The Yamato Colony, founded by pioneer Joe Sakai in 1905, was a community of Japanese and later, Japanese-American settlers seeking to make their fortune in the frontier which was early 20th century South Florida. Never more than roughly fifty people including some white and Black settlers, most colonists left after selling their property during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. By World War II, thirteen people remained, soon to be displaced when the government acquired their land by eminent domain to build the Boca Raton Army Air Field. Learn about the myths and the truths surrounding the disposition of the colony based on historic documents and maps from the collections of the Boca Raton Historical Society.
Details
Date
- Sunday, May 2, 2027
Time
- 11:30 a.m.
Price
- FREE (with paid museum admission)
- No reservations. Tickets will be given out on the day of the event, at a first come, first serve basis. Limited tickets available.
Location
- Morikami Theater
Our theater tends to be cold. You may want to bring with you a sweater or jacket.
Meet the Speaker
Susan Gillis is a museum curator and local historian with over 50 years of experience in the museum profession and has been with the Boca Raton Historical Society since 2002. She is the author of 9 books and many articles on local history including the photographic histories: Boomtime Boca, Boca Raton in the 1920s, Palm Beach County During World War II, and Dream City: A Pictorial History of Boca Raton. She was recognized by the American Association for State and Local History with the Award of Merit for her 2004 history of Fort Lauderdale.
