Pon Yam House

Pon Yam House
Idaho City, Boise County

  • Grants: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 Glenn Janss Award, 2011

Location: Montgomery Street & Commercial Street, Idaho City, Idaho 83631

Gold attracted thousands of Chinese immigrants to Idaho Territory. In 1870 Idaho’s Chinese population exceeded California’s Few were more successful than the Chinese immigrant Pon Yam who possessed the largest diamond ring in the Boise Basin and who became known as the “king Merchant.” Historical records show that the merchant Pon Yam most likely leased the building at Montgomery and Commercial from the Wong Chong Company around 1874 and operated it for 20 years. Local Chinese depended on the store for Chinese foods, including delicacies such as bean curd, cuttlefish, dried oysters, bamboo shoots and dry duck. They could also buy Chinese books, clothing, gambling equipment, firecrackers and religious articles at the store.

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