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...

Chinese Fire Company In the 1860s, the first wave of hard-working Chinese immigrants to Ventura showed up as laborers, laundrymen,...

Overview In the mid-1800s, many Chinese people came to California in search of a better life, but also to help build their community....

"Gandy Dancers" Iron Road Pioneers Statue (Photo Courtesy of Emily Pan) The "Gandy Dancers" statue, located at the entrance to the San...

Evidence from the Southern Pacific Railway Company and Howard Louis that the Chinese Built the San Luis Obispo railraods (Image Courtesy...

Timeline of Chinese History in California by San Luis Obispo Weekly Tribune (Image courtesy of History Center of San Luis Obispo County)...

Community reactions to Chinese Exclusion Bill (Image Courtesy of History center of San Luis Obispo County) That was how the community...

Laguna Lake before Being Drained (Photo Courtesy of History Center of San Luis Obispo County) Introduction Before Laguna Lake was...

Railroads were crucial to transportation within San Luis Obispo County, as well as communicating with the State and Country. The Pacific...

Anti-Chinese Club In November 1885, the anti-Chinese club was formed, and they adopted Denis Kearney’s motto: “The Chinese must go!”....

Ah Louis: Funded the founding of a Chinese school in the joss house (temple) at 818 Palm Street Lived a bicultural life Invited...

The April 15, 1896 publication of The Evening Breeze shared feelings of hatred towards Chinese merchants in San Luis Obispo. There was an...

(Video Courtesy of Elliot Gong) Though often forgotten, the railroads present in San Luis Obispo would not be here today, if it weren't...

(Video courtesy of Elliot Gong) Wong On, more commonly referred to as Ah Louis, was a Chinese banker, labor contractor, farmer,...

1950: Council tears down Chinatown to put up a parking lot Back in the day, cars mattered more than someone else's culture 1995:...

1840s: People came from the East Coast to the gold rush Foreigners arrive to the Central Coast in response to the shortage of laborers...

Ah Louis Store today (Photo courtesy of Elliot Gong) The historic Ah Louis Store identifies with Ah Louis, a Chinese American pioneer,...

In 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...

Ah Louis Store (Photo courtesy of Elliot Gong) The Ah Louis Store was a general merchandise store, and pharmacy. It was originally built...

Ah 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...