Canyon Country near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Chinese Railroad Workers
On this centennial we honor over three thousand Chinese who helped build the Southern Pacific Railroad and the San Fernando Tunnel. Their labor gave California the first north-south railway, changing the state’s history.
Erected 1976 by Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Chinese Heritage Sites of the American West series list.
Location. 34° 24.777′ N, 118° 26.063′ W. Marker is near Santa Clarita, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Canyon Country. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Vista Canyon Road and Mitchell Drive. Located at the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27550½ Vista Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita CA 91390, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. In Honor of All Chinese Railroad Workers (here, next to this marker); Lang Station (here, next to this marker); Walker Ranch (approx. 2.6 miles away); White Oil Seep (approx. 2.7 miles away); The Walker Cabin (approx. 3.1 miles away); Oil in Placerita Canyon (approx. 3.2 miles away); Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 3.3 miles away); a different marker also named Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Clarita.
Regarding Chinese Railroad Workers. Facing poverty and civil war at home, laborers from Guangdong Province in China left home to make a living to support their families. Chinese railroad laborers were the first wave of Chinese immigrants in the United States and were recruited by railroad labor contractors to do dangerous and difficult jobs. The contributions of these workers to the completion of the railroads was mostly ignored by historical records.
Google Translation of the Chinese characters on the plaque:
California Train North-South Highway
The spirit of learning music and blood sacrifice
Also see . . . Chinese Transcontinental Railroad Workers. Encyclopedia.com website entry (Submitted on July 3, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 554 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 19, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5, 6. submitted on May 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.