George Nakashima, the renowned woodworker and architect, relocated to New Hope from Washington after being held in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, writes JD Mullane for the Bucks County Courier Times.  

In the 1940s, Nakashima was hired by a fellow architect and friend, performing intense labor in exchange for a piece of land. 

He and his wife, Marion, and their daughter Mira lived in a small homestead before Nakashima built them a new home. 

On their Solebury property, he also built his own woodworking shop where he created handmade furniture.  

His furniture, especially his chairs and dining sets, became world-renowned, earning praise from famous individuals, including the Rockefeller family.  

In 2014, George Nakashima Woodworkers was officially named a National Historic Site. However, the historic property is in desperate need of repairs.  

“Nearly eighty years later, the original materials and environmental systems are increasingly vulnerable to age, climate stress, and humidity fluctuations, placing both the structure and the irreplaceable collections inside at risk,” wrote members of the George Nakashima Foundation for Peace.

“This project addresses those urgent needs, ensuring that the House, designated a National Historic Landmark (2014), remains an enduring site of inspiration, education, and peace for generations to come,” they continued.

Read more about George Nakashima’s New Hope property and the legacy he left behind in the Bucks County Courier Times. 

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