Saipan

Saipan History & Culture

Anyone interested in World War II history will find Saipan fascinating. Because the Marinas Islands played such an important role in World War II, remnants of the war can be found all over the island. The Saipan Museum is a good place to see cultural memorabilia and wartime artifacts. It also has exhibits that chronicle Saipan history, so it might be a good place to start.

Your next stop might be the North Saipan Korean Peace Memorial located on Mount Marpi. It was built in 1979 in remembrance of all the Koreans forced into slavery and killed during World War II. Next to the memorial, you’ll find the last command post of the Japanese Imperial Army, known as Banadero, with World War II cannons, artillery, and tanks preserved in a limestone cave. There’s also a concrete bunker there that still has the imprint from an American bombing. Stop at 800-foot Laderan Banadero (or “Suicide Cliff”), where Japanese soldiers jumped to their deaths rather than surrendering to the Americans. Between Sabaneta Point and Lagua Katan Point, you’ll find Puntan Sabaneta (also known as “Banzai Cliff.”), where the Japanese fought their last battle and the remaining soldiers and their families jumped off the cliff. Both offer a powerful piece of Saipan history, along with spectacular photo opportunities. Pay a visit the Shrine of Santa Lourdes in Asteo where people took refuge in caves. Stop at the old Japanese jail where Amelia Earhart was believed to have been held prisoner. The list goes on and on.

Religion plays a very significant role in Marianas culture. There are active Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim communities and a variety of Christian churches, but 90% of the island’s population is Roman Catholic. You’ll see religious sites throughout the island, like an 18th century bell tower called Spanish Church Tower, built in 1923 during the Spanish rule as part of a Catholic Church. Both the church and the tower were destroyed in World War II, but have been rebuilt on a smaller scale. South Saipan Mount Carmel Church, also built during the Spanish rule, is a white Spanish-style church and the premiere church of Saipan. Here, you’ll find a memorial to John F. Kennedy and a statue of the Virgin Mary.