This historic context study is part of a larger investigation of the Asian American experience and impact in Washington, DC.

The Chinese community’s influence on the built world is apparent in the development of social and mutual aid institutions, trade associations (tongs),  restaurants and laundries, and religious spaces. While contemporary Chinatown is now not home to as large a Chinese American population as before, the community’s history of advocacy and mobilization has maintained its commercial and cultural importance for decades. This study led to the nomination of the Old Chinese Legation to the National Register of Historic Places and to an amendment of the status of the On Leong Merchant’s Association.

This material was produced with assistance from the Underrepresented Communities Grant Program from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Explore a StoryMap of this history to learn more.