101 Amazing Facts About Guam

Twelve years ago writers, historians and other scholars interested in Guam history and culture came together to begin creating what is now guampedia.com, Guam’s online encyclopedia. Ideas were brought together, outlines were made, and the first grants were obtained in 2002. In 2005 research and writing began and the website went online in 2008 with 350 entries and hundreds of digitized historic images. More entries continue to be added with support from the Guam community.

Throughout this project, every so often, little known facts about Guam history would come up and we, the Guampedia editors, would be amazed. Did you know for example that ancient CHamorus/Chamorros believed that brother and sister spirits, Puntan and Fu’una, created the universe, and that different places on Guam are named after human body parts? Did you know that pirates frequented our shores, which is why we have stone forts along Guam’s western coastline? Some of these pirates kept journals and wrote about their experiences on Guam.

You might have heard that Guam was a stop on the first trans-Pacific air travel route by Pan American Airlines, but did you know that American author Ernest Hemingway was on one of those flights, and he stayed at the Pan American Hotel in Sumai?

Our hope is that these amazing facts will encourage you to find out more about Guam’s history by visiting Guampedia.com, where additional in-depth information and exciting images can be found.

Your support of this publication will help Guampedia continue its mission to make Guam history accessible to everyone.

Prepare to be amazed!

Si Yu’os Ma’åse,

The Guampedia Editors