Drawing the Asian Pacific Islander American Experience on Route 66 with Sammy Yuen
Artist Sammy Yuen traveled the Mother Road in spring 2023 and produced several line drawings that share just a few of the untold stories on the route.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Priya Chhaya
Sammy Yuen by Chase YuenNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Introducing Sammy Yuen
While Sammy Yuen’s journey as an artist began in the more traditional publishing industry, it was in the last few years that he “felt a calling to help in any way I could." At the core of his service was making sure that more people understood the APIA story.
“I don't want my kids dealing with the same [challenges]. They shouldn't have to deal with [ignorance] at all. That's when the art really took over." - Sammy Yuen
The Shared Lines project
"In October of 2022, I met with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to see if we could do drawings to help preserve Chinatowns nationwide through their America’s Chinatowns program. After a few weeks of discussion, we narrowed our focus to APIA communities on Route 66." - Sammy Yuen
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans on Route 66: Route 66 Map (2023-08-14) by Sammy YuenNational Trust for Historic Preservation
"[Route 66] is a microcosm of the United States." - Sammy Yuen
International District (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
"I didn't really know much about Route 66 before I began this journey, or what the theme of the project would be. I approached the road trip as a blank canvas." - Sammy Yuen
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans on Route 66: Chinese American Museum Line (2023-08-14) by Sammy YuenNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Chinese American Museum (Chicago, Illinois)
"The biggest challenge in my Route 66 project was narrowing down the choices of the places I wanted to draw. Originally, we were contracted to do only five drawings, but I just kept going and I couldn't stop." - Sammy Yuen
Foo Dogs (Amboy, California)
"There is a stretch of highway in Amboy, California, that seems to be forgotten, then out of nowhere you see the pair of lions also known as Foo Dogs. No one really knows how they got there." - Sammy Yuen
An artist's process
"When I created the drawing, I wanted people to get the sense of isolation, so I drew in the horizon line and the clouds in the distance. I also wanted to invite the people who might drive by the area to stop and take a closer look, so I included the graffiti on the base." - Sammy Yuen
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans on Route 66: Ping Tom Park (2023-08-14) by Sammy YuenNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Ping Tom Park (Chicago, Illinois)
"I love the story behind Ping Tom Park in Chicago." - Sammy Yuen
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans on Route 66: Illinois State Capitol (2023-08-14) by Sammy YuenNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Illinois Capitol Building (Springfield, Illinios)
"I love that the Teaching Equitable Asian American History Act bill was voted into law at the Illinois capitol building in Springfield." - Sammy Yuen
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans on Route 66: Asia Cafe (2023-08-14) by Sammy YuenNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Asia Café (St. Louis, Missouri)
"Asia Café [the last retail building to be demolished in St. Louis' lost Chinatown] represents a cautionary tale for other Chinatowns going though urbanization." -Sammy Yuen
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans on Route 66: Grand Canyon Cafe Line (2023-08-14) by Sammy YuenNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Grand Canyon Cafe (Flagstaff, Arizona)
"From a pure aesthetic point of view, my favorite pieces are the ones with white lines on black background. I think they really stand out, and I really like how they kind of glow." - Sammy Yuen
Watertowers (Kingman, Arizona)
"Before going on this Route 66 trip, I was only accustomed to Chinatowns in large cities. It was amazing to see all the different APIA communities on Route 66. They have many shapes and sizes, and they are in different states of their evolution." - Sammy Yuen
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans on Route 66: China House Line (2023-08-14) by Sammy YuenNational Trust for Historic Preservation
China House(Rancho Cucamonga, California)
"Some are coming, some are going, and I think it's important to not only preserve them but amplify them, because they all have the same goal, as being a place where people want to better their lives and start their American Dream." - Sammy Yuen
Learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation's campaign to preserve Route 66, sign our petition to advocate for the Mother Road, and then share your Route 66 story with us.
Learn more about Sammy Yuen
Adapted by Tim O'Donnell from Drawing the Asian Pacific Islander American Experience on Route 66 with Sammy Yuen by Priya Chhaya.
Also read: Shining a Light on Albuquerque’s International District which was inspired by Sammy Yuen's work.
This story is made possible by the generosity of David and Julia Uihlein.
Priya Chhaya is the associate director of content at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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