When Oregon became a state in 1859, it was already the home of both indigenous people and many others who had arrived from all over the world. French Canadians had been around since the fur traders and missionaries arrived in the early 1800s, the British came on the scene in during the War of 1812, and the Oregon Trail introduced thousands to the Pacific Northwest.
Chinese immigrants arrived on the west coast in the late 1800s, and by 1887 the town of John Day, Oregon was home to the third largest Chinatown in the country. The town’s rich history is preserved at the Kam Wah Chung Heritage Site, and you’ll want to keep scrolling to learn all about it.
More than 1,000 Chinese immigrants lived in John Day in the late 1800s, and Kam Wah Chung was a staple of the community, as a trading post and stage stop.
Oregon State Parks
In 1887, Ing Hay and Lung On partnered to purchase the Kam Wah Chung building, and they turned it into a dry goods store and Chinese pharmacy.
Oregon State Parks
Both men were born in the Guangdong Province of China, and were well-educated. Each had an important role in the business.
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Lung On ran the dry goods side of things, importing products that the Chinese residents of John Day craved. Mr. On was fluent in English, which made it easier for him to conduct trade between his native land and new home.
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Ing Hay quickly gained a reputation as a skilled herbalist. Both Chinese and non-Chinese folks sought out his advice and medications. He was known as “Dr. Hay.”
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The building also served as a home for Hay and On and their families.
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The Kam Wah Chung building included seven rooms, with space for the apothecary, general store, two bedrooms, a bunk room, a kitchen, and a storage room.
Oregon State Parks
The building has been carefully preserved, with hundreds of items on the shelves, as if frozen in time.
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During your visit, you’ll also want to pop into the Interpretive Center, where you’ll find a treasure trove of historic artifacts, as well as one of the largest collections of Chinese documents in the country.
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The Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Center is open from May through October, and offers free guided tours.
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Learn more about the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site on its website. Have you visited this special place of preserved history? Tell our readers about your visit in our comments!
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Address: 125 NW Canton St, John Day, OR 97845, USA
