Seattle, Washington story
A Community's Foundation
Imagine 170 pioneers, all working together toward a single dream. In 1910, these early Chinese American pioneers pooled their resources to build the East and West Kong Yick Buildi…
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Imagine 170 pioneers, all working together toward a single dream. In 1910, these early Chinese American pioneers pooled their resources to build the East and West Kong Yick Buildings. This wasn't just a real estate venture; it was the creation of a new Chinatown.
The East Kong Yick Building, also known as the Freeman Hotel, became a vital cultural hub, offering retail at ground level with lodging and social meeting rooms above. For years before World War Two, it served as a sanctuary and home for immigrant communities. Today, that spirit of preservation continues.
After being reconstructed in 2008, the building now houses the Wing Luke Asian Museum, a National Heritage Site that keeps those pioneer stories alive for every visitor who walks through its doors.
Updated June 2026