Chinatown in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Ping On Alley
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 16, 2021
1. Ping On Alley Marker
In 1989 Oliver Place was renamed Ping On Alley, "Alley of Peace and Security, in honor of Boston's first Chinese immigrants. They pitched their tents here beginning in 1875, and since that time this site has been central to the lives of a growing Chinese community.
Until the 1950s, a communal roasting oven, used by residents and restaurants, was located here.
Erected by The Bostonian Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1989.
Location. 42° 21.15′ N, 71° 3.609′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in Chinatown. It is at the intersection of Ping On Alley and Essex Street, on the left when traveling north on Ping On Alley. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Boston MA 02111, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Massachusetts’ Historic Boston. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mary Soo Hoo Park on the Greenway (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Chinatown Gateway (about 500 feet away); Auntie Kay and Uncle Frank Chin Park on the Greenway (about 500 feet away); Tiananmen Memorial (about 600 feet away); Liberty Tree Block
this page online
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 16, 2021
2. Ping On Alley Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 2,112 times since then and 134 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 1, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.
