Finding Asian American History in Washington, DC
These highlighted sites are among those researched for DC’s first Asian American Historical Context Statement, a project produced by the 1882 Foundation for the DC Historic Preservation Office and the DC Preservation League through funding from the National Park Service’s Underrepresented Communities Grant Fund.
These sites provide only a small glimpse into the range of places where Asian Americans have lived, gathered, and built community in the city for more than a century—against the backdrop of turbulent geopolitical shifts, as well as over half a century of US immigration policy that excluded Asians.
For more information on Asian American history in DC, see the "Further Resources" stop of this tour.
Sites 19
Finding Asian American History: Union Market Shops
Union Market, previously Florida Market, has been supplying food products to DC residents since 1931. From the 1970s to the 1990s, a majority of the market was run by Asian immigrants who also started…
Finding Asian American History: The Chinese Lantern Restaurant
The Chinese Lantern restaurant was opened near Union Station in 1928 by Sam J. Chan. Originally located at 7 F Street, the restaurant moved across F Street to 14 F Street NW around 1946. During the…
Finding Asian American History: Manila House
Manila House was purchased by the Visayan Circle in 1937. It served as a boarding house and gathering place for cab drivers, students, writers, musicians, soldiers, and Philippine government workers…
Finding Asian American History: American Fazl Mosque
The American Fazl Mosque was established by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1950. A converted house, the building was selected and acquired through the assistance of Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan…
Finding Asian American History: Shogo Myaida (Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens)
This Japanese-style garden is part of the eclectic landscape surrounding the former residence of Marjorie Merriweather Post. The garden, redesigned by Shogo Myaida (1897-1988) in the 1950s, is a…
Finding Asian American History: American University Cherry Trees
In 1943, Syngman Rhee, who would later become the first president of South Korea after World War II, worked with American University president Paul F. Douglass, to plant Korean cherry trees on the…
Finding Asian American History: Washon Ye Headstone
Washon Ye, was reportedly the first Korean to be born in the US (October 12, 1890). The son of Ye Cha Yun (이채연), the fourth minister to the Korean Legation in DC, Washon was named for his birth city…
Finding Asian American History: Korean Commission at the Continental Trust Building
The Korean Commission office was located on the ninth floor of the Continental Trust Building from 1919 into the mid-1920s. It was established by Syngman Rhee to coordinate fundraising and to lobby…
Finding Asian American History: Korean Church in Washington (Foundry Methodist Church)
The Korean Church in Washington, the first such Christian congregation in DC, met weekly in Foundry's Ball Memorial Chapel for 27 years. Established in 1951 with several dozen congregants (most of…
Old Korean Legation: The Old Korean Legation, an important symbol of Korea's sovereignty and independence, is a prominent Second Empire style building located on Logan Circle.
The Old Korean Legation, prominently located on the north side of Logan Circle, was initially a private residence designed by Thomas M. Plowman in the Second Empire style and constructed by Joseph…
Finding Asian American History: Range 99 at Congressional Cemetery
From 1896 to 1936, nearly 100 Chinese were buried in this cemetery. They were among the first migrants from China to DC, and their remains were later exhumed according to Chinese traditions and…
Old Chinese Legation: The Old Chinese Legation was only the second purpose-built legation in Washington, DC.
Located at the corner of 19th and Vernon streets NW, the Old Chinese Legation was only the second purpose-built legation (after the British Embassy) in Washington, DC. The old British Embassy on…
Sofia Reyes de Veyra Residence: This house holds historic significance as the only extant property in Washington associated with Sofia Reyes de Veyra, a well-known Filipina suffragist.
The Sofia Reyes de Veyra Residence was constructed in 1909 and was occupied by Sofia and her husband Jaime Carlos de Veyra from 1917 to 1919. The house was built in a Colonial Revival style with…
Finding Asian American History and Historic Chinatown Tours: Da Hsin Company
Da Hsin Company began operating at this site in the 1980s and provides Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) services in addition to selling homewares, gifts, and dry goods. The TCM counter sells…
On Leong Chinese Merchants Association: The On Leong Chinese Merchants Association building, with its Chinese Eclectic architecture, is a landmark of DC's Chinatown.
The On Leong Chinese Merchants Association building is significant as the long-time home of On Leong Tong (from 1932 to 1997), the city’s preeminent Chinese benevolent association. Mutal aid…
Finding Asian American History and Historic Chinatown Tours: Wah Luck House
The Wah Luck House was designed by Alfred H. Liu and built in 1982, making it one of the oldest affordable housing complexes in Chinatown. It is home to the most densely concentrated group of Chinese…
Finding Asian American History and Historic Chinatown Tours: Temple of Cun Yum
The Temple of Cun Yum relocated to this building in the late 1990s from its original location on the 4th floor of the former Golden Palace Restaurant on 7th Street NW. The Temple is rooted in Chinese…
Finding Asian American History: Chinese Community Church
The Chinese Community Church (CCC), established in 1935, is the oldest church dedicated to serving the Chinese community of DC.
Finding Asian American History: Further Resources
This tour was curated by the 1882 Foundation in collaboration with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and the University of Maryland Historic Preservation Program. Access their…Tour curated by: The 1882 Foundation in collaboration with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and the University of Maryland Historic Preservation Program | The map contains information and assets adapted from content that has been researched and produced by: Nuria Benitez, Gabi Chu, Ella Hankins, Wei Gan, Ted Gong, Sojin Kim, Grace Dahye Kwon, Christine Han, Keani Lei Lee, Jenn Low, Emma Chunhua Lucier-Keller, Maliha Luqman, Michelle Magalong, Audrey Meigs, Mia Owens, Claudia Vinci, Mengshu Ye, Karen Yee, Jenny Yi Project advisors: Harry Chow, Jack Lee, Penny Lee, Samir Meghelli, Phil Nash, Franklin Odo, Julie Park, Tony Sarmiento Richard Wong, Shirley and Walter Woo. This tour was uploaded to the site and is managed by the DC Preservation League. To contact the organization, email info@dcpreservation.org.