Chinese-Americans’ contribution to Yosemite National Park recognised in new attraction

The Chinese Laundry Building at Wawona Hotel in the famed US park has been restored and turned into a visitor’s attraction

Many Chinese immigrants in the 1800s helped build critical infrastructure that made tourism to the California park possible

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Officials speak during the dedication of the 1917 Chinese Laundry Building at Wawona in Yosemite National Park, California. A new sign and exhibit were unveiled, formally recognising Chinese-Americans' contributions to the national park's history. Photo: The Fresno Bee/AP

Published: 3:00pm, 3 Oct 2021Updated: 8:57pm, 3 Oct 2021

A century-old building originally used as a laundry by Chinese workers at Yosemite’s iconic Wawona Hotel has been restored and turned into a visitor’s attraction, recognising Chinese Americans’ contributions to the early history of the famed US national park.

Officials unveiled a new sign on Friday marking the Chinese Laundry Building in Yosemite Valley, local media reports said.

New exhibits inside tell the story of Chinese workers who helped build Tioga Road and Wawona Road, critical infrastructure that made tourism to the park possible.

The building – later used as a storage facility – is part of a cluster of structures that will make up the new Yosemite History Centre, which will tell the histories of immigrants who made the park what it is today, said Park Ranger Adam Ramsey.

Yosemite National Park officials and guests cut the ribbon at the dedication ceremony of the restored 1917 Chinese Laundry Building. Photo: AP

“Chinese people have been a big part of communities throughout the Sierra Nevada for a really long time, and it’s about time that we started sharing that history here in Yosemite,” Ramsey said.

According to research conducted by Park Ranger Yenyen Chan, in 1883 Chinese workers helped build the 90km (56 mile) Tioga Road in just 130 days.