WING LUKE AND THE MUSEUM

A Permanent Exhibit in the Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation Welcome Hall at Wing Luke Museum

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

Wing Luke and the Museum
Permanent Exhibit
Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation Welcome Hall

Wing Chong Luke was born on February 18th, 1925. His family immigrated to Seattle from China when he was six, joining a family that had lived in Washington since the late 1800s. Wing is remembered as a prolific lawyer, the first person of color elected to the Seattle City Council, and the first Asian American elected official in the Pacific Northwest.

Wing Luke’s legacy continues today at the Wing Luke Museum and beyond. Several decades later, the museum is an important place where the AANHPI community looks to for engagement, inspiration, and leadership – a legacy that Wing Luke left to Seattle.

MORE ABOUT WING LUKE’S HISTORY

In 1925, Wing Chong Luke was born the son of a laundryman and grocer. Immigrating to Seattle when he was 6 years old, Wing enjoyed his time as a Boy Scout. He was known by his classmates as a skilled artist and he often won arguments with humourous cartoons.

Before his career in politics began, as an attorney Wing defended Bob Satiacum, a member of the Puyallup Tribe, and the right for Native tribes to fish on traditional fishing grounds. When the case was dismissed, Wing and his team successfully appealed—and eventually, Bob won the case in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Wing campaigned fiercely for the removal of discriminatory housing practices in Seattle. His efforts, both as an attorney and city councilmember, contributed to the creation of the Seattle Human Rights Commission and the eventual passing of an open housing ordinance.

In 1965, Wing Luke’s life was cut short at the age of 40 in a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains. In 1967, the Wing Luke Memorial Foundation was created in honor of Wing Luke’s legacy. In 2015, the Washington State Attorney General’s office established the Wing Luke Civil Rights Unit in Wing Luke’s honor to investigate and enforce civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. 

For more information on collections materials, please visit our Wing Luke Museum Database

Ruby Chow inspects the cooking efforts of Boy Scouts as Wing beams his approval.

Courtesy of the Seattle Post Intelligencer

1992.022.056

Seattle Council members posing on a Seattle Fire Department ladder truck

1992.22.63

Wing Luke giving a speech at Puget Sound Bridge & Dry Dock Co.

1992.22.60

MUSEUM TOURS

Each visit to Wing Luke Museum includes a special Historic Hotel Tour with our Education Guides. This tour begins at the Wing Luke and the Museum Exhibit and includes a look at the Yick Fung Store, Freeman Hotel, Gee How Oak Tin Family Association, & more.