How the Chinese built the West

Unless you frequent state railroad museums, you are probably not too familiar with how Chinese Americans helped to expand travel throughout the western United States. You also may not know that there are two Chinese American archeological excavations dating from the late 19th century right here in Nevada. Dr. Sue Fawn Chung, a consultant on these excavation projects, is working on a book about the Chinese American railroad workers and their spin-off careers in other labor intensive fields of work, such as lumbering. Dr. Chung will give a free lecture at 7 p.m. Jan. 8 titled “I’ve Been Workin’ for the Railroad: Chinese Americans and the Building of the America West.” The lecture will be at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, 2180 S. Carson St., Carson City. Call 687-6953.