Museum in the storied Garnier Building features historical & art exhibits, plus cultural events. Symbolically housed in the oldest and last surviving structure of Los Angeles’ original Chinatown, the 7,200 square foot Chinese American Museum (CAM) embodies a cultural and physical link to the past, as well as a promising point of entry for the city’s multicultural future. Opened on December 18, 2003 after 20 years of dedicated community and civic leadership and support, CAM’s presence at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument—a 44-acre public park honored as Los Angeles’ “birthplace” and the site of its original Chinatown—reflects the vibrant development of an immigrant history that began over 150 years ago when the first major Chinese settlement was documented in Los Angeles. CAM is dedicated to researching, preserving, and sharing the experiences and contributions of Chinese Americans in the United States through quality exhibitions, programs, events, publications, and workshops. In addition to its role in the community as an active-learning institution, CAM is also proud to serve as a visual symbol of new and emerging traditions.
The mission of the Chinese American Museum (CAM) is to foster a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, America’s diverse heritage by researching, preserving, and sharing the history, rich cultural legacy, and continued contributions of Chinese Americans.
The Chinese American Museum (CAM) is the first museum in Southern California dedicated to the Chinese American experience and history in this region. CAM initially began as a discussion between the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC) and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, a department of the city of Los Angeles. In October of 1984, a committee was formed to discuss the preservation of the historic Garnier Building in downtown Los Angeles, which had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places 12 years prior as part of the Los Angeles Plaza Historic District . Due to the strong efforts of Dr. Munson Kwok and Mr. Howard Quon, a Founding Donors program was established in December of 1985 with the intent of housing the then-titled Museum of Chinese American History within the Garnier Building. In 1987, under the leadership of Charter President Dr. Dan Louie, Jr., local historians, educators, community volunteers, and descendants of Chinese American pioneer families formed the Friends of the Chinese American Museum—a volunteer support group committed to generating community interest and support for the museum, acquiring artifacts, conducting research, and raising funds.
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