Memories Keep Alive in San Diego’s Old Chinatown

The city buzzes with sports fans and music, yet a quiet corner of Third Avenue hides a piece of history. A white‑brick building that once served as a church now hosts the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, where stories of a vanished Chinatown are kept alive.

Guided Walks Every First Sunday

• Guide: Amie Lee Garapich, who grew up near Chula Vista and has spent a decade sharing the area’s past.
• Start Point: Inside the museum, where shelves display small scenes of a once‑busy street: wooden facades and tiny figures representing the quiet streets of the 1940s.
• Personal Touch: Garapich recalls childhood trips to a market called Woo Chee Chong and weekly Chinese language lessons.

From Church to Cultural Hub

Stepping outside, the building’s church‑like shape reminds visitors of its earlier role as a place of worship. Garapich shares:

• Her father’s service as pastor.
• Community activities: clubs, picnics, and youth outings.

Preserved Storefronts

The walk continues past preserved storefronts—Benevolent Association, Quin Produce, Yingon Labor Association.
Only a wooden door or roof with carved characters survives in many places, yet each still speaks of the people who once lived and worked there.

Iconic Dragon Mural

A large dragon mural on Third Avenue, painted in 2001 with community support, draws attention and photographs.
It marks the northern edge of what used to be Chinatown.

Detour: Market Street & 664 Sun Café

• Location: Red‑labeled sign on Market Street.
• History: Former “664 Sun Café,” one of San Diego’s oldest buildings.
• 1870s shooting gallery → Japanese‑American restaurant → owners forced into internment camps during WWII.

Bridging Past and Present

Today, Asian‑American businesses are scattered across busy streets, but the museum remains a vital link to a heritage that might otherwise fade.
Garapich’s goal: bridge past and present, sharing personal memories from the 1940s and 1950s so that younger generations understand their city’s cultural roots.

Learn More

For those interested in learning more, visit the museum’s website for details about tours and other educational programs.