Unsilencing the 1885 Attack on Chinese Laborers
​​
"George Tibbetts' Native American Hop Pickers", 1898. Film negative. IHM Collection, 91.036.002.
Background
In the late 1800s, many Chinese people made the journey across the Pacific ocean in search of a better life. Tragically, they were often met with hatred and violence instead. In 1885, Squak Valley (what is now modern-day Issaquah), Chinese farmers were sleeping in their tents after a day of work in the hop fields. The immigrants were brought in to work on these farms for less money than the White and Indigenous farmers, which made the existing groups fear for the loss of their jobs. Spurred by this fear, hate began to fester, and it boiled over when a group of White and Indigenous men made a plan to drive the Chinese workers out of their community.
On September 7th, 1885, they enacted their plan and attacked the Chinese farmers while they slept, lighting their tents on fire and shooting rounds blindly into the camp. Their actions killed three men and injured many others.
National Context
Alas, this was not an isolated event. The more people that immigrated, the fear surrounding job loss and economic instability shot up, leading to a historic surge in racist violence and exclusionary laws. The first ever anti-immigration law—the Page Act of 1875—specifically targeted Asian immigrants, with Chinese women being a main target. The media spread propaganda stating that Chinese people were “morally inferior”, and that women in particular were coming to the U.S. for “lewd and immoral purposes”, specifically prostitution (National Park Service).
​
This was only reinforced with the instating of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, further prohibiting the immigration of Chinese people by completely banning their entry to the country for 10 years.
Curtis, Asahel. Photographer. "Anti-Chinese riots, Seattle," 1886. Glass lantern slide.
MOHAI, Seattle. Lantern Slide Collection, 2002.3.410.
The Squak Valley murders were a forgotten part of Issaquah’s history, and many residents will go their whole lives without knowing about the tragedy that happened in their community. However, the Issaquah History Museum and The Circle aim to change that narrative.
Gathering New Voices
The Issaquah History Museum and the Circle invite students to explore and reflect on this important chapter of local history while connecting it to their own family histories and identities. Through art, storytelling (video), poem and other creative expression, this project encourages students to listen to the echoes of the past, understand how history shapes our communities (the resource links shared on the top of the page), and share their own voices and stories. By combining historical learning with personal reflection, the project aims to deepen empathy, promote cultural understanding, and strengthen a sense of belonging within the Issaquah community.
​
The project includes two participation pathways designed to engage both high school students and the broader Issaquah community.
Part 1: Classroom Reflections
Chinese language teachers at Issaquah High School and Skyline High School will invite their students to learn about the history of Chinese immigrants in Squak Valley (now Issaquah), including the events surrounding the 1885 Squak Valley attack. Students will be asked to use one of the creative formats listed in the Project Format section to demonstrate their understanding and reflections on the historical materials. Students may also share stories from their own family histories.
Teachers may choose several of the most meaningful or impactful student projects to be included in the project showcase. This classroom component encourages students to connect historical understanding with personal identity and reflection.
Korla, Rishima . "Hop Farmers" [working title], 2026. Acrylic and varnish on canvas. IHM Collection, 2025.012.001. Commissioned as a part of IHM's 2025 Fresh Perspectives project.
Part 2: Call for Community Submissions
The second part of the project invites all Issaquah School District students (K–12) and Issaquah residents to participate. Students may share their reflections or family stories by using one of the creative formats listed in the project packet linked below.
All submitted works will be displayed during the final celebration event, highlighting the diverse voices and stories of students across the community. To participate, students must register for the project.
​
Registration opens on May 17 during The Circle’s AAPI Celebration Event at the Issaquah Community Center.
