Groundbreaking ceremony held for Utah’s first monument honoring Chinese railroad workers on Nov. 7, 2023. (KUTV)
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Construction has begun for Utah’s first monument honoring Chinese railroad workers.
The Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association broke ground for the monument at the Utah State Capitol on Tuesday.
They said the monument will “acknowledge the contributions of over 11,000 Chinese railroad workers, whose strength, skills, and determination resulted in completing the westward portion of the first Transcontinental Railroad in the United States.”
CRWDA members shared they believe the monument will act as a reminder of “the pivotal role Asian immigrants played in constructing our great nation.”
Designer Porheang Ear also included a plaque with the monument to pay tribute to Chinese workers, immigrants, Native Americans, former slaves, Civil War veterans, and Latter-day Saint Church members who played a role in its completion.
Speakers at the event included Senator Karen Kwan, president and CEO of the CRWDA; Margaret Yee, chairwoman of the CRWDA; Board members of the Golden Spike Foundation; Descendants of Chinese transcontinental railroad workers; and other community leaders.