Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Offers Presentation on Oregon’s Chinese Heritage

At 1 p.m. June 3 at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, 1501 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, historical archaeologist Chelsea Rose will provide a public presentation on the archaeology of the Chinese diaspora of Oregon. This free talk will focus on her recent work with the Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project (OCDP), which challenges the historic erasure of Chinese Oregonians in the early history of the state. The presentation is free, but reservations are recommended. To reserve a spot, visit friendsfortvancouver.org. Learn more at nps.gov/fova/learn/news/chelsearose.htm.

The Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project is a multi-agency collaboration that focuses on research and education on early Chinese Oregonians. This grassroots initiative blends public education, research, and local partnerships to preserve and promote Chinese American history. To date, nearly a dozen excavations into small towns, mining sites, and railroad camps have provided invaluable data that has provided a more inclusive history of public lands and the critical yet underrepresented role of Chinese Oregonians in the region’s history. This presentation will describe the project, recent findings, and future directions for this exciting state-wide collaboration.