New center to remember Chinese railroad workers

Many people may not know about the Chinese workers who helped build the first transcontinental railroad in the United States, but that is set to change with a new center that opened on Wednesday in San Francisco to help share and expand knowledge about this important part of the country's history.

The Chinese Railroad Workers History Center, near the southern entrance of San Francisco's Chinatown, is expected to serve as a "multifunctional gathering place" for people to learn about Chinese American heritage in the US, according to the founder, Florence Fang, a Chinese community leader in the Bay Area.

"The center's purpose is to remember the Chinese railroad workers' contribution to this country; the goal is to give voice to the voiceless, and the spirit is to remember the past and inspire the future," said Fang.

The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, originally known as the Pacific Railroad, was completed on May 10, 1869.

It was considered one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the 19th century. The railroad profoundly changed the nation as it not only expanded the US economy but also instilled national confidence.

Nearly 12,000 Chinese workers were involved in building the railroad, but they dealt with prejudice, isolation and dangerous working conditions — nearly 1,200 of them died from work accidents, avalanches and explosions while toiling in the Sierra Nevada area, according to historical records.

The Chinese workers, who made up more than 80 percent of the railroad workforce, were soon despised in the country and then largely forgotten after the tracks' completion.

"What is important to remember is the sweat and the tears and sometimes the lives of the Chinese immigrants who built the most treacherous, difficult part of the Transcontinental Railroad," said California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.

"Now it will be enshrined in history along with so many other incredibly important contributions of Chinese Americans."

Kounalakis and other elected officials in the state and the city joined community leaders on Wednesday at the center to commemorate the 154th anniversary of the completion of the railroad and pay tribute to the Chinese workers.

Aaron Peskin, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, praised the railroad as an inextricable link to the "ethos of San Francisco".

The center joins several other institutions in San Francisco, like the Chinese Historical Society and the Chinese Culture Center, to attract visitors and teach Chinese American history and culture, said Peskin.

Critical time

"It comes at a critical time for us. It comes as Chinatown and the home of San Francisco have experienced three very difficult years, Chinatown in particular, not only with the economic harms, but with the rise of Asian hate," he said.

"The center will help teach future generations and make San Francisco proud," said Peskin.

"It will help boost the economy of Chinatown."

California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a written message that the completion of the railroad was made possible by "the thousands of immigrant Chinese laborers who risked and sacrificed their lives to transform American history into what we know today".

"Our nation is defined by the backbreaking work Chinese immigrants contributed to our country, with the Transcontinental Railroad completely transforming the economic export of Western resources to Eastern markets," said the governor.

The new center will also have rooms in the basement for hosting classes or seminars.