Hop Alley Revisited: The Chinese American Experience in Denver, Colorado

Abstract: By recalling the bitter experience of Chinese immigrants in the West in general and Denver, Colorado in particular, this paper attempts to trace one more time the efforts by these Chinese new comers to set their feet in the New World and the difficulties they encountered in the 19^th century, as well as the origins of the 1880 “Hop Alley” anti-Chinese riot, one of the worst ever events in American history. The paper will also try to explore their later experience and their contributions to the development of this western city in the 20^th century and their new future in the 21^st century.