Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Honors Contributions of Many Cultures
The original congressional resolution which set aside a time to honor Asian Americans was passed in 1978. At that time the first ten days of May were set aside to honor the contributions of Japanese and Chinese immigrants. Two important milestones were honored: the coming of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad with the assistance of Chinese workers on May 10, 1869 when the final spike linking the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroads was put in place in Promontory, Utah.
Congress extended the celebration to a month in 1992 and the Office of Management and Budget expanded the celebration to honor all Asian Americans as well as Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.
first ten days of May were set aside to honor the contributions of Japanese and Chinese immigrants. Two important milestones were honored: the coming of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad with the assistance of Chinese workers on May 10, 1869 when the final spike linking the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroads was put in place in Promontory, Utah.
Congress extended the celebration to a month in 1992 and the Office of Management and Budget expanded the celebration to honor all Asian Americans as well as Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.