In May 1869, as the golden spike was driven into the final rail of America’s first Transcontinental Railroad, marking a historic moment that symbolized progress and unity, a painful omission cast a long shadow over the celebration. The Chinese laborers who had built the most treacherous stretches of the Central Pacific Railroad were nowhere to…
Discover how Wuyi Chinese laborers built the Transcontinental Railroad—then were erased from history in an enduring act of racial exclusion.
Between 1865 and 1890, over 1,200 Chinese laborers worked on Montana’s railroads, including the Northern Pacific Railway. Most were young men from Taishan and Kaiping in Guangdong’s Wuyi region, recruited through clan networks to replace Irish crews deemed too costly. These men left their families behind, hoping to earn enough to send money home or…
Step into the Taishan Overseas Chinese Culture Museum, and you’ll find more than just artifacts—you’ll find pieces of your story. From the tearful goodbyes at Guanghai Port to the inspiring legacy of the Sunning Railway, this museum brings to life the struggles, sacrifices, and triumphs of the Taishanese diaspora. Whether you’re reconnecting with your roots…

