Massacre Bay

Massacre Bay is a small cove on the northwest coast of Tutuila, reached by a road that winds along the northern shore past the villages of A'asu. A memorial tablet marks the site where French sailors from Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse's expedition were killed in December 1787 — one of the most violent encounters in early Pacific exploration history.

The bay itself is quiet and attractive, with clear water and a small beach. The drive from Pago Pago along the north coast road is good in its own right, with views down to the sea and across the park lands. The memorial is modest — a stone marker in a peaceful setting — but the historical resonance is considerable if you have read anything about the great Pacific voyages.

things to do sight
A story
In December 1787, the French explorer La Pérouse sent a party ashore to replenish water and trade with the local population. What began as a friendly exchange turned violent — twelve Frenchmen were killed and twenty wounded. La Pérouse named the bay A'asu but Europeans immediately renamed it Massacre Bay. He sailed away and was never seen again, lost with all hands somewhere in the Pacific.