Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park
Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park is a place for healing. It was built to bridge differences between people and cultures and create an inclusive space for all. The Park’s design and landscaping embody these intentions by using symbols, artworks, and architecture that represent the rich heritage of China’s history.
The Park is located on an undeveloped piece of land just outside downtown Tacoma, and it occupies six acres. There are two main sections: the Monument Garden area with its monuments to those who died due to racist actions; and the Pavilion Area, which sits atop a scenic bluff. The monument garden has four major elements:
- An obelisk that names all Chinese immigrants and workers killed during anti-Chinese violence in 1885 and 1886.
- Presidio Chief Officer John C. Hays planted two giant redwood trees, marking where 19 bodies were found after one such attack.
- A circular stone platform topped by three bronze figures representing peace for China, justice for America, and a vision for both nations’ future.
- A wall engraved with the names of businesses that were destroyed during the anti-Chinese riots.
The Park’s Pavilion Area contains artwork created by Chinese artist Guo Wei, whose sculptures consist mainly of wire mesh in shapes such as squares and circles. They represent incarceration cells or birdcages to symbolize how immigrants felt when they came to America but didn’t know their rights or language skills. The area also has other art pieces from other artists, including ceramic tiles depicting 19th-century market scenes on three walls inside an old brick building used for segregating prisoners based on race. Several large stone slabs are placed throughout the site inscribed with poems written by community members along with quotes about racism from people like Martin Luther King Jr.
Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park was built in 1998, and it’s still a place of peace for many members of the Tacoma community today. It also offers educational opportunities to share its history with current generations to learn from past mistakes while striving towards future change-making moments together as one people, united by their love for each other despite cultural differences. Projects are often held at the Park where younger students get together with older mentors who teach them about historical events like anti-Chinese violence through stories along with arts & crafts, which helps build bonds between different age groups and cultures in society all across America because everyone deserves to feel safe and accepted wherever they go whether it be school or work others places too.
About the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park
For more than 150 years, the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park has been a place of healing and reconciliation. In 1856, President Fillmore signed an act that excluded all people of Chinese descent from citizenship rights in America. This was soon followed by anti-Chinese riots throughout the northwest United States. Forced to pay taxes while prohibited from owning land or receiving any benefits afforded to other citizens, some members of Seattle’s small Chinese community began purchasing property outside city limits where they could live without fear of attacks on their families and communities. Many purchased homes near two areas known as King Hill (now known as Puyallup) and Alki Point (the future location for this Park). The latter group would later be forcibly removed from their homes and the property they had purchased.
In 1885, Tacoma passed a resolution to prevent all Chinese from settling in its city limits. In 1888, despite being citizens of the United States with legally protected rights, many Chinese were driven out by a mob that ransacked their properties without cause or warning. With little recourse for justice available through legal means at the time, these events would become known as “the Chinatown Expulsion” among Seattle’s existing community members who later settled here in Tacoma after being forced from their communities throughout King County (now including areas like Bellevue). This Park is located on land once owned by one such family; upon hearing news of an impending eviction due to anti-Chinese sentiment within his community, the patriarch of this family committed suicide to spare his children from firsthand their displacement.
In 2010, a new chapter in Tacoma’s history began when local citizens and city officials developed plans for an official reconciliation park. Today, visitors can find a memorial dedicated to those who suffered or lost their lives during these tragic events while walking through the peaceful gardens that surround it. This well-maintained public Park also contains pathways leading up to two critical historical sites. Seattle’s Chinatown once stood, while another marks its original spot at Alki Point (now known as DuPont Park). Families visiting this location will enjoy seeing many plant species found growing within traditional Chinese medicinal practices and those associated with Buddhist and Taoist traditions.
Facts about the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park
A place for healing. A park in Tacoma symbolizes reconciliation; after one hundred and fifty Chinese immigrants were killed, an explosion on the steamship “Dollar” carried them across Puget Sound in 1873. They had gone to Seattle with high hopes but low prospects. This week marks 150 years since the tragedy occurred, which has been called America’s worst mass lynching at sea Of Asian Americans have come together to commemorate this event by building a memorial park for those who died from their struggles.
In 1996, Mary Ma led local groups such as American Citizens Coalition Against Hate Crimes Project, Rights Working Group, and others joined forces with community members from all ethnicities towards creating it. The idea of the Park was to include a memorial garden and an open amphitheater providing opportunities for cultural performances. It would also serve as a place for educational and cultural activities. The Park is in Tacoma’s historic district, which was once known to be Chinatown in 1892. Today it still has Chinese-style architecture, but this tragedy remains unknown by most people living nearby.
What To See at Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park?
The Park offers an array of amenities, including picnic tables, swings for kids to enjoy, green areas to explore, and plenty more. The Park also features ornamental trees planted in rows that make this area truly beautiful. Most importantly, though, its location makes it easy to get to!
The Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park houses several significant memorials worth your time, but the most captivating site is the Memorial Wall. With over 800 names on its list, this wall commemorates all who died in Washington State during World War II because of their race or ethnicity. It has been said that there were at least 150 more casualties that went unrecognized and therefore did not make it onto the list. Names include Japanese-American citizens as well as Italian merchant marines.
There are also other individual stones with no official name listed to remember others whose lives were lost for reasons unknown to us today, including soldiers from Japan killed while fighting for countries like China and Russia against Germany WWII. The Park was built on some of the first land ever owned by Chinese Americans in Washington state.
The land was initially purchased in 1890 by a group of Chinese immigrants, and it is now home to the Park and two other significant landmarks: one being the James Wong house, which has been moved from its original location on Market Street. The other landmark is known as Hon Kong Temple or Old Chong Wa Benevolent Association Hall. This building once stood at 12th & Jefferson Avenue, but after years of neglect fell into disrepair until restoration began in 2008 with plans to have it back up looking brand new before 2010.
The Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park should be visited by everyone who lives within driving distance! It’s genuinely a fantastic place that offers so much more than just history lessons about what took place during World War II, including pieces of Chinese culture that are truly fascinating. It’s a place where you can go to be inspired, learn more about someone else’s life story, and even reflect on the way your own family has been affected by war in some capacity or another. You don’t want to miss this Park!
Activities in Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park
The Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park offers activities for everyone to enjoy. The Park features a museum, garden, and pavilion that attracts tourists from around the world. Visitors can take in the beauty of the history surrounding them while enjoying various events throughout the year, including an annual Heritage Festival.
The Park also offers educational opportunities for children and adults alike. Visitors can participate in tours, history lessons, arts & crafts workshops, and more! The Park is open to the year-round public Monday-Friday from dawn till dusk. There are fees associated with some of the activities, but they’re usually minimal, so you don’t have too much worry about that while visiting there.
Do not forget to visit Hon Kong Temple or Old Chong Wa Benevolent Association Hall if you get a chance while touring this area either! This building used to stand where the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park now resides after being moved from its original location on Market Street.
Other popular attractions at this beautiful historical landmark include traditional dancing, martial arts demonstrations, qigong classes, kung fu lessons, and Tai Chi exercises. If you are interested in learning more about China’s rich heritage or sharing your own experiences with others, then visit today!
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