Baker City in Baker County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Baker City Chinese History

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 29, 2017

1. Baker City Chinese History Marker

Inscription. Chinese were prominent working on railroads & gold mines in Baker County. The Baker City Chinatown was located by Powder River on Auburn Avenue where a Joss House was built in 1883. Chinese gardens on the east bank of Powder River between Springarden & Valley Ave were extensive. Working hard & living frugally they saved money to send home to family. They were subjected to all kinds of discrimination by law and excluded from the ballot box and witness stand in court. Thus Chinese were forced to labor as laundrymen, cooks, shepherds, & gardeners. Burials here were from 1880 to 1940. Remains were temporarily buried, bones exhumed, purified, returned to families in China, mostly Kwangtung Province as religious dictates required.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. In addition, it is included in the Chinese Heritage Sites of the American West series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 44° 46.932′ N, 117° 48.474′ W. Marker is in Baker City, Oregon, in Baker County. It is on Windmill Road near Campbell Street,

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on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Baker City OR 97814, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Oregon.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chinese Shrine (within shouting distance of this marker); Baker (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Oregon Trail (approx. ¼ mile away); McCord House and Shop (approx. 1.1 miles away); Gwilliam Brothers Bakery (approx. 1.1 miles away); Bishop Building (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Masonic Temple (approx. 1.1 miles away); Basche-Sage Hardware Co. Building (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baker City.

More about this marker. The marker is located at the Chinese Cemetery.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 29, 2017

2. Baker City Chinese History Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 953 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 10, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.