Harmony Through Union

The Chinese American Heritage Foundation (CAHF) is creating a commemorative float, entitled "Harmony Through Union," for the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade. It is a tribute to celebrate the contributions of immigrant workers in building the revolutionizing Transcontinental Railroad.

CAHF is honored to be working with the Tournament of Roses as the first ever Chinese American organization to participate in the prestigious Rose Parade in beautiful Pasadena, California. 

We are honored to have Union Pacific Railroad aboard as our Golden Spike sponsor.

The Transcontinental Railroad unified America geographically, economically, and symbolically, following the Civil War. Side-by-side, hand-over-hand, a robust immigrant population laid rail-after-rail — and pounded spike-after-spike. They blazed a course through seemingly impossible mountainous terrain and over bleak and barren passages.

The Transcontinental Railroad would not have been possible were it not for the vision of President Lincoln — and the toil and tenacity of 14,000 immigrant workers of Chinese heritage, who teamed together with immigrants of Irish, Greek, German, and African descent.

You can be a part of this remarkable history by joining and supporting our spectacular 2019 Rose Parade float to draw international attention to the often forgotten contributions of immigrants in building America. The float brings to life the iconic photograph taken at Promontory Point, Utah. That’s when railroad entrepreneur, Leland Stanford, hammered the Golden Spike to connect the Eastern United States with the emerging Western Territories.

Within 4 years, over 1,900 miles of railroad track had been laid across the Great Plains and through the Sierra Nevadas, during sweltering heatwaves and brutal winter storms. The Transcontinental Railroad galvanized the country with prosperity, startup towns, and the promise of healing a divided nation.

There had never been such a monumental project in the United States before. And this unprecedented opportunity to be part of the Rose Parade shines a bright light on that momentous event.

Representatives and descendants of the Transcontinental Railroad workers will ride aboard "Harmony Through Union," while celebratory Chinese lion dancers herald the float along the parade route. An original musical anthem will provide a soundtrack to complement the Rose Parade theme, "The Melody of Life."

We are inviting all Americans to be a part of the rich history of the Transcontinental Railroad and its place in the development of our great nation. Your donation will help us build and decorate the float which will glide down the parade route on New Year's Day 2019.

This initiative is the kickoff event for an overall program called "We Built America." This yearlong initiative of special events, public information campaigns, and educational curriculum programs, begins with our "Harmony Through Union" float on New Year’s Day 2019!

You will be in the good company of Union Pacific Railroad, Fiesta Parade Floats, and numerous immigrant community organizations. It is CAHF’s goal to involve a diverse a team of contributors, extending our message that diversity works best when we all work together.

We will achieve our ambitious goal only if we have you on board. Thank you for your generosity!

You can also donate via our nonprofit PayPal account: PayPal.Me/CAHF.  
Email or SMS Text the amount you'd like to donate. Thank you!