Page 463 - Visitor Guides

Your Guam Experience HISTORY OF GUAM

initiative. It has united commu-
nities and inspired the island
of Guam to promote its unique
culture, food, and faith through
everything from clothing to the
friendly Hafa Adai spirit.

Whether you’re a first-time or
returning visitor, our island 9
offers a distinct experience that
will captivate any traveler. We
warmly invite you to explore
Guam and discover the ambi-
ance that is unlike any other
tropical resort. Guam and its
neighboring islands of Microne-
sia can provide you with memo-
ries that will last a lifetime.

So go ahead, run or swim along
the Tumon Bay Marine Pre- he history of Guam can be Take a moment to explore the
serve, enjoy an island view atop Tdivided into several eras, history of Guam below.
10 Mount Lam Lam, explore the beginning with the Pre-Latte/ 11
pristine ocean by snorkeling, Latte Period (500 AD – 1521) Pre-Contact
kayaking, or scuba diving, or defined by ancient Chamorros Period
eat to your heart’s content. life before Spanish explorer (500 AD –
Ferdinand Magellan discovered 1521)
As you become absorbed in the island in 1521. The Span- Archaeologi-
your Guam experience, the is- ish Era (1565 – 1898), which cal evidence
land’s marine environment will began a few years after the suggests the
soothe your mind. The sweet discovery and extended more Chamorro
flowery scent from plumeria than 300 years later, when culture has ex-
trees will tantalize your spirit. Spanish missionaries intro- isted on Guam for more than
And the breathtaking, natural duced Catholicism to Guam, 4,000 years, after the first set-
beauty will make you appreci- accounts for a significant tlers traveled from Southeast
ate why you chose Guam as portion of the island’s his- Asia in canoes that took them
your destination of choice. tory. Evidence of the American through the Pacific Ocean’s
Period (1898 – 1941), followed rough waters.
by the Japanese Occupation
(1941 – 1944), Liberation and Because written history does
U.S. Territorial Status (1944 – not exist prior to the arrival of
Present) can be seen through- Europeans on Guam, much of
out the island at several his- what we know about this pe-
toric and scenic spots outlined riod has come from varchaeo-
beginning on page 38. logical research – cooking