In commemoration of the Centennial of the 1906 Great Quake and Fire, CHSA presents Earthquake: The Chinatown Story, an exhibition sharing the Chinese experience during and after the disaster of 1906, a pivotal point in Chinese American history.
The exhibit highlights several untold stories of Chinatown quake survivors, such as a young American-born Chinese boy who was bayoneted as he attempted to retrieve his birth certificate from his home, a seven year old girl fleeing the fire with her family from Chinatown, and Superintendent Carrie Davis’ account of evacuating Chinese orphans from the Oriental Home.
Items in the exhibit include photos of Chinatown before the quake, historical documents, and newspaper articles about how the small enclave was destroyed by the quake and fire. Visitors will also learn about attempts to relocate Chinatown from its current location, and about changes to Chinatown’s landscape after 1906.