Chinese Immigrant Laborers Building the Central Pacific Railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento, California

Photo ID# RW3777

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During the 1860's to 1870's, Chinese laborers were hired to build the majority of the Central Pacific Railroad in the high passes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Construction continued on deep through the winter even despite losing many lives in the process due to frostbite and accidental dynamite explosions on the mountainside. The Chinese got the jobs because they were willing to do the back-breaking work that few others were willing to do.

For more information, here is a link to my blog entry about Chinese Railroad Workers in California.