The Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) serves as a valuable repository for the Chinese American community. Located in Julia Morgan's YWCA building in Chinatown, the CHSA offers rotating exhibits, online exhibits, and interactive experiences for visitors. The museum is divided into a main gallery/stage, theater, smaller YMCA history gallery, and downstairs display area. After 15 years, the main exhibit has been replaced by smaller rotating exhibits. CHSA also offers online exhibits on the 1906 Earthquake and Transcontinental Railroad and have some of their images posted digitally using History Pin. CHSA's popular History Alive! Program presents history from a first person perspective with the character being available to answer questions. The curriculum that supports those programs can definitely be used in the classroom to cover immigration and discrimination topics. For school groups, the CHSA offers docent tours, walking tours, Chinese storytelling for K-3, and History Alive! Program. There is more information here.
The CHSA is located in the middle of the steep hill of Clay Street between Stockton and Powell.
General admission was free but there is a charge for school programs. Restrooms available downstairs but there's no real large group eating space. Portsmouth Square is a few blocks away for a lunch area and additional restrooms. Parking is quite difficult but MUNI makes the museum very accessible. |
This location's web site can be found by clicking on the title of the page.
revised 1-29-16