Petersburg’s Clausen Museum has been investigating the 94-year-old murder mystery of Sing Lee, an influential Chinese businessman from Petersburg’s frontier past. That investigation is now an exhibit titled “Sing Lee: The Man, The Murder, The Mystery,” which runs through the end of March.
Lee was born in the mid 1800s, and originally came to Wrangell by 1900 as a cannery worker. He became a successful merchant, and expanded his business to Petersburg by 1909.
He was rumored to be wealthy and owned waterfront property and multiple buildings on what is now Sing Lee Alley. He led a complicated life — a philanthropist who was well-liked in the community, he also likely facilitated illegal gambling and opium smoking in the back of his store.
On Nov. 25, 1932, the elderly Lee was found dead in his Petersburg apartment with deep gashes on either side of his head. An autopsy found five of his ribs had been broken. No killer was ever found.
Museum staff, alongside local researchers Kathi Hammer, Heidi Lee, and Kathy Poole, spent months digging into Lee’s life and death. Museum Director Sarah Pederson told KFSK’s Taylor Heckart that there are many potential suspects in Lee’s murder.
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“Sing Lee: The Man, The Murder, The Mystery” will be up at the museum through March 31. The museum is open Monday through Friday 1-5pm, and Saturdays 12-5pm.
