Visit Us – Chinese Historical Society of Southern California

Visit Our Chinatown Heritage Center

The Chinatown Heritage Center is the premier source of information pertaining to the history of the Chinese in Southern California. Purchased by the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California in 1994, the two Queen Anne style buildings were built in the late 19^th century by the Phillip Fritz and were the Fritz family homes for over 100 years.

Artifacts Display

Artifacts from Old Los Angeles Chinatown, excavated during the construction of the Metro Rail Red Line at Union Station, are on display at the Chinatown Heritage Center.

Photo of front display room with artifact display case, pictures on the wall, information sheets and sign in book

Photo of front display room facing the bay windows with artifact display case

Photo of front display room facing to the left of the bay windows with artifact display case and map on an easel

Photo of front display room facing further to the left of the bay windows with artifact display case and additional maps

Photo of front display room facing opposite of the bay windows with additional framed maps on the wall, displays and tools

Photo of front display room showing detailed view of the artifacts in the display case including a Chinese game and dishes

Photo of front display room showing detailed view of the artifacts in the display case with more dishes

Photo of front display room showing detailed view of the artifacts in the display case with tea service

Photo of front display room showing detailed view of the artifacts in the display case with medicine bottle and Chinese coins

Photo of front display room showing detailed view of the artifacts in the display case with dishes, toothbrushes, and figurine

Photo of front display room showing detailed view of the artifacts in the display case with more figurines

Photo of front display room showing the wall to the right of the bay windows, including pictures of the Chinese Shrine on the wall, information displays, an abacus and the sign in book

Photo of front display room showing the corner of the room to the left of the bay window with a map showing the movement of the early immigrants, tools, hat and map of China

Photo of front display room showing the wall opposite the bay windows with framed maps on the wall, pictures of maps and buildings and our Golden Spike award on top of the fireplace

Drum & Bugle Corps Display

In 2018, the Drum and Bugle Corps launched an exhibit at the Chinatown Heritage Center. The Corps was formed in 1954 and enjoyed a thirty-year history, proudly representing their community in parades, concerts, and in competition. Until 1976, corps membership was limited to any youth of Asian ancestry under the age of 22 years. Nicknamed the Imperial Dragons, the corps eventually grew to compete on a national level against other corps that eventually formed the modern day Drum Corps International.

Photo of the Drum & Bugle Display room with an information poster on the left wall, display case, bugles, a mannequin dressed in uniform, more information posters on the back wall

Photo of the Drum & Bugle Display room with more information posters on the left side wall, drums and bugle on the floor

Photo of the Drum & Bugle Display room with an information posters on the front and left walls, hats on the front wall, and drums on the floor

Photo of the Drum & Bugle Display room with a view of the front wall, including 5 hats on a display shelf and information posters underneath

Photo of the Drum & Bugle Display room with a close up picture of the information poster on the front wall, Through the Years: Los Angeles Chinese Drum & Bugle Corps 1954 - 1977

Photo of the Drum & Bugle Display room with a closeup picture of the Los Angeles Chinese Drum & Bugle Corps in uniform

Research Center and Library

The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California has welcomed students, scholars and the general public to the Chinatown Heritage Center to conduct research in our archives, pursue our library, and talk to our resident historians. The center offers information that is unavailable anywhere else, invaluable to the researcher, historian or simply the inquisitive.

Our physical library features an extensive collection of books pertaining to Chinese American and Asian history. We have books about Chinese culture, fiction, cookbooks and more!