California Trail Interpretive Center announces reception for temporary exhibit: “The Forgotten: The Chinese and the Transcontinental Railroad”
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ELKO, Nev. – The California Trail Interpretive Center is hosting a reception for its new temporary exhibit, “The Forgotten: The Chinese and the Transcontinental Railroad.”
The free reception will take place April 19, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will include hors d'oeuvres, deserts and coffee.
“The Forgotten” shares the story of Chinese workers and their contributions to the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad.
About 90 percent of the Central Pacific’s workers, or 12,000 employees, were not American citizens, but instead immigrants and migrant workers from China. This year designates the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, when the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific joined in Utah.
“When people consider multicultural contributions to the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, they may think of Irish work crews,” said Supervisory Park Ranger Alex Rose. “This exhibit recognizes the contributions of the forgotten: the thousands of Chinese workers that built the most challenging and backbreaking section of the Transcontinental Railroad.”
Park Ranger Greg Feathers created the exhibit. Feathers will provide a short talk about the inspiration and creation of the exhibit.
“The Forgotten” includes historic photos from the Library of Congress and the Northeastern Nevada Museum.
The Trail Center acknowledges the Northeastern Nevada Museum and the Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum for their contributions to the exhibit, along with Artist Li Chin of Carlin. Chin contributed seven paintings of Chinese characters. Refreshments are provided by a Trail Center partner, the Southern Nevada Conservancy.
The California Trail Interpretive Center is located eight miles west of Elko on I-80, Hunter exit 292. The Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.