Reclaiming and Activating Chinese American Heritage in Wyoming

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Activating Heritage: Encouraging Substantive Practices for a Just Future" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Rock Springs Chinatown in Wyoming was the site of the 1885 Chinese Massacre, where a white mob murdered 28 Chinese coal miners. Survivors took refuge at the Evanston Chinatown, approximately 100 miles west. While archaeological research led by Dudley Gardner has been ongoing at both Chinatowns for over three decades, Gardner and his team have also worked on heritage-related projects such as memorials, collaborating on the reconstruction of the Evanston Chinese temple, and putting together a National Historic Landmark nomination for both the Rock Springs and Evanston Chinatowns. Recently, archaeologists have begun identifying descendants to begin a new phase of collaborative research. Preliminary discussions with descendants indicate that they are interested in using the archaeological sites as staging grounds for reunions, commemorative events, art, and activism in order to (1) highlight the 1885 Chinese massacre, which has been silenced in local and national histories, (2) facilitate the commemoration of transnational family histories which often post-date the massacre, and (3) provide an opportunity for descendants to speak about their own experiences with racism. Archaeological sites such as the Wyoming Chinatowns are important venues for descendants to reclaim their histories and for the wider public to participate in social change.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Activating Heritage: Encouraging Substantive Practices for a Just Future   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39181.0