Hidden Heritage

Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century large numbers of people from mainland China emigrated to the United States and other countries seeking employment. Termed overseas Chinese they made lasting contributions to the development of early communities an impact which has only begun to be recognized in recent years. Chinatowns rural mining claims work camps for railroad and other construction activities salmon canneries and shrimp camps laundries stores cook shacks cemeteries and temples are only some of the sites where traces of their presence can be found. In recent years numerous archaeological and historical investigations of the overseas Chinese have taken place and Hidden Heritage presents the results of some of those studies.