Chinese American Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chinese American Museum
華美博物館

Established	1984
Location	425 North Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA
Type	Chinese-American experience and history in Southern California

The Chinese American Museum (also called CAM) is a special place in Downtown Los Angeles. It is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. This museum teaches visitors all about the history and experiences of Chinese American people in California. It was the first museum of its kind in Southern California. You can see amazing fine art by Chinese American artists here. There are also many exhibits that show how Chinese Americans have lived and grown in the area.

People started planning for the museum in October 1984. It officially opened its doors to the public on December 18, 2003.

The museum is located in the Garnier Building. This building is the oldest Chinese building still standing in Southern California. The very first Chinatown in Los Angeles used to be in this area. It later moved to New Chinatown when the Los Angeles Union Station was built.

The museum gets support from many different groups. These include the State of California, the City of Los Angeles, and groups like Friends of the Chinese American Museum.

What You Can See: Exhibits

The Chinese American Museum has many interesting exhibits. Some of these exhibits are always there for visitors to enjoy.

One permanent exhibit shows what a traditional Chinese herb shop, called Hing Yuen Hong, looked like a long time ago. Another permanent exhibit opened on December 13, 2012. It is called "Origins: The Birth and Rise of Chinese American Communities in Los Angeles." This exhibit celebrates how Cantonese American communities grew in Los Angeles, from downtown to the San Gabriel Valley.

The museum also has special exhibits that change over time. Here are some examples of past exhibits:

• "Sunshine and Shadow: In Search of Jake Lee" showed 60 watercolor paintings by the artist Jake Lee.
• "Milton Quon's Los Angeles" was on display from 2005 to 2006.
• "The Art of Diana Shui-In Wong" was shown in 2006.
• "Tyrus Wong (Chinese: 黃齊耀): A Retrospective" was a special exhibit in 2004. Tyrus Wong was a very important and early Chinese American artist.

Other past exhibits have included:

• "Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection" opened on October 23, 2009. This exhibit was based on Arthur Dong's documentary film called Hollywood Chinese. The film looked at over 90 years of Chinese Americans in movies. It showed films from the very first Chinese American movie, The Curse of Quon Gwon (made in 1916), to Ang Lee's 2005 film Brokeback Mountain. This exhibit closed on November 7, 2010.
• "Remembering Angel Island" honored 100 years since the immigration station in California opened. It was on display from July 16, 2010, to January 31, 2012.
• Dreams Deferred: Artists Respond to Immigration was shown from December 10, 2010, to December 18, 2011. This exhibit featured local artists who explored feelings, hopes, and challenges of immigrant communities. They used different art styles like street art, sculptures, and paintings.
• Breaking Ground: Chinese American Architects in Los Angeles (1945-1980) was part of a larger art event. It was open from January 19, 2012, to June 3, 2012. This exhibit celebrated four important Chinese American architects. These architects helped shape Los Angeles' buildings and look between 1945 and 1980. They included Eugene Kinn Choy, Gilbert L. Leong, Helen Liu Fong, and Gin D. Wong. They were key in developing Mid-Century Modern and Googie Architecture styles.
• LA Heat: Taste Changing Condiments was an art exhibit from March 13 to July 12, 2014. It explored how popular Sriracha and Tapatio sauces are in Los Angeles. The exhibit featured artwork from many different artists. Their art showed ideas about identity, community, and food.

Fun Events at the Museum

The museum hosts exciting events throughout the year.

Chinese New Year Celebration

Every year, during the Chinese New Year celebration, the museum holds a special Lantern Festival. This festival is full of live entertainment. You can see lion dancers, amazing acrobatics, and musical performances. There are also demonstrations of Chinese knotting and dance shows. In 2009, a documentary about actress Jodi Long's family, called "Long Story Short," was shown at the festival. The 2013 Lantern Festival took place on Saturday, March 2, 2013.

Historymakers Awards

Each year, the museum holds an event called the Historymakers Awards Banquet. This event honors amazing people who have made a big difference. They celebrate those who have helped the Chinese American community and beyond. For example, in 2009, Lisa Lu, a Chinese-American actress and producer, was honored for her great work in film and entertainment.

The table below lists some of the people and groups who have received these awards over the years.

More to Explore

• History of the Chinese Americans in Los Angeles
• Museum of Chinese in America
• Chinese-American Museum of Chicago
• Chinese American Museum DC
• Chinese Historical Society of America
• Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
• Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park
• Chinese Culture Center