The Museum History
Meet the founder
Dara Duong
The Museum was founded by Dara Duong, a survivor from the 1975-1979 Killing Fields of Cambodia.
There were five family members including his father that were killed by the Khmer Rouge (Pol Pot) regime when he was 5 years old. For over 10 years Dara lived in the refugee camps along the Cambodian and Thai border. He resettled in the US in 1999.
Dara wanted to share the story of his life under the Khmer Rouge with the world, so it would not happen again. At the same time Dara wanted the children of Cambodian immigrants, who have grown up in the US, not to forget about Cambodia’s recent history, great culture, traditions and literature.
There were five family members including his father that were killed by the Khmer Rouge (Pol Pot) regime when he was 5 years old. For over 10 years Dara lived in the refugee camps along the Cambodian and Thai border. He resettled in the US in 1999.
Dara wanted to share the story of his life under the Khmer Rouge with the world, so it would not happen again. At the same time Dara wanted the children of Cambodian immigrants, who have grown up in the US, not to forget about Cambodia’s recent history, great culture, traditions and literature.
It's started from the garage in SeaTac. The museum moved to White center in May 14, 2004. Here are some historic pictures from Dara's garage...
SeaTac's Mayor visited the garage Museum
Carol Wagner of Soul Survivor visted the museum
Dara, Tracy and Pati meeting at garage
Tomnos, Dara, Pati and Tech- we care!
Programs and activities
Family Day event at the Museum, White Center
Beside of on site exhibit the museum plans to carry out following program activities:
- Expand library to include 20 computers, more books, magazines, newspapers, and videos.
- Develop art and crafts and language classes for Cambodian youth and their families.
- Create an oral history program that will reach out to the Cambodian American community in White Center compile photos and video biographies of Killing Field survivors.
- Develop a video of Cambodian-Americans survivors who came to Seattle and raised families.
- Continue school outreach pilot program, including classes at the Museum and in-class curriculum for students.
- Host public awareness forums on issues relating to Cambodian culture and history and struggles of refugees in Seattle.
- Organize the Cambodian family events at the Museum for members of the Cambodian community including traditional dnace performances.
The Museum has moved !
Current museum's exhibit at Wing Luke
The Cambodian Cultural Museum and Killing Fields Memorial has opened to the public on May 14, 2004. It was located in the basement of an old building at 9809 16th Ave. SW, White Center, Seattle. In late 2007 there were heavy rains flooded in which damaged some of the museum collections. On February 19th, 2008, Dara Duong has signed an agreement with Wingluke to move the museum's exhibits to their new space in Seattle, China town. The Killing Fields Museum's new exhibits were opened to the public again on January 18, 2009.
Due to limited space at Wing Luke, most of the museum collections are kept in the storage. We're currently looking for space to house the Killing Fields Museum.
Please contact us should you have any building or space available for this important museum. You can visit our Online Gallery any time here at "Killing Fields Gallery " .
Due to limited space at Wing Luke, most of the museum collections are kept in the storage. We're currently looking for space to house the Killing Fields Museum.
Please contact us should you have any building or space available for this important museum. You can visit our Online Gallery any time here at "Killing Fields Gallery " .
Keep telling the story about the Cambodian Killing Fields, Culture and Tradition...
All these activities have been post pone due to space issue. We're in need of new space that we can continue to provide these services to our community!
Click here to see daily opening schedule and direction to Wing Luke Asian Museum.
Click here to see daily opening schedule and direction to Wing Luke Asian Museum.