Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site

Park Overview

A Chinese medical clinic, general store, community center and residence, Kam Wah Chung gives you an incomparable glimpse into the past. This remarkable site, a National Historic Landmark, is located in the town of John Day, and includes a museum and a separate interpretive center.

The museum was built in 1865, possibly as a trading post and stage stop. This tiny, unassuming building became home to two Chinese immigrants, Ing "Doc" Hay and Lung On in 1888. Both became locally famous:  Lung On as a general store proprietor and businessman, and "Doc" Hay as a practitioner of herbal medicine. For over 60-some years the building was a social, medical, and religious center for Oregon's Chinese community.

Truly a time capsule unique in the world, you must come check out this place!  Learn more about Kam Wah Chung by watching an Emmy-nominated documentary produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting.

New Visitor/Interpretive Center Update–2024

A new Interpretive Center and Collections Building is planned for the park and slated to break ground in fall 2024. General obligation bonds approved by the 2021 Oregon Legislature will fund the project. Additional information at the Kam Wah Chung project page (opens in a new browser window).

Museum Tours

Tours are offered Thursday through Monday May to October and during Oregon's spring break. We have two tour options onsite: a standard tour inside the building and a virtual tour. The virtual option allows you to watch the live, guided tour while you're seated inside the interpretive center.

Additional information:

• A maximum of 8 people for both tours. Larger groups can be accommodated; call ahead.
• Tours run about 45-minutes and can include VR at your request.
• Access to the Kam Wah Chung building is only available by participating in a guided tour.

Interpretive Center

Additional information and exhibits about Kam Wah Chung are in the ADA-accessible interpretive center. The center is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday (May – Oct.)

Spring Break Hours

During Oregon’s spring break the third week in March, we offer limited tours Monday through Friday at the top of every hour staring at 9 a.m., with the last tour scheduled at 3 p.m. No tours 12 – 1pm. The interpretive center is also open. 

Additional information: Kam Wah Chung & Co. – Friends of Kam Wah Chung

Questions? Contact District Manager Kirk Barham at 541-240-9151.

Digital resources to learn more about Kam Wah Chung

National Historic Landmark Nomination: Kam Wah Chung Company Building

Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project

Oregon College of Oriental Medicine: Kam Wah Chung Medical Archive

Oregon Encyclopedia
Chinese Americans in Oregon
Ing Hay (1862–1952)
Kam Wah Chung and Co.
Lung On (1863-1940)
Edward Wah (1931?–2008)