Day 90: Lung House, Austin, Texas
📌APIA Every Day (90) -The Lung House, in Austin, Texas, holds historical significance as the residence of the Lung family from 1917 to 1960. The Lungs were among the first Chinese families to settle in Austin, representing the broader Chinese immigrant experience in Texas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Joe Lung arrived in Texas around 1874 when he was 10 years old. He and his brother initially worked on the Houston & Texas Central Railway before transitioning to jobs in the laundry and restaurant industries. Joe Lung married Dora Wong in 1889, and they eventually had six sons and three daughters together. The Lung family played a pivotal role in Austin's restaurant scene. Joe's brother, Fong, started a restaurant in Austin in 1897, and Joe and his sons later worked there. Joe Lung Café, possibly operated by Joe himself, became a prominent establishment in early 20th-century Austin, known for its American dining staples.
In 1917, Joe Lung purchased the house at 1605 Canterbury, which served as the family's primary residence for decades. The house became a hub for community support, as Joe Lung provided financial assistance to minority members of the community, including Chinese, African Americans, and Hispanics. After Joe Lung's passing in 1926, his wife Dora and their children continued to operate Joe Lung Café, later renamed Lung's Chinese Kitchen. Under Sam Lung's guidance, the restaurant transitioned to serving authentic Chinese cuisine, becoming the first of its kind in Austin. This shift reflected changing attitudes towards the Chinese in America and evolving culinary preferences. Lung's Chinese Kitchen operated until 1974, leaving a lasting legacy in Austin's restaurant history. The Lung family's culinary tradition continued with the founding of Lung's Cocina del Sur, a popular Mexican food restaurant by Joe and Dora's grandson, Jimmie Joe.
Today, the Lung House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in ethnic history, symbolizing the success and resilience of the Lung family and the broader Chinese immigrant community in Austin.
LEARN MORE:
NPS Gallery: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for the Lung House
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