Chinese American Museum Washington DC

12/09/2023

Corky Lee devoted his life to making sure the Chinese and Asian American story was documented. He was born in Queens, NY in 1947 and passed away in his home state in 2021 due to Covid. When one looks back in history, at almost every important Asian American event, Corky Lee is behind the camera. He photographed the protests for justice for Vincent Chin in Detroit, he documented the unfair housing conditions in New York City; but his photographs did not just focus on highlighting the negatives that the Asian American communities were facing. Corky Lee also documented their triumphs, such as photographing Sonya Thomas, after her victory at the Coney Island hot dog eating contest. His work is instrumental to understanding the Asian American experience, which is why we say thank you to Corky Lee!

To see more of Corky’s work and how it impacted our community, stop by the museum between 10 am - 4 pm Thursday-Saturdays.

12/07/2023

As the federal government decided that Chinatown in D.C. would be replaced by government buildings and the Federal Triangle, members of the Chinese community quickly sought out other ways to protect their people. By the 1920s, two tongs (volunteer groups with shared interests) made moves to secure a new space for Chinese Americans. The Leong Tong purchased a building at 618 and 620 H St NW for its members to convene, and eventually the other tong, Hip Sing Tong, joined them. Chinatown began to expand at this new H St location, which included businesses, schools, clubs and more. Some of the most important institutions to D.C.’s Chinatown included a Chinese School, established in 1931 to teach and preserve Chinese culture, and the Chinese Community Church, which is still in-use today at 500 I St NW.

This picture is one of the first buildings the Leong Tong group purchased on H St.

Picture: On Leong Chinese Merchant Association, 620 H Street, N.W.; July 6, 1963 (Source: Edmund Barrett, Kiplinger Washington Collection, Historical Society of Washington, D.C.)

Sources: https://www.nps.gov/places/dc-chinatown.htm #:~:text=D.C.'s%20first%20Chinatown%20was,and%20had%20then%20migrated%20east.

11/30/2023

This jumpsuit in our current exhibit is a replica of Bruce Lee’s iconic costume in Game of Death, released in 1978. Game of Death was the last film that Lee worked on, in which he starred in, produced, and directed. However, Lee would die before the film’s actual release.

The jumpsuit instantly became an iconic costume in film and media that played homage to Lee. Other films that reference the jumpsuit include Uma Thurman’s tracksuit in Kill Bill: Volume 1, Revenge of the Nerds, High Risk, and Shaolin Soccer. Video games that reference the jumpsuit include Tekken and The Last of Us.

11/28/2023

Join us for a historical and sensory exploration of Chinese cuisine with Fuchsia Dunlop, a celebrated cook and food writer from the U.K. Dunlop will introduce us to her latest book Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food on Wednesday, December 13th at 4:30 pm EST. In conversation will be Jen Lin-Liu, author, culinary journalist, events director, and culinary consultant at Chang Chang, a restaurant by Peter Chang in Washington, D.C.

This program is made possible with the support of The Ruth H. Kuo and Rhoda How Memorial Foundation.

Register for this free, online event with the following link: https://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/fuchsia-dunlop

11/23/2023

CAMDC wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for all those who have supported our museum. Thank you to all our staff, volunteers, and visitors! Without you, this museum would not be possible.

You may notice instead of a turkey this image has a Peking duck! What are your family traditions for Thanksgiving? Do you opt for an Asian-inspired Thanksgiving or go the more conventional route with turkey? Comment below!

11/22/2023

CAMDC will be closed the following dates for the holidays!

11/23, 11/24, 11/25

Our regular hours will resume next week.

11/21/2023

To promote intergenerational communication, Chinese American Museum DC, with the support of the Calvin J. Li Memorial Foundation, will host a new essay contest entitled “Dreams of My Parent(s).” Through this essay contest, we hope to foster positive family dialogues and cultivate understanding and appreciation of our shared cultural heritage and immigrant experience. Learn More on https://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/student-essay-video.

