In the mid-19th century, Chinese laborers began migrating to the United States, including to the state of Oregon. Many of these laborers were from Guangdong, China, and came to the US seeking a means to provide for their families back home. They found work opportunities on the railroad in and around Oregon, including with the Oregon Central “West Side” Line, Central Oregon Railroad, and Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad. Chinese rail workers proved highly skilled and reliable, but due to their nationality, they were paid less and endured longer hours and harsher conditions than their white counterparts.
In this exhibit, you’ll learn about the plight of Chinese rail workers from the mid to late 1800s, the adoption of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, the cultural impact of the Chinese workers in the Oregon area, from food to medicine, and the overall resilience of the laborers.
Track of Resilience was created by University of Oregon Portland student Peiyu Li, as part of the Portland Internship Experience. Peiyu interned at the ORHC during the summer of 2025; this exhibit opened to the public in September 2025. Peiyu is from Guangzhou, China, an area in which many Chinese railroad workers hailed from. This project deepened her understanding of local history and her own Chinese heritage.
