Lunar New Year Recalls Contributions of Chinese Immigrants to SD
February 17 marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, also referred to as the Chinese New Year, signifying the end of winter and the beginning of spring on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Every year, this date launches a festival lasting 15 days, beginning with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20. Festivities surrounding the date last until the following new moon. Lunar New Year is celebrated in China and Chinese communities around the world, and while one might not think this would be relevant to South Dakota, the history of Chinese immigrants to our state is notable and their contributions to the successful growth of its success cannot be overstated.
Although not the typical group that comes to mind when thinking of the Old West, history indicates that the late 19th-century gold rush shaped the town of Deadwood…and much of that development was due in large part to a sizable Chinese immigrant population. By the 1880’s, these early residents provided vital services through the operation of a number of businesses – restaurants, laundries, and mercantile stores – and formed the largest Chinatown east of San Francisco. Moreover, the building of the Central Pacific line of the first transcontinental railroad was successfully completed in no small part by nearly 15,000 Chinese men; however, the discrimination and intolerance they faced is indicated by their omission from the 1869 photo documenting the completion of the effort to join the East and the West by rail.
While their presence in Deadwood was not without considerable levels of discrimination and xenophobia, Chinese immigrants to the city and its surrounding area maintained and celebrated their unique culture. While an active, residential Chinatown no longer exists in Deadwood, and most buildings dating back to that era are gone, the city commemorates this rich cultural history through historical sites and archaeological projects. In addition, in June 2025, a bronze statue honoring Chinese businessman and pioneer Wong Fee Lee (also known as Wing Tsue) was unveiled at the site of his original business in the historic Chinatown district on the lower end of Main Street.
As a new lunar year begins, SDHC is proud to acknowledge and commemorate the invaluable contributions of Chinese immigrants to the earliest days of our state. If your book club or organization is interested in learning more about the history of the Chinese in the Black Hills, SDHC invites you check out one of the books in our Lending Library, entitled “Ethnic Oasis” by Liping Zhu and Rose Estep Fosha. A limited number of loaned copies are available via our Book Club to Go program at https://sdhumanities.org/book-club-to-go/