11/19/2023

Come meet the author, Sally Wen Mao, poet and author of Oculus, Mad Honey Symposium, and most recently, The Kingdom of Surfaces on Sunday, December 3rd from 4pm to 5pm EST. Sally was a recipient of the Pushcart Prize in 2017, and her newest poetry book was a finalist for the 2023 Maya Angelou Book Award. The Kingdom of Surfaces explores art, history, women, and orientalism. It investigates how Western fantasy views Chinese aesthetics, art, and people through poetry. Dr. Dawn Li, poet and author of Songs of a Lotus Leaf will be in conversation with Sally Wen Mao.

This program is made possible with the support of The Ruth H. Kuo and Rhoda How Memorial Foundation.

Register for this event with this link:
https://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/sallywenmao

11/18/2023

Chinatown in DC began in the 1850s, but not in the current place that many residents and visitors are familiar with today. The original Chinatown occupied the south of Pennsylvania Avenue and at its peak extended to 2nd and 4 ½ street. This area developed as Chinese immigrants from the West Coast came out East to seek refuge from anti-Chinese sentiment. They built a thriving community, ranging from restaurants, drug stores, laundromats, and more. By 1928, the community had around 600 Chinese residents. However, the community was forced to relocate in 1931 due to the development of the Federal Triangle and other National Mall Projects.

To see more about the history and development of Chinatowns across America, please consider supporting our initiative towards building a permanent exhibit on Chinese American communities:
https://chineseamericanmuseum.app.neoncrm.com/forms/exhibit---american-communities-

Sources:
https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/december-2017/the-rise-and-fall-of-dcs-chinatown

Image Source:
The Evening Star, 08 January 1898, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Lib. of Congress

11/17/2023

Last Monday CAMDC had a great Meet the Author event with Abigail Hing Wen, , author of the Loveboat series! Abigail discussed her inspiration from the series, the importance of having Asian Americans represented in all types of stories and media, and much more. Be sure to get a signed copy of her newest book, Loveboat Forever, at the museum!

11/14/2023

This Bruce Lee “side-kick” statue is a smaller version of one that was unveiled at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles earlier this summer. The full sized statue is 5’8’’, making it the only life-size statue of Bruce Lee in North America. It was put on display as part of an exhibition of Hong Kong sculptor Chu Tat Shing’s work but the life-size piece has since been donated to the Bruce Lee Foundation.

The Bruce Lee: American Son & International Icon exhibit will be on display until January 2024.

11/13/2023

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers, this museum would not be possible without you!

This was taken at Chang Chang in DC as our first volunteer dinner, we are looking forward to many more.

11/11/2023

CAMDC would like to thank and honor all of the veterans for their service. We are so grateful to everyone who has bravely and selflessly protected our nation and its people.

11/10/2023

CAMDC gets the last word in in today's Washington Post panda article.

The pandas have departed the National Zoo for China, leaving D.C. heartbroken. Some of the city’s biggest panda lovers are stashing away their cherished memories.

11/03/2023

It’s time to fall in love again. Meet the New York Times Bestselling author, Abigail Hing Wen, as she joins us at the Chinese American Museum DC to discuss her latest young adult romance, Loveboat Forever.

Don’t miss the boat! Space is limited for our Monday, November 13, 2023 live event and registration is required for entry. A reception will run from 5:30-6:30 pm with a book presentation and signing to follow.

Register with this link or on our website! https://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/abigail-hing-wen

11/01/2023

Come check out our newest exhibit of Dr. Kit-Keung Kan's Ink Painting, Calligraphy, and Installation Art, titled the Rhythm of Nature. In this exhibit, Dr. Kan's work shows how traditional Chinese art mixes with Western ideals and locations, making a distinctive style of art. He has also showcases his iconic flowing scrolls with poetry and calligraphy that adds a 3D element to his artwork. This exhibit will run through December 31st, 2023.

