Chapter 13

Rizal’s Visit to the United

States
 Rizal Arrival in San Francisco
• Rizal docked at San Francisco on Saturday
morning, April 28,1888.
• The ship was carrying 643 Chinese coolies.
• Rizal registered in Palace Hotel, which was
considered a first-class hotel in the city.
• Leland Stanford, a millionaire senator representing
California in the U.S. Senate.
• Rizal stayed in San Francisco for two days-May 4 to
6, 1888. The President of the United States at the
time of Grover Cleveland.
 Across the American Continent
• On May 6, 1888-Sunday, 4:30 P.M. – Rizal left San
Francisco for Oakland, nine miles across San
Francisco, by ferry boat.
• On May 7, he awoke and had a breakfast in Reno,
Nevada, a glamorous state of America with high-
pressure propaganda as “The Biggest Little City in
the World.”
• On May 8, Rizal went to Ogden, a city in Utah state,
the 3rd state passed by Jose Rizal. He then described
Salt Lake as beautiful place he saw. Rizal ate much and
paid 75C in Provo. Then went to Denver, in Colorado
state.
 Across the American Continent
• Rizal saw three (3) Mormon boys in Farmington, in New
Mexico state.
• On May 9, Rizal wake up at Colorado, the 5th state had
crossed by Jose Rizal.
• Thursday, May 10. Rizal woke up in Nebraska, another state
of America , a plain state/country. They reached the city of
Omaha, a big city of Nebraska.
• They passed the Missouri River and Bride and went to
Illinois.
• On May 11, they woke up near in Chicago.
• On May 12, the see the Niagara Falls (can be seen in the
Canadian Territory).
 Across the American Continent
• On Sunday, May 13. They woke
up near Albany. This is one of
the biggest cities of New York.
• They crossed Hudson River
which runs along carries many
boats.
 Rizal in New York
• On Sunday morning, May 13, Rizal reached New
York.
• He stayed three (3) days in this city, which he
called “Big Town.”
• He awed and inspired the memorial to George
Washington.
• On May 16, 1888, he left New York for Liverpool
on board with City of Rome. According to Rizal,
this steamer was “The Second largest ship in the
world, the largest being the Great Eastern”.
 Rizal’s Impression of America
• Good impressions of Rizal in America:
1. The material progress of the country as shown
in the great cities, huge farms, flourishing
industries, and busy factories;
2. The drive and energy of the American people;
3. The natural beauty of the land;
4. The high standard of living; and
5. The opportunities for better life offered to
poor immigrants.
 Rizal’s Impression of America
• In 1890, two years after Rizal’s visit to the
United States, Jose Alejandro, who was
then studying engineering in Belgium,
roomed with him on 38 Rue Philppe
Champagne, Brussels.
• “America,” answered Rizal, “is the land
of par excellence of freedom but only for
the whites”.