Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, Asian Pacific American museum in Chinatown International District, Seattle, USA.
The Wing Luke Museum is a museum dedicated to Asian and Pacific Islander history and culture in Seattle, located in the Chinatown International District. The collection holds over 18,000 items including artwork, historical photographs, personal documents, and books that tell the stories of roughly 26 different Asian Pacific groups.
The museum was founded in 1967 as the first institution in the United States to focus specifically on Asian Pacific American history. It moved to the East Kong Yick Building in 2008, a historic structure that itself holds deep meaning for these communities.
The museum works closely with different Asian Pacific communities to shape exhibitions that show their stories and points of view. This collaboration is visible in spaces where local groups and residents have had a direct hand in deciding what is displayed.
Plan to spend time exploring the exhibitions and consider joining guided tours of the neighborhood if interested in learning more about the area. Regular programs and activities require advance planning, so it helps to check ahead about what is happening during your visit.
The museum preserves original rooms within the building, including a residence from Canton Alley and offices of a historic association, offering direct glimpses into how residents lived in the past. These kept spaces let visitors experience history firsthand rather than simply reading about it.
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