Museum of Chinese in America

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Museum of Chinese in America MOCA is dedicated to preserving, illuminating, and celebrating the rich history and contributions of Chinese in America.
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By fostering understanding and greater recognition of our experiences, we endeavor to inspire and connect all Americans. Follow us on twitter: twitter.com/mocanyc
Check out our programs: http://www.youtube.com/mocanyc
Follow us on tumblr: chineseinamerica.tumblr.com
Follow us on Instagram!

10/09/2026

How did New York City’s Chinatown become the community we know today?

Take a look at this clip from A Community Takes Root, Episode 2 of NYC Media’s documentary series History of NYC’s Chinatown, exploring how early Chinese immigrants built a community, established roots, and shaped generations to come.

🎬 Join us at MOCA on October 14 at 6:30 PM for a special screening of Episodes 2 & 3, followed by a conversation with the filmmakers and community members featured in the series.

Discover the stories, people, and histories that continue to shape Chinatown today.

📍 Museum of Chinese in America | 215 Centre Street
🎟️ Register now through the link in our bio!

Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee (1896–1966) was a pioneer for women’s suffrage, a groundbreaking scholar, and a dedicated leader ...
10/09/2026

Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee (1896–1966) was a pioneer for women’s suffrage, a groundbreaking scholar, and a dedicated leader in New York City’s Chinatown. At just 16, she led thousands of people on horseback in New York’s 1912 suffrage parade and continued advocating for women’s rights through her studies and public speaking. Yet, because the Chinese Exclusion Act prevented her from becoming a naturalized citizen, she could not vote herself.

Lee went on to become the first Chinese woman to earn a Ph.D. in economics in the United States and later dedicated decades to serving Chinatown through the First Chinese Baptist Church and Chinese Christian Center. Her legacy lives on through her scholarship, suffrage activism, and community work.

10/07/2026

Hilda Shen, in her own words.

Opening October 22, Hilda Shen: Their Landscapes brings together recent ceramic sculptures and prints that explore nature, transformation, and the spaces between the ancient and the futuristic.

The exhibition inaugurates MOCA’s Solo Artist Projects (SAP), a new initiative dedicated to presenting compelling artistic voices through one-person exhibitions of new work.📅

October 22, 2026–January 24, 2027

Echoes of Arrival: Becoming opened at MOCA. 🎭Immigration is never a single arrival but an ongoing process of becoming. B...
10/07/2026

Echoes of Arrival: Becoming opened at MOCA. 🎭

Immigration is never a single arrival but an ongoing process of becoming. Bringing together theatre, dance, music, poetry, stand-up comedy, and personal narration, this performance follows the many ways immigrants remake themselves while building a life in a new country, through stories of change, resilience, loss, discovery, and belonging.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to our incredible ensemble who shared their stories with such honesty and heart.

Opening night cast: Shan Y. Chuang (Shan Y. Chuang 小善 ), Nikkiesha N. McLeod (Nikkiesha McLeod ), Pascal Phoa (Pascal Phoa ), Jeremy Rafal (Jeremy Rafal ), and Fang Tseng (Fang Tseng )

Directed by Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li

Catch it again: 10/8, 10/16, 10/22, and 11/6, 7:00–8:00 PM at MOCA.
Tickets at the link in bio.

10/06/2026

🥮🌕Mid-Autumn Festival at MOCA, in one reel!
16 activities. 519+ neighbors, families, and friends. One full moon’s worth of joy.

From the mooncake tasting station to the shadow puppet performance, families and friends gathered under one roof to celebrate together. Thank you to everyone who came, tasted, played, and made this day what it was!

A heartfelt thank you to our festival sponsors, whose generosity made the day possible:

YAMI Po Wing Hong Fay Da Bakery Harney & Sons Fine Teas , and NY Chinese Cultural Center

And our deepest gratitude to our funders for their continued support of MOCA‘s programs:
NYSCA , NYC Dept of Cultural Affairs , and the National Endowment f/t Arts

Which moment was your favorite? Tell us below👇

10/06/2026

Cheongsam Stories continues our exploration of the qipao collection at the Museum of Chinese in America.

