy named Manjiro who was rescued from a small island near Japan by the John Howland whaling ship from New Bedford in 1841. He was invited by Capt. William Whitfield to obtain his first schooling ever in the USA. The school involved is the Old Stone School in Fairhaven which is part of the Manjiro Trail.
We of the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society have been hosting visitors from around the world to the Captain’s home (now museum) and the Manjiro Trail. We wish to invite you to join our efforts as we pass this unique piece of local history to those visitors who will join the 11,000+ who have made the journey to date.
Available to our volunteer tour guides are: complete instructions with demos, 20% discount at museum gift shop and “happy coat” uniform.
For inquiries and/or application, contact Gerry Rooney at the: Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House Museum, 11 Cherry St., Fairhaven 02719 Office tel. 508-858-5303 or home: 508-995-1219 or cell: 508-269-4659.We can also be reached by e-mail at: Gerry@WMFriendshipHouse.org
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