CHCA Grand Opening Ceremony: "Silent Spikes: Following in the Footprints of Chinese Railroad Workers"

The San Francisco Public Library, Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association (CRWDA) and Chinatown History & Culture Association (CHCA) joined forces to present the Silent Spikes: Following in the Footprints of Chinese Railroad Workers exhibit, which is currently on view in the San Francisco Main Library through May 22, 2022. Since its opening, the exhibit has garnered an outpouring of public support from the Chinese community who are touched by the story of the intrepid Chinese railroad workers who helped build the country.

On March 12 at 11 a.m., the Main Library will host a community gathering in honor of the exhibit where the public is invited to bring mementos and stories of ancestors who played a role in this important historical event.

The event will include a screening of the documentary film Crossing Donner Summit by Min Zhou. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with CHCP Advisory Board Member/Historian Connie Young Yu, Professor Anna Ng, Historian David Lei, CHCP Advisory Board Member/Professor Barbara L. Voss and Director Min Zhou hosted by CHCP Member George Chin, Co-Founder/Director of Chinatown History & Culture Association.

Following in the Footprints of Chinese Railroad Workers honors Chinese railroad workers who helped build the Central Pacific western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Their story is told through historical images and contemporary photos from a variety of sources. Chief among them are those by Beijing-based freelance photographer Li Ju that chronicle the route from Sacramento to Promontory Summit. The images underscore the tremendous achievement of the largely anonymous 12,000-20,000 Chinese construction workers who connected the United States from west to east.

For more information, read the Press Release.