10/25/2023

Join us for a special discussion about the threats facing Chinatowns all across America, with a special focus on Philadelphia on Thursday, November 2nd, from 5 to 6 p.m. The conversation will go over how historically Chinatowns have been a targeted space and then move into specifics of how the development of a new 76ers arena threatens the livelihoods of many in Philadelphia’s Chinatown, as well as what can be done about it.

The conversation will be moderated by Yilin Zhang, communications strategist, health care professional, and former political candidate in DC. Joining us will include Kaia Chau and Taryn Flaherty, two student activists and presidents of , Lisa Mao, director, writer, and co-producer of A Tale of Three Chinatowns, and lastly, Deborah Wei, long-time activist and founder of Asian Americans United.

We hope to see you there! Register with https://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/chinatown-philly

10/18/2023

What a night! The Chinese American Museum DC’s Third Gold Lantern Awards, held for the first time on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, was truly “An Evening to Inspire.” It was a golden opportunity to celebrate diverse Chinese Americans for their outstanding accomplishments, leadership, service, and indelible American spirit.

We would like to thank all the honorees and performers for their wonderful speeches and dazzling performances, as well as the CAMDC staff and volunteers who put such hard work into making this event possible. Lastly, thank you to everyone who supported us at this event! We are only beginning to tell the Chinese American story. There is much work ahead as we develop more permanent exhibits and programs in the next critical phase of the museum’s development.

To make more events like this possible, please consider donating to CAMDC’s Third Anniversary Campaign. Your contribution, at any level, helps to move us forward.

Photographs courtesy of Mr. Qiwu Oiu and Mr. Jinren Du of VA Photo Club

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10/14/2023

The next recipient of our Community Award is Bel Leong-Hong! Mrs. Leong-Hong is a business leader and activist with more than thirty years in public service. She is the founder, president, and CEO of Knowledge Advantage Inc. (KAI). KAI specializes in information technology, knowledge management, cybersecurity solutions, leadership development, and more.

Mrs. Leong-Hong also has served as the elected Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) AAPI Caucus and is a member of the DNC Executive Committee. She actively engages AAPIs across the country to increase their empowerment and participation in politics. In addition, she is the co-chair of the AAPI Leadership Council of the DNC/NFC, a Trustee of the MD Democratic Party, and a member of the Executive Committee of the MD Democratic Party.

Thank you Bel Leong-Hong!

10/13/2023

Our next honoree is Dr. Henry Lee! We are awarding him the Life Achievement Award. Dr. Lee is a renowned forensic scientist considered to be one of the world’s leading experts in the field. He has worked on numerous high-profile cases, such as the O.J. Simpson murder trial, the JonBenét Ramsey murder investigation, and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Lee is also the founder of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven.

Lee immigrated to the U.S. in 1965 from Taiwan, and earned his bachelor’s degree in forensic science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and his master’s and doctorate degrees in biochemistry from New York University. In 1986, he helped to convict the first person in the United States for a crime based on DNA evidence. Lee’s work has led to new developments and techniques in blood spatter analyzation, fingerprints, and other evidence; as well as criminal conviction and the exoneration of innocent people.

Thank you Dr. Henry Lee!

10/12/2023

Next, we would like to honor Paul Li! He is the second recipient of our Community Award. He is the founder of Calvin J Li Memorial Foundation, whose mission is to help bridge the cultural gap between Asian immigrant parents and their American-born children, raise the awareness of emotional wellbeing of the children, and promote a supportive social and family environment for the children to reach their full potential. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for United Chinese Americans, and Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC).

Paul is also the founder of FHL Investment Management Company, serving investment needs for individuals and institutions. Previously he was a partner and senior equity analyst at Brown Advisory, a Baltimore-based investment management company. Paul obtained his Ph.D. and MBA from Cornell University, a Master’s degree from Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a Bachelor degree from Wuhan University.

Paul came to the US in 1991 from China. He now lives with his wife and daughter in Rockville, Maryland.

