For such an important part of our history, we have very little historical documentation from the perspectives of Chinese railroad workers. Oral histories can help fill this gap to bring human stories to light.
In this facilitated dialogue, Maxine Hong Kingston and Michael Solorio, both descendants of Chinese railroad workers, and Dr. Sue Fawn Chung, a historian of Chinese-American history, discuss the history and legacy of Chinese railroad workers who helped construct the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad between 1863 and 1869.
Conducted by historian Dr. Laura Dominguez, the conversation brings together personal and scholarly perspectives on migration, labor, and memory within Chinese American communities.
This project is in partnership between National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, and American Conservation Experience (“ACE”), with grant funding from the Mellon Foundation.
Top Image: Chinese Camp, courtesy National Parks Service
Bottom Image: Cabinet Map of the Western States and Territories, courtesy David Rumsey Map Collection
The "All Ages" version was edited to be appropriate for K-12 students. Explicit language and graphic descriptions have been removed. The overall content and messages remains the same. We recommend that teachers or parents review the content prior to dissemination.
New Perspectives in Transcontinental Railroad History: An Interview with Laura Dominguez
Learn about recent efforts by the National Park Service (NPS) to commemorate and interpret the Transcontinental Railroad. Themes explored include public memory, community engagement, and the potential role of the humanities in NPS research and education initiatives.