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Chinese American Museum
Chinese American Museum exhibits
Overview: America’s history and growth as a nation can be seen through its innumerable demographic segments. The plight of the Chinese in Los Angeles and their struggles to grow as a community and become legitimate United States citizens reveals a stark contrast of early America to today’s land of equal opportunity. The Chinese American Museum is located in Olvera’s Old Plaza within the larger El Pueblo Historical Monument historic park in Downtown Los Angeles.
Chinese American Museum exhibits
As you amble along Olvera’s Old Plaza, you’ll notice a short lane, complete with hanging red lanterns streamed between two brick buildings. One of the brick buildings on this lane is the Garnier Building, the oldest standing Chinese building in southern California. It appropriately houses the small but growing Chinese American Museum.
What you’ll find in the Chinese American Museum is a helpful and knowledgeable, clean and dim decor and a surprisingly moving and fairly extensive assembly of permanent and temporary artifacts and artwork – both collected and donated. The first level consists of pictures and videos of early Chinese Americans and their plight in America. The pictures and videos explain America’s early resistance to and alienation and exploitation of the first Chinese Americans. 1965’s Nationality Act finally saw the United States open its arms, allowing Chinese immigrants to enter America.
Chinese American Museum exhibits
The museum’s permanent exhibitions include the personal effects of early Chinese Americans such as furniture, kitchen and dining ware, a typewriter, desks and lanterns. It also includes Hing Yuen Hong Chinese Herb Shop. Along the walls, more stories of early Chinese Americans are told through pictures, journal and scrapbooks. The second floor cycles through temporary exhibitions of well-known Chinese American artists such as the “Inspiring Lines: Chinese American Pioneers in the Commercial Arts” and Corky Lee’s photographs, “Asian Roots/American Reality.”
Location: 425 N Los Angeless St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Site: www.camla.org
Ph: (213) 485-8567
Hours: Tuesdays – Sundays, 10am to 3pm
Cost: Suggested $3.00 donation. Not required but donations are welcomed.
Parking: Post Office Annex at the corner of northeast corner of Cesar Chavez and Alameda. Street and Parking Lot 4 on Los Angeles St as well.
Accessibility: The Chinese American Museum in Downtown Los Angeles is wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator to reach the second floor. The bathrooms are next door and are wheelchair accessible.
Getting There: www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com