Transcontinental Railroad (Chinese Contributions)

Focus on the Chinese immigrant experience and contribution to the Transcontinental Railroad project (1863-1869), which connected the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts by train. Workers included Irish and German immigrants, newly freed African Americans, Native Americans and Chinese immigrants among others. These other cultural experiences will be added when resources are available.

List of items

Virtual Exhibit

Virtual Exhibit: Geography of Chinese Workers Building the Transcontinental Railroad: A Virtual Reconstruction of the Key Historic Sites

The Chinese Workers in North America Project at Stanford University features an interactive map (2018) that highlights the role of Chinese workers in…

Oral History

Oral History: Oral Histories and Interviews: Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project

The Chinese Workers in North America Project at Stanford University features a collection of video interviews with the descendants of Chinese…

Video

Video: The Chinese Transcontinental Railroad Workers: Asian Americans, Duration: 7:00

The Public Broadcasting Service features a mini-documentary (2021) on Chinese immigrant workers on the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s. The…

Book Excerpt

Book Excerpt: The Industrial Revolution in America: Iron and Steel [Letter Excerpt]

Note: See p. 189.Google Books presents an excerpt from the book, The Industrial Revolution in America, Iron and Steel (2005), edited by Kevin…

Contemporary Article

Contemporary Article: Uncovering and Understanding the Experiences of Chinese Railroad Workers in Broader Socioeconomic Context

Stanford University presents an article (2020) from the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project, by Yong Chen, on the role of Chinese…

Contemporary Article

Contemporary Article: Chinese Railroad Workers Were Almost Written Out of History. Now They're Getting Their Due

The New York Times article (2019), by Karen Zraick, provides a perspective on remembering Chinese immigrant workers' role in American history. The…

Contemporary Article

Article: 150 Years Ago, Chinese Railroad Workers Staged the Era's Largest Labor Strike

NBC News provides a 2017 article, by Chris Fuchs, on the labor strike led by Chinese workers on the Central Pacific Railroad on June 25, 1867. The…

Article

Article: Recovering the Legacy of Chinese Railroad Workers

The New York Times features a article (2019), by Jill Cowan, on the legacy of Chinese workers on the Transcontinental Railroad project in the 1860s.…

Video

Video: What Does it Take to Rectify the History of Chinese Railroad Workers? Duration: 5:21

Newsy provides a video, by Cat Sandoval, on the Chinese railroad workers' contributions to the Transcontinental Railroad and the state of American…

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan: Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project

Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education features four lesson plans for teaching the history of Chinese workers' contributions…

Historical Map

Historical Map: Map of the Union Pacific Railroad and its Connections

ARTSTOR presents a historical map (1868), created by Union Pacific Railroad Company, that shows its route and connections from the western states to…

Historical Illustration

Historical Illustration: Central Pacific Railroad -- Construction P. 18

The University of Utah, Department of Cultural & Community Engagement presents a historical illustration (c. 1876) of Chinese construction workers…

Historical Photograph

Historical Photograph: Central Pacific Railroad -- Constructions P.9

The University of Utah, Department of Cultural & Community Engagement presents a historical photograph (c.1863-1869) of Chinese construction…

Political Cartoon

Political Cartoon: Throwing Down the Ladder By Which They Rose

The New York Public Library features a political cartoon (1870), by artist Thomas Nast, in which White men stand atop a wall and Chinese men stand at…

Historical Letter

Historical Letter: Outgoing correspondence from Robert Ridgway, August 11, 1867

Utah State University presents a handwritten 1867 letter from Denver & Rio Grande Railroad superintendent Robert M. Ridgway to his mother. Ridgway…

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