CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
As the only area in the continental United States where Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, African Americans, and Vietnamese settled together to built one neighborhood, this historic neighborhood is the cultural anchor for Asian Americans as well as the home base for Wing Luke Museum.
A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE NO OTHER
Seattle’s Chinatown-International District rose not far from the waterfront on reclaimed tideflats once populated by the native Duwamish people. During a gigantic city regrading project completed in 1910, this shoreline was filled in with earth, buildings were erected and a neighborhood was born. Much of the area remains as it was nearly a hundred years ago. There are brick hotels, wood-framed doorways, and elaborate balconies. There also has been incredible change.
Like other neighborhoods, there has been a push and pull among the people living here, where race, age, politics, and traditions all blend together and occasionally collide. It is the only area in the continental United States where Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, African Americans, and Vietnamese have settled together and built one neighborhood. The historic neighborhood is the cultural anchor for Asian Americans as well as the home base for Wing Luke Museum. Despite its significance, however, it has faced severe challenges, one of the city’s lowest-income tracts, high vacancies, disruptive public construction, and business revenue loss.
When the museum moved into its current home, it intentionally left out a café, a feature common in most museums. Why? We wanted visitors to eat at nearby restaurants. To support and revitalize the Chinatown-International District, Wing Luke Museum is intentional in its strategies for neighborhood engagement and building long-term relationships. Our general admission is an all-day pass that allows visitors to explore the neighborhood while they are onsite.
VISIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CHINATOWN DISCOVERY TOURS
We hope visitors will become familiar with the Chinatown-International District and come back and patronize the shops and restaurants on their own.
VISIT WING LUKE MUSEUM
Learn about accessibility, parking, and more details about visiting the museum located in the Chinatown-International District
VISIT LITTLE SAIGON
Little Sài Gòn is the social, economic, and cultural hub of the Vietnamese community in the Puget Sound region. Visit Friends of Little Saigon
NIHONMACHI ALLEY
History meets art to invite you to explore the often unseen community treasures in Japantown: Chiyo’s Garden, Danny Woo Community Garden and Kobe Terrace
FOOD
Consider choosing one of the many neighborhood restaurants — find a list here with the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA)
VISIT JAPANTOWN
History meets art to invite you to explore the often unseen community treasures in Japantown: Chiyo’s Garden, Danny Woo Community Garden and Kobe Terrace
NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RECOMMENDED
We recommend taking public transportation such as the 1-Line Sound Transit Light Rail (Chinatown-International District Station). Many King County Metro Bus routes run through the neighborhood
C-ID RESOURCE GUIDE
This guide was developed to support unhoused people living and/or working in the C-ID. This guide includes food assistance, day centers, interpretation help, and other support services.
PUBLIC PARKING
Limited street parking is available. There are several public paid parking lots.
Learn more about planning your driving route
FOOD
Consider choosing one of the many neighborhood restaurants — find a list here! Wristbands allow visitors to re-enter the museum until closing.
Check out Wing Luke Museum’s popular Food Tours!
GUIDED CHINATOWN DISCOVERY TOURS
A leading organizer of customized tours in the Chinatown-International District, Chinatown Discovery Tours was founded in 1985 by Vi (Violet) Mar, a former travel agent who single-handedly brought large groups of visitors to the neighborhood and broke down cultural barriers and safety concerns. As they approached retirement, Vi and her husband Howard King, donated their business to Wing Luke Museum in 2007.
Guided neighborhood tours, spurred by the donation of Chinatown Discovery Tours, are a long-standing program at the museum aimed to drive business to local businesses and to provide historical context to the contemporary Chinatown-International District.
SELF-GUIDED NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOURS
JAPANESE AMERICAN REMEMBRANCE TRAIL
Explore the Japanese American Remembrance Trail, an urban hike in Seattle's original Japantown. Visit Japantown past and present-- from early pioneers to the World War II era to community life today. Immerse yourself in personal stories of resilience, and explore connections to today.
REDLINING HERITAGE TRAIL
Seattle’s journey to open housing has been a long struggle and persists today with lasting practices and structures that perpetuate housing discrimination and inequity.
This project centers the diverse experiences of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities who have faced housing discrimination.
C-ID CELEBRATIONS
LUNAR NEW YEAR
A neighborhood celebration to bring in luck and prosperity in the new year with community performances, games, crafts, and celebration!
JAMFEST
Families are invited to explore the historic Canton and Maynard Alleyways come alive with music, performances, and family games!
HAI! JAPANTOWN
Support Nihonmachi small businesses, artists, and restaurants in a week-long celebration of all things Japantown!
NEWS ABOUT SEATTLE’S
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
In light of looming threats and uncertainty about the future vitality of the Chinatown-International District, Wing Luke Museum remains committed to serving a neighborhood history keeper and economic driver. We call for bold, equitable investments from Sound Transit and other public agencies into the C-ID. The opportunity posed by this moment is to change the course of history and break the cycles seeking to divide and dismantle our communities.
The national recognition of the neighborhood as an endangered place is both a sobering and hopeful indication of meaningful conversations and intentional action to come that will sustain and preserve the C-ID as a cultural treasure for present and future generations.
IN THE NEWS
Five Chinatowns and the Communities Working to Preserve Them, Nathalie Alonso, National Trust for Historic Preservation, July 20, 2023
Here's the latest list of the '11 Most Endangered Historic Places' in the U.S., Neda Ulaby, NPR, May 9, 2023
Seattle neighborhood placed on unfortunate historic places list, Mike Lindblom and Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, Seattle Times, May 9, 2023
CID in Seattle named one of Most Endangered Historic Places in country, King 5, May 9, 2023
INTERACTIVE CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT MAP
Click on the play buttons for a virtual look at the neighborhood!