Seattle, Washington story
A Community's Cornerstone
In 1910, 170 Chinese American pioneers did something remarkable: they pooled their resources to build a future for their community. The result was the East Kong Yick Building, a f…
Read the story
In 1910, 170 Chinese American pioneers did something remarkable: they pooled their resources to build a future for their community. The result was the East Kong Yick Building, a four-story structure designed with retail on the ground level and hotel space above. Also known as the Freeman Hotel, it served as a cultural hub and lodging for immigrant communities before World War II, featuring social meeting rooms and apartments.
Today, it's a National Heritage Site and the home of the Wing Luke Museum, having been reconstructed in 2008 to keep that history alive. It stands as one of the most significant Asian Pacific American historic sites in the entire country.
Updated June 2026