Thank you Paul Li for all your contributions!

10/12/2023

CAMDC will be closing early on Friday, October 13th. We will be open from 10am to 2pm, regular hours resume on Saturday!

10/11/2023

Larry Trung La is our next honoree. He is the recipient of the Community Award, given out to recognize special contributions to our community. Larry is an ethnic Chinese from Vietnam and came to the U.S. as a refugee. He is best known as the founder and CEO of Meiwah Restaurant Group, whose restaurants have repeatedly won many annual food critics awards and been voted the Best Chinese Restaurant by numerous media outlets.

Larry is also the Founder, Partner, and VP Business Development of the U.S. - Asia Links, LLC, an international tradition company focused on promoting trade between the U.S., China, and Vietnam. Aside from his business ventures, Larry invests much of his time into non-profit groups. He is another founding member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce for the Capital City Area. His work to develop ties between Asia and America are truly fundamental.

Lastly, Larry is a recipient of the 2015 Outstanding American By Choice Award from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. He currently resides in Rockville, Maryland with his wife, Diana La.

Thank you Larry La!

10/09/2023

Our next honoree is Yue-Sai Kan! Yue-Sai Kan is also receiving a Life Achievement Award. She is an Emmy-winning television host, producer, entrepreneur, fashion icon, author and humanitarian. People magazine has called her “the most famous woman in China,” and Time magazine proclaimed her as “the Queen of the Middle Kingdom.”

Yue-Sai’s work became popular in the U.S. during the 1970s with a weekly television series, “Looking East,” which was the first of its kind to introduce Asian cultures and customs to an American audience. Yue-Sai hosted several more shows that highlighted cross-cultural connections between Asia and the United States.

In 1992, she created her own cosmetics brand, which grew into China’s leading cosmetics company, selling products in more than 800 outlets through 23 regional companies in China’s major markets. The company was purchased by L’Oreal in 2004. In addition, Yue-Sai has written 9 best-selling books and is deeply involved with charity work,such as the Shanghai Soong Qing Ling Foundation, Citymeals on Wheels, and more.

Thank you, Yue-Sai Kan!

10/06/2023

Maxine Hong Kingston will receive the Life Achievement Award at the museum's 2023 Gold Lantern Awards. To gear up for the upcoming event on October 13th at the Kennedy Center, we would like to share a little bit about some of our honorees and their accomplishments.

Maxine Hong Kingston is a renowned author, with titles such as The Woman Warrior, China Men, and the Fifth Book of Peace. She has received several awards for her works and also presidential medals for her contributions to the humanities. President Clinton bestowed to her the National Humanities Medal, and President Obama gave Kingston the National Medal of Arts.

Kingston currently resides in Oakland, California as an emerita in creative writing at the University of California, Berkeley.

To learn more about the museum or the Gold Lantern Awards, visit our web site at www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org.

10/04/2023

Have you gotten the chance to see our exhibit, Fashioning Identity in Qipao: The Image of Modern Women? If not, be sure to visit our museum before this exhibit closes! Last day to view is October 14th.

10/02/2023

Thanks to everyone who showed out for Community Day on Saturday! We had so much fun with you! 😁

Special thanks to Peter Chang and his team for the mooncake demonstration, Melody Chen for the wonderful Guzheng performance, and Teaism for providing us with tea for refreshments. We all hope you enjoyed Community Day as much as we did.

09/30/2023

Looking for inspiration? Join us for the 2023 Gold Lantern Awards “An Evening to Inspire” at The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater on October 13, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. A part of the museum’s anniversary, the event celebrates diverse Chinese Americans for their outstanding accomplishments, leadership, service, and indelible American spirit.

This variety program is an evening for ALL audiences, regardless of heritage, with inspirational stories, lively cultural and modern entertainment, and a shared purpose.

