Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans and their contributions to the United States. This celebration began in 1978 under former president Jimmy Carter. He originally designated this as a week-long celebration. In 1990 congress expanded AAPI into a month-long celebration. Then in 1992, a law was passed creating the current month-long observance during May.

May is a significant time for the celebration. May marks the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. In addition, this month acknowledges the first immigration of Japanese to the US in 1843.