Chinese American Museum facts for kids
 |
|
 |
|
| Established | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Location | 425 North Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA |
| Type | Chinese-American experience and history in Southern California |
| Chinese American Museum | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 華美博物館 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 华美博物馆 | ||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
The Chinese American Museum (often called CAM) is a special place in Downtown Los Angeles. It's part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. This museum teaches visitors all about the history and experiences of Chinese Americans in California. It was the first museum of its kind in Southern California.
CAM shows off amazing fine art by Chinese American artists. It also has cool exhibits that tell stories from the past. The idea for the museum started in 1984. It officially opened its doors on December 18, 2003.
The museum is located in the Garnier Building. This building is the oldest Chinese building still standing in Southern California. Long ago, the original Los Angeles Chinatown was right here. It later moved to New Chinatown to make way for Los Angeles Union Station.
The museum gets help from many groups. These include the State of California, the City of Los Angeles, and many other supporters.
Contents
What You Can See: Exhibits
The Chinese American Museum has some really interesting exhibits. They help you learn about Chinese American culture and history.
Permanent Exhibits
- Hing Yuen Hong Chinese Herb Shop: One exhibit always at the museum is a recreated old Chinese herb shop. It shows what a shop like this would have looked like long ago.
- Origins: The Birth and Rise of Chinese American Communities in Los Angeles: This exhibit opened in 2012. It celebrates how Chinese American communities grew in Los Angeles. It shows their journey from Downtown Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley.
Past Special Exhibits
The museum often has new and exciting exhibits for a limited time. Here are a few examples:
- Sunshine and Shadow: In Search of Jake Lee: This exhibit showed 60 watercolor paintings by the famous artist Jake Lee.
- Tyrus Wong: A Retrospective: This exhibit featured the work of Tyrus Wong. He was one of the first and most important Chinese American artists.
- Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection: This exhibit was based on a documentary by Arthur Dong. It explored over 90 years of Chinese Americans in movies. This included films from 1916 to more recent ones.
- Remembering Angel Island: This exhibit honored the 100th anniversary of the Angel Island immigration station. This station was a key entry point for many immigrants in California.
- Dreams Deferred: Artists Respond to Immigration: This exhibit featured local artists. They used different art styles like street art, sculptures, and paintings. Their art explored the feelings and hopes of immigrant communities.
- Breaking Ground: Chinese American Architects in Los Angeles: This exhibit highlighted four amazing Chinese American architects. They helped shape Los Angeles's buildings between 1945 and 1980. These architects were Eugene Kinn Choy, Gilbert L. Leong, Helen Liu Fong, and Gin D. Wong. They were important in creating the Mid-Century Modern and Googie Architecture styles.
- LA Heat: Taste Changing Condiments: This fun art exhibit explored the impact of popular hot sauces like Sriracha and Tapatio in Los Angeles. It featured art from many different artists.
Fun Events
The Chinese American Museum hosts several exciting events throughout the year.
Chinese New Year Celebration
Every year, the museum holds a special Lantern Festival to celebrate Chinese New Year. This festival is full of live performances. You can see amazing lion dancers, acrobatics, and musical shows. There are also demonstrations of Chinese knotting and dance performances. It's a lively and colorful event for everyone!
Historymakers Awards
Each year, the museum hosts the Historymakers Awards Banquet. This event celebrates amazing people who have made a big difference. They honor individuals who have helped the Chinese American community and beyond. For example, in 2009, the famous Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu was honored for her work in film.
