Seattle, Washington story
A Community's Foundation
Imagine 170 Chinese American pioneers, all pooling their resources for a single goal. In 1910, this collective effort created the East and West Kong Yick Buildings, establishing t…
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Imagine 170 Chinese American pioneers, all pooling their resources for a single goal. In 1910, this collective effort created the East and West Kong Yick Buildings, establishing the center of a new Chinatown. The East Kong Yick Building was designed as a four-story hub, featuring retail on the ground floor with hotel space and apartments above.
Known for a time as the Freeman Hotel, it served as a vital cultural center and lodging for immigrant communities leading up to World War II. Today, the legacy of those early pioneers continues in a new form. In May 2008, the building was reconstructed and reopened as the expanded Wing Luke Asian Museum.
Now designated as a National Heritage Site, it stands as one of the most significant Asian Pacific American historic sites in the entire country.
Updated June 2026