06/10/2026
Retalhos: A Portuguese History of Kings County” travels to Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores — June 19-28, 2026
Hanford, Kings County, Calif. — A cultural project born in the heart of California’s Portuguese‑American community is heading across the Atlantic this June. Retalhos: A Portuguese History of Kings County has been selected as a featured exhibit at the 2026 Sanjoaninas Festival in Angra do Heroísmo, on the island of Terceira, Azores.
Originally exhibited at the Carnegie Museum of Kings County, curated by Michael J. Semas and Kathi Mendes Gulley, this exhibit will be hosted at the Angra do Heroísmo Interpretation Center, located at Rua do Marquês, Angra, Terceira. It will be open to the public June 19-28, aligning with the full span of the 400‑plus‑year celebration.
Created and curated by Central California historian and writer Kathi Mendes Gulley, Retalhos weaves together photographs, letters, and family archives to tell the story of Azorean immigrants — many from Terceira — who settled in Kings County and helped shape the region’s agricultural and cultural landscape.
“This exhibit is a homecoming,” said Mendes. “The stories that left Terceira generations ago are returning to the island that shaped them. It’s an honor to bring the history of Kings County’s Portuguese‑American families back to their point of origin.”
The event is coordinated every year by the City of Angra. Sanjoaninas draws tens of thousands of visitors for its parades, concerts, cultural events, and civic celebrations. This year, the festival’s theme marks the 50th anniversary of the Autonomous Region of the Azores — the political-administrative structure that governs the islands — as well as the strength of Azorean identity, also represented in its diaspora — making Retalhos a natural fit.
Local Portuguese‑American organizations in Central California have expressed pride in seeing their community represented on an international stage. Many families with roots in Hanford, Lemoore, Armona, and surrounding towns trace their ancestry directly to Terceira.
“Kings County has one of the strongest Azorean communities in the United States,” Mendes added. “Sharing their stories in Angra honors both the ancestors who left and the generations who kept their traditions alive.”
The exhibit will include bilingual English‑Portuguese panels, restored archival materials, and interactive elements inviting visitors to reflect on their own family histories.
Event Details
• Exhibit: Retalhos: A Portuguese History of Kings County
• Dates: June 19-28, 2026
• Location: Angra do Heroísmo Interpretation Center
Rua do Marquês, 9700‑143 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores
• Festival: Sanjoaninas 2026
About the Curator
Kathi Mendes Gulley is a Central California writer, curator, and heritage researcher whose work focuses on Azorean‑American history, family archives, and community storytelling. She has deep roots in both California and Terceira and is committed to preserving the voices and journeys of immigrant families. She was raised in Riverdale, California, and now lives in Morro Bay.