Gold Lantern Award recipients are recognized for their excellence, leadership, and service to the Chinese American community and beyond. 2023 awardees include poet, author, and activist Maxine Hong Kingston; television host, entrepreneur, author, fashion icon, and humanitarian Yue-Sai Kan; forensic scientist and media personality Dr. Henry Lee; innovator Stephany Yu; former Career Civilian Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and AAPI advocate Bel Leong-Hong; community leaders Larry La and Paul Li, and a posthumous award to student-hero Peter Wang, among others. Honored guests include members of Congress, US diplomats and Asian ambassadors to the US, and prominent leaders in business, arts, culture, community, and media.

The 90-minute program features exciting cultural and contemporary entertainment including Qipao dancers, a members’ chorus, blind pianist Liu Hao, a Wushu demonstration, and the lively tones of the Brian Eng jazz sextet. The event will be co-emceed by former news anchor and TV journalist Joie Chen and museum director David Uy.

Tickets are $60, or $35 for seniors, students, and veterans. For reservations, please visit the CAMDC web site or the Kennedy Center at https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/international/2023-2024/gold-lantern-awards-2023/.

Dress is business casual, festive, or Asian-inspired.

The 2023 Gold Lantern Awards is an event produced by the Chinese American Museum DC. This program is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.

09/29/2023

CAMDC wishes everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋节快乐！

09/28/2023

The Mid-Autumn Festival starts on September 29th this year and will end on October 6th. Many use the Mid-Autumn Festival as a time to reunite with family and have dinner together with their loved ones. While celebrating with their family, people traditionally eat mooncakes, duck, pomelos, crab, and Osmanthus-flavored wine. In addition, many make lanterns while enjoying the moon. Take part in celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival by participating in any of these activities!

09/28/2023

The Mid-Autumn Festival has origins dating back to over 3,000 years during the Zhou Dynasty. Chinese emperors would pray and celebrate the moon every year during the Mid-Autumn season, believing that it would create a plentiful harvest during the springtime. The custom grew among the masses and it eventually became an 8 day celebration.

However, the legend surrounding the holiday is much more mythical in its origins. The story follows a couple, Lady Chang’e and her husband, Hou Yi. Hou Yi was given an elixir of immortality from the Queen as a reward for his bravery; but Hou Yi did not want to gain immortality so he asked his wife to keep it safe.

One day while Hou Yi was away, someone tried to steal the elixir. Out of fear, Chang’e drank the elixir and flew high into the sky to be with the gods. In order to be closer to her husband, Chang’e decided to make the moon her new home. Hou Yi would then make offerings of incense and mooncakes to honor Chang’e’s memory.

09/20/2023

Looking for inspiration? Join us for the 2023 Gold Lantern Awards “An Evening to Inspire” at The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater on October 13, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. A part of the museum’s anniversary, the event celebrates diverse Chinese Americans for their outstanding accomplishments, leadership, service, and indelible American spirit.

This variety program is an evening for ALL audiences, regardless of heritage, with inspirational stories, lively cultural and modern entertainment, and a shared purpose.

Gold Lantern Award recipients are recognized for their excellence, leadership, and service to the Chinese American community and beyond. 2023 awardees include poet, author, and activist Maxine Hong Kingston; television host, entrepreneur, author, fashion icon, and humanitarian Yue-Sai Kan; forensic scientist and media personality Dr. Henry Lee; innovator Stephany Yu; former Career Civilian Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and AAPI advocate Bel Leong-Hong; community leaders Larry La and Paul Li, and a posthumous award to student-hero Peter Wang, among others. Honored guests include members of Congress, US diplomats and Asian ambassadors to the US, and prominent leaders in business, arts, culture, community, and media.

The 90-minute program features exciting cultural and contemporary entertainment including Qipao dancers, a members’ chorus, blind pianist Liu Hao, a Wushu demonstration, and the lively tones of the Brian Eng jazz sextet. The event will be co-emceed by former news anchor and TV journalist Joie Chen and museum director David Uy.

