Manuel Lopes

Who is Manuel Lopes?

Manuel Lopes was one of Seattle's first barbers and its first Black resident.

Lopes was born in Cape Verde. He became a sailor prior to settling in Massachusetts. In 1858, about seven years after the founding of Seattle, Lopes became the city's first Black resident. He opened a restaurant, and became one of Seattle's first barbers. In the early 1870s, Lopes eventually moved to Port Gamble, Washington in search of work during one of Seattle's frequent economic slumps.

Manuel was a musician, and would signal mealtimes by marching up and down the main street beating out a rhythm on a snare drum.