The L.A. Dynasty: Chinese Museum Planned for 1890 Building

After nearly two decades of expectation and unsuccessful effort, Chinese Americans and Downtown historians finally have a solid plan to open a museum addressing the Chinese experience in the city. Nearly half of the necessary $900,000 has been raised, with an opening targeted for the year 2000.

The site of the Museum of Chinese American History (MCAH) is the Garnier Building, a red-brick structure built in 1890. The museum in the three-leve edifice at 423 North Los Angeles Street, near Olvera Street, will hold exhibits on such things as Chinese history in the area and Chinese herbal medicine.

This will be a very important to showcase the history of the Chinese experience in California, said Stewart Kwoh, a commissioner on the board which overseas the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, the cluster of old buildings and property where Los Angeles began in 1781.

The museum plans were announced at a press conference in the rustic, empty building last week. The MCAH has long been anticipated by the Chinese community as a way to document their presence in the area, an experience they believe is overlooked by many Angelenos.

Lows and Highs
The first Chinese arrived in Los Angeles in 1852. By 1870 about 200 lived in the area around what is now Olvera Street. A low point occurred in 1871, when 19 Chinese men and boys were killed by a racially motivated mob in what has been called the Chinese Massacre.

In ensuing years the Chinese presence in the area grew. According to Jean Bruce Poole, historic museum director of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, the future museum structure was built in 1890 by Philippe Garnier from designs by 25-year-old architect Abraham Edelman. The building was inhabited by Chinese tenants, such as dry-goods merchants. It also housed the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and other citizens groups, earning a reputation, says Poole, as kind of a City Hall for the Chinese community.

Much of the community was displaced in the 1930s when City officials elected to build Union Station on what was then Chinatown. Thousands of people trundled a few blocks north to what is today's Chinatown, while some Chinese Angelenos settled in other portions of Downtown. Only the Chinatown around the northern reaches of Broadway survived.

According to museum official Munson Kwok the area around the Garnier Building, has seen the lowest points of Chinese history in Los Angeles, and the highest. Counterbalancing the Chinese Massacre, he says, was a 1943 visit from Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, wife of the Chinese leader. She delivered an address to the community from directly in front of the building.

Money
According to Kwok, the 6,000-square-foot Garnier building requires seismic retrofitting. The structure will be restored to its 1890 condition, with historical touches such as long-gone balconies. An elevator will also be installed.

Kwok added that so far $400,000 has been raised, with half coming from government sources (including the City of Los Angeles) and half from the private sector, including corporate sponsors such as Chinatown's Mega Toys and Catellus Development Corp., which owns Union Station.

Kwok expects about half of the remaining $500,000 to come from the community through fund-raisers and other events, while foundations and government grants will also be sought (though he notes City coffers are too depleted to be targeted again). He hopes to open the museum in the year 2000.

Some of the displays will depend on donations, said Kwok. The Chinese herbal store exhibit stems from a $50,000 contribution by herbalist Pedro Chan. There may be an exhibit dedicated to Chinese involvement in film and television, as well as a laundry exhibit, said Kwok.