Most Americans know Marco Polo either as an explorer or pool party game. But this Venetian merchant, who lived from 1254 to 1324, traveled widely and documented his journey across the iconic Asian Silk Road. The lengthy route passed through Central, East, South, Southeast, and West Asia, as well as East Africa and Southern Europe. His book “The Travels of Marco Polo,” written in the early 1300s, describes culture, art, landscapes and people from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.
National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita followed in Marco Polo’s footsteps and documented the amazing sights still present along the way. On Thursday, January 9, 2025, he presents “East Meets West: In the Footsteps of Marco Polo” at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.
East Meets West when Marco Polo’s Silk Road Journey Comes to Olympia
Yamashita, a longtime photographer, says that his 2001 multi-issue photo essay is one of National Geographic’s most popular. The team was originally trying to document whether Polo had ever actually made it as far as China by using his book as both a map and travel guide. They looked for specifically mentioned landmarks, and Yamashita believes “it proves he did it, once and for all, from all the firsthand knowledge.”
Marco Polo’s travels have been attempted before, Yamashita explains, but National Geographic had the resources and cachet to make the entire journey happen. “We had a window of opportunity to get into the Middle East,” he recalls, “because we were there between two wars. National Geographic’s reputation isn’t political so we were let in to document and share each unique culture.”
Surprisingly, Yamashita found that “not a lot had changed since the 13th century. So many things, in China especially, hadn’t changed in 700 years. But since then, so much has been lost to earthquakes, wars and manmade or natural disasters.”
National Geographic Photographer Michael Yamashita Records His Global Travels
Yamashita specializes in retracing the journeys of iconic explorers, such as Marco Polo and the Chinese admiral Zheng He, along their historic routes. He loves to illuminate their discoveries and help understand the early roots of globalization. His work has been exhibited in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Italy, Germany and stateside at The Carter Center, LACMA, and the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art. Along with two documentary feature films, Yamashita has published 16 books in multiple languages.
This event, part of the Washington Center’s Adventure Series, coincides with the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death and Yamashita is currently prepping for a commemorative traveling show in Florence, Italy next year.
During “East Meets West: In the Footsteps of Marco Polo,” Yamashita hopes audiences will enjoy having a centuries-old manuscript come to life through his contemporary photographs. “You can see countries that happen to be in the news now but see what they looked like in that brief period of peace,” he says.
Get Your Tickets Now to Discover Marco Polo’s Amazing Legacy
“East Meets West: In The Footsteps of Marco Polo” takes the stage at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 9. Tickets are available online or through the Washington Center Box Office. They are open from noon until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday or two hours before any ticketed event. You can call 360.753.8586 or email boxoffice@washingtoncenter.org with questions.
See more of Michael Yamashita’s work on his website, Facebook, Instagram and X pages. There, you can find additional photography and links to purchase books and other items from his storied career. Watch the full-length documentary Marco Polo: Silk Road by Land & Sea to go behind the scenes of this epic journey. He also compiled a book called The Silk Road Journey, full of stunning, full-color photographs.
Marco Polo is said to have told listeners, “I did not write half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed.” Even today, with fast travel and boundless access to information and images, his Silk Road travels are breathtaking. Experience the full scope and grandeur from the comforts of home thanks to changemakers from the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.
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