ShareThisExhibit at James R. Thompson Center in Chicago Runs Through Friday
CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn today celebrated Asian American Heritage Month by opening an exhibit that showcases the contributions of Asian Americans to Illinois. The exhibit honors the remarkable impact Asian Americans have had on Illinois’ culture and economy for 150 years. It can be viewed for one week (May 20-24) in the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.
“Asian Americans have contributed to the rich tapestry of Illinois for 150 years,” Governor Quinn said. “One in 12 Illinoisans can now trace their roots to Asia, and this fascinating display offers a glimpse into the many routes taken by Asians to Illinois dating back to the 19th Century. I invite everyone to visit this exhibit and learn more about our rich cultural heritage.”
Visitors to the exhibit can enjoy a wide range of artifacts, images and prose, such as:
– Rare photos of a 1956 Indian student picnic in Lake County, the “Corea Pavillion” at the 1893 World’s Columbia Exhibition and Chicago’s original Chinatown.
– A 1957 baseball card of Bobby Balcena (the “Asian American Jackie Robinson”).
– Poignant reflections of survivors of World War II Japanese-American internment camps and the Cambodian Killing Fields.
– A team photo of a Pakistani youth cricket team in Bolingbrook.
– Still images and program covers from a group of Asian American arts organizations.
Illinois is home to many different Asian American museums, cultural institutions, community and civic organizations, business groups and media outlets. Contributors to the Asian American Heritage Month exhibit include the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, Korean Cultural Center, South Asian American Policy and Research Institute, Japanese American Service Committee, Japanese American Citizens League, Cambodian American Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial, Alliance of Filipinos for Immigration Rights and Empowerment, Lao American Organization of Elgin and others.
There are now more than 500,000 Asian Americans in Illinois, about 5.2 percent of our state’s population. The fastest-growing demographic in Illinois, the number of Asian Americans in Will County grew 172 percent between 2000 and 2010, 141 percent in Kane County, 133 percent in McLean County, and 110 percent in McHenry County.