Northwest Passages

diverse communities in turn-of-the-century Pacific Northwest

How do different people create a diverse community?

Encounter the varied cultures and dynamic changes of the Pacific Northwest as a young immigrant straddles the old and new worlds at the turn of the 20th century.

After emigrating from Sweden with her family, Julia defies traditional gender roles and conventions by becoming a nurse, traveling throughout Washington to serve her broad new American community during the 1918 flu pandemic.

Developed in partnership with the National Nordic Museum.

Preview

Living Voices brings life to history

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Recommended audiences

4th grade through adult

Curriculum Connections

Pacific Northwest History | Flu Pandemic | World War I | World History | US History | Immigration | Ethnic Studies | Literature | Theatre / Drama | Media / Television - Film

Common Core Standards

Literacy in History/Social Studies | Speaking & Listening | Reading

Endorsements and Affiliations

Washington State Historical Society, Museum of History and Industry, Swedish Hospital

Audiences respond

“Living Voices communicates significant historical moments in such a compelling and personal way. I am always impressed by the knowledge the actors bring to the performance.”
-Nicole Robert, PhD, Museum of History & Industry, WA

Report: Billings, MT

Student and teacher resources

Northwest Passages study guide
Performance Setup Guide


UW Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest
Upper Columbia United Tribes
Black Heritage Society of Washington State
The Journey from Gold Mountain: The Asian American Experience (pdf)

Pay Online

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Experience another place, time and point of view