CRWDA IS BUILDING A MONUMENT
First monument in Utah that commemorates the resilience and perseverance of the Chinese railroad workers at the Utah State Capitol
The Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association (CRWDA) is proud to announce that the State Capitol Grounds Commission has approved our proposal to dedicate a new monument honoring the Chinese railroad workers on the Utah State Capitol grounds.
The monument’s unique and innovative design was created by Porheang Ear. Mr. Ear is an Associate Architect with MJSA Architects and along with MJSA Principal, Mr. Kin Ng, generously donated design assistance to the project as a public service.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
November 7, 2023
This monument will acknowledge the contributions of over 12,000 Chinese railroad workers, whose strength, skills and determination resulted in the completion of the westward portion of the first Transcontinental Railroad in the United States. The completion took place at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869. This final link in the transportation system of the United States opened the West, enriching the entire country through more accessible trade and a fast, inexpensive, reliable system connecting the West Coast to the East Coast. It also opened up the tremendous wealth of foreign trade with the nations bordering the entire Pacific Ocean.
The monument will acknowledge the Asian pioneers of Utah who entered this territory just 12 years after the first LDS pioneers settled in Salt Lake Valley.
DESIGN OF THE MONUMENT
Symbolism
The design and concept of the monument focus on symbolism by utilizing building materials that are indicative of the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
六 – The Number 6
The number six has been selected for its significance to the duration and completion of the railroad as well as an important good luck number for the Chinese people. Hence, the total amount of the building materials is derived from the number six with six layers of material compressed together.
Materials
These materials will consist of two layers each of corten steel, granite, sandstone, bronze, and stainless steel along with the plaque.
Rendering
The corten steel is symbolic in representing the rail line and tools that the workers used. Additionally, as the corten ages, its appearance will alter, symbolizing the history left behind by the individuals who partook in the construction of the railroad.
Right behind it are two natural stones: granite & sandstone which represent the Sierra Nevada Mountain where the construction of the railroad took place.
Lastly, anchoring all these materials together is stainless steel shaped like the state of Utah. It not only symbolizes the toughness of the individuals who worked on the railroad but the location in which it was built and completed. A circular opening on the granite will reveal the stainless steel symbolizing the location of this monument – SLC, UT.
All materials will be fastened together by 4 bolts with the stainless steel acting as the bearing wall by anchoring its L-shape leg into a 6” thick x 12” wide concrete base.
A small plaque will commemorate the actions of the Chinese workers and other immigrants, Native Americans, former slaves, Civil War veterans, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
CRWDA thinks it is important to include Chinese text on the Monument Its inclusion may be the first time a living language other than English has ever been allowed at the Capitol.
We can’t do this without your support on this ambitious project to cover the cost of the construction, installation, and maintenance of this essential monument. All donations are tax-deductible.
Monument Groundbreaking
November 7, 2023
Monument Construction Progress
November 30, 2023
Bronze plaque finished by Metal Arts Foundry Inc.
December 14, 2023
The concrete foundation has been cured and part of the metal and stone components have been installed.
January 2024
March 6, 2024
Donor plaque sent to be constructed
March 14, 2024
Installation of the commemorative main plaque
Thank You to Our Donors for Making the Monument Possible
Gold Sponsor
Union Pacific Foundation
Porheang Ear, MJSA Architecture
Silver Sponsors
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
Golden Spike Foundation
Sammy & Ling Wong
Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement
Bronze Sponsors
ABC Peace Foundation
Alice Fu
Anonymous
Anya Ng Sports Foundation
Benjaman Do, United Fabrication
Chinatown Supermarket
Chinese American Women’s Club of Santa Clara County
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Assoc. of America
Chinese Historical & Cultural Project, San Jose, CA
Chris Sorensen & Qiwei Chen
D. W. Fong Family
David Lam & Jacqueline Yu
Dean & Rise Hirabayashi
Douglas S. Foxley
Eddie & Carina Yee
Esther & Wilson Lee
Faye Mitsunaga & Jim Eng
First Utah Bank
Frank & Elaine Yee
Franklin Mah & Jeannie Young
J. Brian & Joyce Yee Smith
Jayden Joshua Lee
Jin Rong & Susanna Lin Liang
Jo-Ann Wong
Johnson & Li Ju Chin
Joshua Robert Yee
Karen Zhou & Corky Lee
Ken & Chris Lantis
Kirton McConkie
Kitson Yu & Yunie Yun
Leona Lau & Daniel Soo Hoo
Lew & Barb Cramer
Margaret & Bin Yee
Margaret & Sherman Yu
Max & Edee Chang
Ming & Hung Quan Family
Munson & Suellen Kwok
Nancy Lim-Yee
Ocean Mart
Orlance C. Lee & Jessica Mei
Paul W. Chin
Pey Chen & Kaston Wong
Portland Yee Fung Toy Family Association
Salt Lake City Chinese Seniors Support Group
Sherlyn Chew
Sit & Wai Ying Yu
Siu Lin & Pat Santee
Steven Lin & Jenny Ni
Tom & Lauri Welch
United Chinese Americans (UCA)
Utah Senator Karen Kwan
Utah Yee Fung Toy Association, Inc
William Yu & Mei Fang Wu
Willy & Brenda Hee Wong
Yi Shun & Yuk Ling Yee
Yuli Lin & Chuong Nhan
Zions Bank
Friend Sponsors
Cam To, Jessica Chew, Kam Na Chan & Ping Chi Chan, Lily Ung, Saosea Cheang, Sai Mui, Tomoko Moss, Zuchang Zhang, Wu Xu,
劈山开路日铺十哩
华斧神功名垂千秋
Loose translation:
“Cleave the mountain and carve out a way, Lay [they laid] 10 miles of tracks in one day!
Chinese railroad workers had superb railroad building skill, May their good reputation and hard work be remembered still (always)”