The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, financed by the US government, owned in part by robber baron Leland Stanford (Senior) and built with Chinese labor across the Western United States. A years-long initiative at Stanford, the Chinese Railroad Workers History Project, uncovered the stories of these intrepid individuals.

History Professor Gordon Chang, the project co-director and Senior Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, will share some of the most memorable findings as portrayed in his latest book, “Ghosts of Gold Mountain: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad.” The book has been called a “groundbreaking, breathtaking history of the Chinese workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad, helping to forge modern America, only to disappear into the shadows of history.”

Date: Thursday, November 14th 2019
Time: 6:30-7:00 pm Registration and Networking
7:00-8:30 pm Book Talk

Location: Stanford University
Li Ka Shing Learning and Knowledge Center
Room LK 120
291 Campus Drive, Stanford 94305
Map and directions: http://med.stanford.edu/school/contacts/maps.html

All alumni, students, and family members are welcome! Seating is limited, so please register early.
RSVP: click here

Book Reviews
“Gordon Chang leaves no boulder unturned, nor tunnel unexplored, as he brings vital detail to the lives of the Chinese railroad workers: ‘ghosts’ who are no longer missing in history, thanks to his meticulous research. After a hundred and fifty years, this book sets the record straight.” — Helen Zia, author of Last Boat out of Shanghai

“Ghosts of Gold Mountain is a treasure trove of stories, and of exciting scholarship that answers questions many of us have asked for decades. In this profound and inspiring book, Chang reveals at last how the West was truly won: by Railroad Chinese who literally united these American states.” — David Henry Hwang, author of the Tony Award-winning play M. Butterfly

“Gripping . . . Chang has accomplished the seemingly impossible . . . He has written a remarkably rich, human, and compelling story of the railroad Chinese.” — Peter Cozzens, Wall Street Journal

“The lived experience of the Railroad Chinese has long been elusive . . . Chang’s book is a moving effort to recover their stories and honor their indispensable contribution to the building of modern America.” — The New York Times

Gordon’s book will be available for purchase and signing. All alumni, students, and family members are welcome! Seating is limited, so please register early.

RSVP: click here