Kam Wah Chung Company Building, Chinese heritage museum in John Day, Oregon

The Kam Wah Chung Company Building is a well-preserved 19th-century structure that combined a clinic, shop, and living quarters for Chinese merchants and doctors. The seven rooms contain original furnishings, thousands of herbs stored in wooden drawers and glass containers, and personal belongings that document daily life and work.

The building began in 1865 as a supply depot and was transformed in 1887 into a clinic and store run by Ing Hay and Lung On. It became a vital resource for the Chinese population during the gold rush era in eastern Oregon.

This building was the hub of the Chinese community in John Day, serving as a gathering place for merchants and patients alike. The rooms reveal how Chinese immigrants maintained their traditions, language, and trade networks in this remote part of the American West.

The visit is straightforward since all rooms are on one level and the collection is easy to navigate at your own pace. Allow time to examine the medicinal herbs and merchandise closely, especially if you are interested in historical healing practices.

Ing Hay died in 1952, not 1948, and the building then sat abandoned until 1967, when the city rediscovered that he had deeded it to John Day on condition it become a museum. The collection includes the company's records and the proprietors' personal documents, which the city still holds.