Emily PanJan 20, 20217 minDouble Luck: Memoirs of a Chinese Orphan (Parts V & VI)Double Luck tells the story of Lu Chi Fa, a Chinese American who escaped Communist China and made his way to America. In 1944, Lu Chi...
Emily PanJul 11, 20202 minVentura's Chinese Fire CompanyChinese Fire Company In the 1860s, the first wave of hard-working Chinese immigrants to Ventura showed up as laborers, laundrymen,...
Emily PanJul 8, 20202 minSLO Chinatown by Huell HowserOverview In the mid-1800s, many Chinese people came to California in search of a better life, but also to help build their community....
Emily PanJul 6, 20202 min"Gandy Dancers" Iron Road Pioneers Statue"Gandy Dancers" Iron Road Pioneers Statue (Photo Courtesy of Emily Pan) The "Gandy Dancers" statue, located at the entrance to the San...
Emily PanJul 4, 20201 minEvidence the Chinese Built the RailroadsEvidence from the Southern Pacific Railway Company and Howard Louis that the Chinese Built the San Luis Obispo railraods (Image Courtesy...
Emily PanJul 4, 20202 minThe Chinese Came in Response to the Gold Rush, But Were Quickly MistreatedTimeline of Chinese History in California by San Luis Obispo Weekly Tribune (Image courtesy of History Center of San Luis Obispo County)...
Emily PanJul 4, 20201 minCommunity Reactions When Chinese Exclusion Bill Becomes A LawCommunity reactions to Chinese Exclusion Bill (Image Courtesy of History center of San Luis Obispo County) That was how the community...
Emily PanJul 4, 20202 minDraining Laguna LakeLaguna Lake before Being Drained (Photo Courtesy of History Center of San Luis Obispo County) Introduction Before Laguna Lake was...
Emily PanJul 4, 20203 minPacific Coast and Southern Pacific RailraodRailroads were crucial to transportation within San Luis Obispo County, as well as communicating with the State and Country. The Pacific...
Emily PanJul 4, 20201 minThreats to the Chinese in the 1880sAnti-Chinese Club In November 1885, the anti-Chinese club was formed, and they adopted Denis Kearney’s motto: “The Chinese must go!”....
Emily PanJul 4, 20202 minThe Ah Louis FamilyAh Louis: Funded the founding of a Chinese school in the joss house (temple) at 818 Palm Street Lived a bicultural life Invited...
Emily PanJun 25, 20201 minFeelings towards the Chinese by The BreezeThe April 15, 1896 publication of The Evening Breeze shared feelings of hatred towards Chinese merchants in San Luis Obispo. There was an...
Emily PanJun 23, 20202 minChinese Contribution to San Luis Obispo Railroad(Video Courtesy of Elliot Gong) Though often forgotten, the railroads present in San Luis Obispo would not be here today, if it weren't...
Emily PanJun 23, 20205 minAh Louis in San Luis Obispo(Video courtesy of Elliot Gong) Wong On, more commonly referred to as Ah Louis, was a Chinese banker, labor contractor, farmer,...
Emily PanJun 23, 20201 minSLO Tore Down Chinatown to Put Up a Parking Garage and Hotel1950: Council tears down Chinatown to put up a parking lot Back in the day, cars mattered more than someone else's culture 1995:...
Emily PanJun 23, 20201 minA Timeline of the Chinese Population in San Luis Obispo1840s: People came from the East Coast to the gold rush Foreigners arrive to the Central Coast in response to the shortage of laborers...
Emily PanJun 23, 20201 minAh Louis StoreAh Louis Store today (Photo courtesy of Elliot Gong) The historic Ah Louis Store identifies with Ah Louis, a Chinese American pioneer,...
Emily PanJun 23, 20203 minWhat California Meant to Ah LouisIn March of 1934, Chester Newten Hess sat down to interview Ah Louis. Below is some of what Ah Louis had to say. Click here for the full...
Emily PanJun 23, 20202 minPhysical Qualities of the Ah Louis StoreAh Louis Store (Photo courtesy of Elliot Gong) The Ah Louis Store was a general merchandise store, and pharmacy. It was originally built...
Emily PanJun 23, 20202 minHoward Louis and the Ah Louis StoreAh Louis was both the father of eight children, and the owner of the Ah Louis Store. As Ah Louis' fourth son described him, "Any Chinese...