A photo exhibition in memory of Chinese migrant workers' contribution to U.S. Transcontinental Railroad 150 years ago kicked off Friday at Thompson Center in Chicago.

The exhibition, "The Chinese and the Iron Road -- Building of the Transcontinental", will last for seven days at the state-owned building.

Dozens of guests and organizers attended the opening ceremony, with several exquisite pictures featuring "Building the Transcontinental", "Hiring of Laborers", "Dangerous Work Conditions" and "Chinese Migrant Workers' Contributions."

Chinese Consul-General in Chicago Zhao Jian said in the opening remarks that 150 years ago, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed with much sacrifice from Chinese migrant workers. After 150 years, the contributions they had made should never be forgotten in both Chinese and American people's minds.

"We're glad to see American Chinese community has been one of most important members in diversified American culture and society ... I hope our American Chinese community will work together promoting the development of Chicago, and also enhance exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States," Zhao said.

Zheng Zheng, chairwoman of Chinese American Association of Greater Chicago (CAAGC), said that more than 10,000 Chinese migrant workers had worked on the railroad, but their voice was seldom heard. They had not been in the history book. They had not been invited to events to celebrate the railroad.

"Today we are here to give them their voice and to give them credit in the U.S. history. And this is a day to kick off the event in Chicago to memorize the contribution of the Chinese migrants to the U.S. history," said Zheng.

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, linking the West and the East for the first time in American history. The construction, which took six years and stretched for nearly 2,000 miles (about 3,200 km), was one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the 19th century.

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