Day 120: Rock Springs Massacre Site, Wyoming
📌APIA Every Day (120) - The Rock Springs massacre occurred on September 2, 1885, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, and resulted in the deaths of at least 28 Chinese miners, injuries to 15 others, and the destruction of 78 Chinese homes. Starting in the late 1860s, the Union Pacific Railroad hired Chinese laborers for railroad construction; by the 1870s, these workers were scattered throughout southwestern Wyoming. In 1874, the Union Pacific Coal Company took control of local mining operations and began actively recruiting Chinese miners through the Beckwith-Quinn Company to resolve a labor dispute with union miners. This led to the arrival of approximately 400 Chinese miners in Rock Springs. The Beckwith-Quinn Company contract required Chinese miners to live in company housing and purchase supplies from the company, effectively segregating them from other miners. This arrangement fueled misunderstandings and resentment, exacerbated by regional anti-Chinese sentiment and economic competition.
On September 2, 1885, a dispute between Chinese laborers and a Euro-American miner escalated into a violent confrontation. American miners, primarily from the Knights of Labor, attacked Chinese miners at coal pit number six, resulting in the death of one Chinese worker. The violence quickly spread as armed miners attacked Chinatown in Rock Springs. They looted, beat, and murdered Chinese residents, burning many alive in their homes. The massacre left at least 28 Chinese miners dead and forced survivors to flee. In response to the massacre, the U.S. Army was deployed to restore order and escort surviving Chinese miners back to Rock Springs. Camp Pilot Butte was established to protect the miners and ensure the smooth operation of the coal mines, remaining until 1898. Despite the reconstruction of Chinatown, the Union Pacific Railroad did not increase its Chinese workforce after the massacre. By 1940, the Union Pacific no longer employed Chinese miners.
The Rock Springs massacre is a significant event in American history, highlighting the severe consequences of racial and economic tensions in the late 19th century. The Rock Springs Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, serves as a reminder of the historical struggles faced by Chinese immigrants and the broader issues of discrimination and economic exploitation during that period.
LEARN MORE:
History: The Rock Springs Massacre
WYO History: The Rock Springs Massacre
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