Saipan – Over 4,000 years of Chamorro and Carolinian heritage
Archaeologists have found traces of human settlement on Saipan going back more than 4,000 years, including petroglyphs and ancient latte stones. The island is one of the main homes of the Chamorro and Carolinian peoples. Europeans probably first sighted it during Magellan's expedition in 1521, and the Spanish formally occupied the island in 1668, ruling until 1898, after which it passed to Germany and later other powers. In 1944 Saipan saw one of the hardest-fought battles of the Pacific War, remembered with respect today.
Today Saipan is the capital and largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, with about 43,000 residents. Share your Saipan stories and photos with our community!