Rural Chinatowns and Hidden Sites Conference

The 1882 Foundation and the Utah State Historic Preservation Office are pleased to cosponsor a dynamic exploration of rural settlements developed by Chinese workers throughout the United States. Contributing sponsors include the Bureau of Land Management-Utah, the Church History Department of the LDS Church, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association. Scholars from diverse fields and preservation and museum professionals will explain their research and programs. The conference is intended as a place to make connections!

Conference Focus

The overarching theme is “American Chinatowns in remote places.” Aspects that will be explored include the histories of rural Chinatowns across the US; differences between urban and rural Chinatowns; challenges experienced in these rural communities; family and community issues; and social structures and links to other communities—including non-Chinese ethnic groups, Native American tribes, and other Chinatowns. The place of rural Chinatowns in historic preservation, museum, and historic site programs will be explored.

The conference will include on-site paper sessions, panel discussions, and storytelling. For those interested in coming a day early, staff of the FamilySearch Library will provide an orientation to the library’s resources and a tour of the facility—with a focus on Asian resources. Two tours will be offered; attenders must pick one. Terrace, Utah, is a ghost town that provides an excellent case study of rural Chinese communities. The Golden Spike National Historical Park provides a close look at the site where the transcontinental railroad was completed. The intended audience for the conference are scholars, preservationists, museum professionals, descendants of occupants of these rural enclaves, and anyone interested in this fascinating history.

Conference Venue and Accommodations

All paper sessions will be held at the FamilySearch Library at 35 North West Temple Street. The conference hotel is the Salt Lake Plaza SureStay Hotel, nearby at 122 West South Temple. When booking a room, please mention that you're attending the Rural Chinatowns and Hidden Sites conference at the FamilySearch Library.

If you are planning to stay at the Salt Lake Plaza SureStay Hotel, you can receive a conference discount through the following link: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.53045.html?groupId=T85KH3P6.

Deadline for booking a room at the Salt Lake Plaza SureStay Hotel at the conference discount rate is May 31, 2024.

Registration Cost

Registration for this conference is $250 per person.

An optional tour can be added to your registration for $60. Participants will have a choice between a tour of the Terrace ghost town or of Golden Spike National Park. These tours will happen concurrently, and participants will not be able to attend both. The tours will take place on Thursday, June 20.

Deadline for conference registration is May 31, 2024.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at the following email address: ruralchinatown@1882foundation.org.