Day 21 - Kam Wah Chung Company Building, John Day, Oregon
📌APIA Every Day (21) - The Kam Wah Chung Company Building, situated in the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site in John Day, Oregon, stands as a testament to the rich history of the Chinese community in eastern Oregon. Originally constructed in the 1860s as a trading post, the building gained significance in 1887 when Chinese entrepreneurs Lung On and Ing Hay purchased it. Over the following six decades, the Kam Wah Chung Company Building served as a thriving commercial, social, and cultural hub for the local Chinese community. The site is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark and boasts one of the most extensive collections of Chinese mercantile and herbal store artifacts in the United States, including over 500 varieties of Chinese medicinal herbs.
This historic building housed diverse functions, evolving into a Chinese medical clinic, general store, community center, and residence. Lung On, a skilled businessman, and Ing Hay, known as "Doc Hay" for his expertise in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, formed a successful partnership amidst the challenges of anti-Chinese sentiments in the late 19th century. The Kam Wah Chung Company Building endured as a symbol of resilience, weathering racism and demographic shifts until its closure in 1948. Today, the site offers a unique glimpse into the past, preserving the intricate daily lives, business ventures, and medical practices of the Chinese immigrants who played a vital role in shaping the history of rural Oregon.
LEARN MORE:
Friends of Kam Wah Chung Home Page
National Park Service: Kam Wah Chung Company Building
Oregon State Parks: Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site
Oregon Encyclopedia: Kam Wah Chung and Co.
Travel Oregon: The Hidden History of Kam Wah Chung
Visit Eastern Oregon: Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site & Museum
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