China Camp State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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China Camp
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China Camp in 2010
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | San Rafael, California |
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| Area | 75 acres (30 ha) |
| Built | 1865–1925 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000493 |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1979 |
China Camp State Park is a cool state park in Marin County, California. It's famous for its old Chinese American village where people used to fish for shrimp. The park also has a salt marsh and lots of nature. You can find it in San Rafael, California, right by the San Pablo Bay. People love visiting for the hiking and mountain biking trails, amazing views, and wide-open spaces. This 1,514-acre (613 ha) park opened in 1976. A special 75-acre (30 ha) part of the park, including the fishing village, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's a very important historical site for California. China Camp State Park is also part of a bigger nature area called the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Contents
History of China Camp State Park
Who Lived Here First?
Long ago, before the 1700s, the Coast Miwok people lived in this area. They were Native Americans who hunted, gathered acorns from oak trees, and fished in the bay. In 1775, Spanish settlers arrived in California. They built Mission San Rafael Arcángel nearby. Sadly, many Miwok people were gone within 100 years after the Spanish arrived.
Later, in 1844, a man from Ireland named Timothy Murphy got a lot of this land from the Spanish. He even became the mayor of San Rafael. But when the United States took over California in 1846, Murphy lost most of his land. After he passed away, the land went to two businessmen, John and George McNear. They started a big dairy farm and other businesses, like a quarry, in the area. Many Chinese immigrants came to work for them and began to settle here.
The Chinese Fishing Village
By the 1880s, a busy Chinese American village grew at China Camp. About 500 people lived there, many from Canton, China. They made a living by fishing for shrimp in San Pablo Bay. Some also worked at local businesses. At its busiest, the village had three general stores, a marine supply shop, and a barber shop.
China Camp was one of about 26 similar shrimp-fishing villages. Chinese Americans built these villages along the coast. Many moved from San Francisco to escape unfair treatment. After the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, China Camp's population grew to 10,000 people. Many families from San Francisco's Chinatown came here to escape the damage.
In the late 1800s, the fishermen at China Camp caught millions of pounds of shrimp each year. Much of it was sent to China and Hawaii. But in the early 1900s, new laws hurt the village's economy. These laws stopped shrimp exports and banned certain fishing nets. Because of this, most people left China Camp. Only one family, the Quans, kept fishing for shrimp.
In 1914, a new type of net called a trawl was invented. This helped the Quans catch a lot of shrimp again. They could process 5,000 pounds of shrimp every day! The Quan family also ran other businesses. They had a general store, rented out boats, and ran a cafe. This cafe served both villagers and visitors who came to enjoy the outdoors.
How China Camp Became a Park
By the 1960s, a developer named Chinn Ho owned most of the land around the village. The number of shrimp in San Pablo Bay had also gone down. This was due to water pollution and other changes. Still, Frank Quan, a grandson of the first Quan family member, kept fishing. He was the last Quan family member living there. He mostly sold his shrimp for bait.
In the early 1970s, a big oil company wanted to build many tall condominium buildings and shopping areas. But local people and nature groups protested this plan. They wanted to protect the area. So, in 1976, the land was sold for about $2.3 million. A group called the California State Parks Foundation bought it. They then sold it to the state of California to create China Camp State Park.
Chinn Ho also gave the 36-acre (15 ha) site of China Camp village for free. He wanted it saved as a special place to remember Chinese American history. The park's plan made sure that Frank Quan could keep living in the village.
Fun Things to Do at China Camp
China Camp State Park offers many fun outdoor activities. You can go camping overnight or have a picnic. There are great trails for hiking and mountain biking. You can also go kayaking, paddleboarding, or sailing on the bay.
Every August, China Camp also celebrates Chinese-American Heritage Day. It's a lively event with lion dances and amazing acrobatic shows. You can also see tai chi demonstrations. There are arts and crafts for sale and fun activities for kids. A replica of a Chinese junk ship, the Grace Quan, often visits too!
Images for kids
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China Camp in 1889
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Bay view from China Camp State Park
