The tule shoe is a mat of woven reeds wired to a horse shoe. The oversized shoes were invented by Chinese laborers in 1850s California to help build levees and reclaim land in the Sacramento Delta.
See also Chinese immigration to the United States Land reclamation Levee
External links
Asian Pacific American Historical Timeline Details (1600 to 1874) Our victories, obstacles and leaders Review of The Chinese in America, Iris Chang