Each qipao carries more than beautiful fabric and craftsmanship. Its cut, construction, decorative details, and signs of wear can offer glimpses into the person who once wore it and the time in which it was made.

In this episode, we take a closer look at another piece from MOCA’s collection and uncover the history held within its design. Through these garments, we continue tracing stories of fashion, identity, migration, and everyday Chinese American life.

October at MOCA 🍂There’s plenty happening this month—from performance and film to Chinatown history, hands-on artmaking,...
10/05/2026

October at MOCA 🍂

There’s plenty happening this month—from performance and film to Chinatown history, hands-on artmaking, and a new exhibition. Swipe through to see what’s coming up!

MOCA PERFORMS: Echoes of Arrival: Becoming
Through personal stories of change, resilience, loss, discovery, and belonging, Becoming explores immigration as an ongoing process of making a life—and remaking oneself—in a new country. Upcoming performances: Oct 8, 16 & 22, and Nov 6.

[Free admission] MOCA TALKS: From Collect Pond to Chinatown
On Oct 7, architect William Bialosky traces the surprising history beneath Chinatown—from Collect Pond and Five Points to the neighborhood we know today.

Chinatown: A Walk through History
Explore the streets, buildings, and gathering places that tell the story of one of NYC’s oldest and most culturally diverse neighborhoods. Tours take place Oct 10 & 24.

MOCACREATE: Journey to the West Shadow Stories
Join Teaching Artist Yu Rong on Oct 10 & 24 to explore the adventures of the Monkey King through shadow puppetry, storytelling, and hands-on artmaking.

MOCA CINEMA: History of NYC’s Chinatown
On Oct 14, watch Episodes 2 and 3 of NYC Media’s History of NYC’s Chinatown, followed by a conversation with filmmakers and community voices about Chinatown’s evolving histories and identities.

Sip & Brush: Calligraphy
Spend an evening with Teaching Artist Yu Rong on Oct 15 learning foundational Chinese calligraphy techniques and creating your own autumn-inspired work. All materials included.

New Exhibition: Hilda Shen — Their Landscapes
Opening Oct 22, Hilda Shen’s Their Landscapes brings together recent ceramic sculptures and prints exploring nature, architecture, construction, and decay. On view through Jan 24, 2027.

Meet MOCA’s 2026–2027 Performing Artists in Residence: pianist Han Chen (Han Chen ), artist and choreographer Valkyrie Y...
10/05/2026

Meet MOCA’s 2026–2027 Performing Artists in Residence: pianist Han Chen (Han Chen ), artist and choreographer Valkyrie Yao (Valkyrie Yao ), and multidisciplinary artist Jayden Liu (jayden liu // 劉峻豪 ).

We’re excited to welcome these three artists to MOCA and to see the new work, ideas, and performances they will develop throughout their residencies. Stay tuned for more.

09/30/2026

What does it mean to keep becoming?

For actor Pascal Phoa, Echoes of Arrival: Becoming is about finding yourself, finding where you belong, and rediscovering parts of yourself along the way.

Through personal stories, movement, music, and audience interaction, Echoes of Arrival: Becoming brings together immigrant artists to reflect on the experiences that shape who we are—and who we are still becoming.

Join us at MOCA for this intimate, immersive performance series beginning this Friday.

📍 Museum of Chinese in America
🗓 Oct. 2, Oct. 8, Oct. 16, Oct. 22 & Nov. 6
🎟 Tickets available now — link in bio

09/29/2026

Arrival is only the beginning.

Echoes of Arrival: Becoming returns to MOCA with personal stories of migration, adaptation, loss, discovery, and belonging—exploring how we remake ourselves while making a life in a new country.

Five performances: Oct. 2, 8, 16, 22 & Nov. 6. 🎟️ Get your tickets at the link in bio.

Address

215 Centre Street
New York, NY
10013

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 6pm
Thursday 2pm - 9pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+18559556622

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