McCarron is a faculty fellow with the Center for Irish and American Studies at New York University. Tuesday at the Rio Grande Depot in Salt Lake City.
This year, in fact, will celebrate the launch of the New York University's "Irish Railroad Workers in North America Project," to gather more information on this nexus between the Irish and trains.īarry McCarron will elaborate in an event that begins with traditional Irish music and appetizers at 5:30 p.m. The Irish, too, are unraveling their story in the epic, West-changing accomplishment. Merritt said Chinese history and descendant associations have organized and tried hard to tell the story of the role of the Chinese in the transcontinental railroad. On Thursday through Saturday, "Crossroads of the West, Connections of the Oceans," is happening at the Little America Ballroom with a shoutout to the workers during the U.S.-China Summit on Education, Innovation, Trade and Business.Ī Stanford University professor, Shelley Fishkin, will provide details of a collaborative, transnational and bilingual research project on Chinese workers during a presentation from 6 p.m. This year, multiple events and exhibits celebrate the Chinese workers' role in the historic feat, acknowledging that 600 miles of the most hazardous part of the Central Pacific route was mainly built by the thousands of the men brought in to fill a labor void.Ĭui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the United States, will give remarks via video at Friday's ceremony - a telling point in the recognition of sacrifice.
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The leader of the Chinese historical society was slated to speak at that year's commemoration, but was bumped in favor of a speech by movie actor John Wayne. "I think what you are seeing for the 150th anniversary celebration is a true recognition of the largely immigrant labor that constructed the transcontinental railroad," he said.įifty years ago, it was a different story, Merritt said. Merritt said Utah is proudly home to the country's largest Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association, which is active in this year's celebration.
"It's been a long time coming to get to the recognition for their contribution from these workers." "This year is fixing a lot of historical slights," he said. And when they got here, of course, they were met with prejudice and bigotry."Ĭhris Merritt, Utah's deputy state historic preservation officer, believes this year's celebration will rightfully, finally shine the light on the transcontinental railroad workers, and begin to pay homage where it was earned. They were economic migrants who came to this country seeking a better life. "They were political asylum-seekers, really. They were refugees," said Gerald McDonough, of the Hibernian Society of Utah. "One point I think should be given some attention is that the Irish and the Chinese were fleeing civil war, persecution, political turmoil, unemployment and famine.
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