Tickets are $60, or $35 for seniors, students, and veterans. For reservations, please visit the CAMDC web site or the Kennedy Center at https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/international/2023-2024/gold-lantern-awards-2023/.

Dress is business casual, festive, or Asian-inspired.

The 2023 Gold Lantern Awards is an event produced by the Chinese American Museum DC. This program is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.

09/20/2023

Come see us tonight and tomorrow (9/20-9/21, Wed-Thurs) at the Mid-Autumn Night Market ... a lively two-day Hong Kong night market, with guest chefs, cultural performances, DJs, baijiu and sake bars, mooncakes and more, all to help raise funds for Hawaii disaster relief through World Central Kitchen. At HI-Lawn at Union Market on 5th Street NE. www.hilawndc.com

09/20/2023

This iconic photo was taken by Corky Lee during a series of protests against the NYPD in 1975. It is commonly used when discussing Asian American activism, as the picture highlights unity with their linked arms. Lee became inspired to take pictures of Asian Americans after seeing a photograph in his high school history textbook of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, and not a single Chinese worker could be found in the photograph. His work is essential in telling the Chinese American story, it documents the struggles, successes, and everyday life of our community.

Come see more of Corky Lee's work at CAMDC!

09/14/2023

Amazing!

The Lunar New Year will now be observed in all public schools in the state of New York, following legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Hochul said the new law is important because it recognizes New York’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, celebrates the first new moon of the lunar calendar and this year will take place on Feb. 10. It symbolizes a fresh start and is celebrated differently by each culture.

Read more: https://nbcnews.app.link/ykfWzKjD2Cb

09/13/2023

You may have already seen the gorgeous display of qipao at the museum’s latest exhibit, Fashioning Identity in Qipao: The Image of Modern Women. Now hear from the curators, experts, and fans of qipao fashion as they talk about the history and social impact of the quintessential Chinese dress.

Joining the discussion will be exhibit curator Professor Yan Sun at Gettysburg College; Shanghai qipao designer and founder of the famous Chinese brand, "Na Qipao" Mingming Yang; and private collector and enthusiast collector Julia (Qingqing). Moderated by Executive Director, David Uy.

Register for this free event with the following link or with the one in our bio!
https://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/loveofqipao

Chinese American Museum in DC is a new Washington museum, the first and only museum in our nation's

09/13/2023

https://sfstandard.com/2023/09/12/angel-island-james-chow/?fbclid=IwAR2b9DTHDYE4yUC_oXkfaRO6WpVFnSBv3_ONa3HsvNIRfrrab9ar2UgnBAM_aem_AadvBdsBpvOvoVpW7fShsRj8md8joW7jNuWNhlWhijHXaGA-tPCkLm_rqxjPn3xiMTU&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

To reenter the U.S., James Chow had to prove he was a native-born citizen.

09/12/2023

Our friends at the 1882 Foundation are excited to host the second Chinese American Women in History conference this October! This year’s theme is “Locating Kinship Across Space and Time,” and explores how Chinese American women have forged interpersonal connections, fostered care, and facilitated community throughout history and in the present day.

This free event will be hosted in person and online, be sure to type in the link at the bottom of the image for more information.

09/11/2023

Among the heroes of September 11th, Betty Ong, was an American Airlines flight attendant aboard Flight 11, the first plane to be hijacked. Amidst the panic and confusion of that day’s earliest events, Ong used one of the plane’s phones to convey vital information for 25 minutes that led the FAA to close all airspace and aided in the identification of the hijackers.

09/08/2023

What's your dream? What comes to mind when you think of dreams? Does it come from the past, the present, or the future? Is it a dream that creeps up on you late at night, a wishful daydream that leads you roaming around the world, or a big dream to chase after and come true? We hope that you can use your endless imagination to visualize your dream.

All students from 1st to 12th grade are welcome to apply! Please check our website for more information.

https://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/2024studentart