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Monday, January 23, 2012

Year of the Dragon



The Year of the Dragon got a jumpstart when the Lieu Quan Lion Dance Team made their entrance at the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle's International District. The museum hosted an early new year's party on the third Saturday, January 21, to coincide with their monthly free admission Saturday. Even though the holiday officially started on Monday January 23, there were "the Wing" kicked off the opening of its newest exhibit New Years All Year Long which will be on display until mid July of this year. The exhibit features cultural traditions, foods and activities from several asian cultures.   

The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is located just a few blocks from King Street Station in the heart of Seattle's International District. It is the only museum in the nation that hosts displays and stories of countless Asian Pacific immigrants and their countless stories that engender compassion and appreciation. 

Wing Luke was a Chinese immigrant born in 1925 who was the first Asian American to hold an elected office in the pacific Northwest. He helped pass the Open Housing ordinance in 1963 which punished racial discrimination in real estate transactions. 

The museum started out as a small folk art museum in a storefront on 8th Avenue. It grew and moved to a larger venue on 7th Avenue, growing under the direction of Ron Chew. In 2008 the museum renovated the historic East Kong Yick Building at 719 E. King St. and relocated there. The Wing hosts daily tours that allow you to explore the neighborhood, discover it's fascinating history and expand your appreciation of these diverse cultures.