John Day in Grant County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Kam Wah Chung Company Building

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2016

1. Kam Wah Chung Company Building Marker

Inscription.
Has Been Designated a
National Historic Landmark

This property possesses national significance
in commemorating the history of the
United States of America

Kam Wah Chung Company Building is the best and earliest known example of a Chinese Mercantile and Herb Store in the United States. This property is significant for its association with Chinese immigrants in the development of the American West.

Erected 2006 by National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Chinese Heritage Sites of the American West, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists.

Location. 44° 25.123′ N, 118° 57.412′ W. Marker is in John Day, Oregon, in Grant County. Marker can be reached from Ing-Hay Way north of NW Canton Street, on the left when traveling north. This is a National Historic Landmark Plaque mounted directly on the subject building. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: John Day OR 97845, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles

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of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Welcome to Kam Wah Chung (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civilian Conservation Corps (about 600 feet away); John Day/Canyon City (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Advent Christian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Adventist Christian Church (approx. ¼ mile away); As told by an old timer (approx. 2 miles away); Welcome To Canyon City (approx. 2.1 miles away); Canyon City Mural (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in John Day.

More about this marker. The Kam Wah Chung Company Building is located in the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site, at the north end of Ing-Hay Way, north of the intersection with NW Canton Street

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . John Day’s Chinese Heritage.
John Day had the largest Chinese community in eastern Oregon (between 500 and 600 residents) when Ing “Doc” Hay and Lung On arrived in town from San Francisco in 1887. The young Cantonese men, both in their mid-20s, bought a one-story trading post and the following year opened Kam Wah Chung and Company (“The Golden Flower of Prosperity”) as a general store and medical clinic. For many years, Kam Wah Chung was a social center for the Chinese community, even as the Asian population went into rapid

Kam Wah Chung Company Building (<i>wide view; marker visible right of door</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2016

2. Kam Wah Chung Company Building (wide view; marker visible right of door)

decline. The area economy shifted from mining to livestock ranching and agriculture, and fewer than 100 Chinese remained in John Day by 1910. (Submitted on January 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Kam Wah Chung Company Building Entrance (<i>marker visible right of door</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2016

3. Kam Wah Chung Company Building Entrance (marker visible right of door)

Kam Wah Chung Company Building - National Register of Historic Places Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2016

4. Kam Wah Chung Company Building - National Register of Historic Places Plaque

Kam Wah Chung Company Building (<i>corner view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2016

5. Kam Wah Chung Company Building (corner view)

Kam Wah Chung Company Building (<i>back view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2016

6. Kam Wah Chung Company Building (back view)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 229 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.