Chinese American Museum DC facts for kids
Interactive displays in museum lobby
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| Established | 2017 |
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| Location | 1218 16th St., NW Washington, D.C. |
| Type | Cultural museum |
| Public transit access | Red, Orange, and Blue Metro Lines |
The Chinese American Museum DC (CAMDC) is a museum and cultural center in Washington, DC. CAMDC was founded in 2017 by Chinese businessman Philip Qiu. The Chinese American Museum in Washington, DC (CAMDC) is a bold undertaking, currently underway, to establish the first and only museum in our nation’s capital dedicated to the Chinese American story – its history, culture, and voice. We’re OPEN to visitors with live and online events, and permanent and special exhibits. With your support, the museum continues to grow! General Admission is always free! See our Visit page for visitor hours and upcoming programs.
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Mission and History
CAMDC was founded in 2017 by Chinese businessman Philip Qiu, who quoted to China Daily and is prominently displayed in CAMDC, that the mission of the museum is "to establish the 'first and only destination in Washington, D.C. dedicated to the Chinese American story' because it is the capital."
The museum is located in a 5-story historic building donated by Qiu, near Embassy Row and located four blocks north of the White House.
The museum focuses on the History of Chinese in America, with an emphasis on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, in cooperation with the 1882 Foundation. The primary exhibit is an interactive timeline of Chinese Americans.
In 2018 CAMDC held its first at an event at the Willard Hotel and hosts an annual gala and Golden Lantern Award to prominent Chinese Americans. In 2019, the museum completed the first phase of permanent exhibits for its reception lobby and first floor.
In 2020 CAMDC was closed to the public between 2020 and 2021 as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Since 2022 CAMDC has reopened to the public.
Exhibits
Permanent Exhibits
The primary exhibit at CAMDC is an interactive digital timeline of the Chinese in America, especially Early Chinese American History, and individual contemporary Chinese American figures and accomplishments.
Additional permanent displays are dedicated to the California Gold Rush, known as "Gold Mountain" to the Chinese, the Transcontinental Railroad, and the Chinese Exclusion Act. However, currently there are relatively few historical artifacts on display, including from Chinatown, Washington, D.C..
The last display highlights the 2018 Congressional Gold Medal dedicated to Chinese American Veterans of World War II. CAMDC has hosted several speakers on World War II.
Temporary Exhibits
The second and third floors currently have rotating temporary exhibits. Previous exhibits have included Chinese American Women in history.
Others have been "Golden Threads: Chinese Opera in America," "Wild Cranes" a visual poetry and calligraphy exhibit., Enchanting Stitches and Stories: Embroidery, and China from China: Porcelain & Stories of Early American Trade.
Jewish refugees in Shanghai during WWII have also been featured, although this is outside the scope of Chinese Americans.
Current exhibits as of 2023 include activist-photographer Corky Lee, actor and martial artist Bruce Lee, and a collection Qipao dresses.
Bamboo Circle
CAMDC sponsors the professional networking group called "Bamboo Circle" and is part of the Bamboo Network, the formal and informal network of Overseas Chinese, and leveraged by the United Front Work Department.
Golden Lantern Award
CAMDC honors prominent Chinese Americans with the Gold Lantern Award. Honorees included Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, television journalist Connie Chung, astronaut Taylor Wang, advocate and CEO of TIME'S UP Now, Tina Tchen, the inventor of the N95 mask technology, Dr. Peter Tsai, screenwriter Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon).
Association with the People's Republic of China
CAMDC is heavily promoted by the People's Republic of China and the United Front Work Department.
Chinese State Media
Founder Chinese businessman Qiu is quoted in a prominently displayed a copy of Chinese state news media China Daily. Qiu also cited that the "Embassy of China, Washington, D.C. spoke highly of our efforts".
CAMDC's first interview was with SinoVision</ref>, which is owned by The China Press, and created to distract from the Tiananmen Square Massacre. CAMDC has also been featured by Chinese government owned and operated CGTN</ref>.
China Daily, CGTN, and SinoVision are designated foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
Censorship
CAMDC conforms to China's One China Principle that there is only one China.
Displays are censored in accordance with Chinese Censorship, such as The Three Ts, that avoid mentioning Taiwan, Tibet, and the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
For example, the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 is mentioned but not that it was in response to the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
Reference to Hong Kong is inconsistent, such as emigration to escape the Handover of Hong Kong and later the Hong Kong Protests of 2019. Taiwan in any context is omitted entirely.
Ethnic Chinese (Hoa) boat people from Vietnam, the Caribbean and Latin America including Mexican Chinese, and later immigrated to the United States are not mentioned.
Agenda
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is featured heavily, in partnership with the associated 1882 Foundation.
Past exhibits highlighted Jews in Shanghai during World War II, despite no connection to Chinese Americans.
World War II and Chinese American veterans are promoted but without iconic of pictures of units such as the Flying Tigers or the China Burma India Theater.
Chinese American veterans of The Korean War, which the United States and United Nations fought against China and The Vietnam War are ignored.
