Riverside's Chinatown Archaeological Site
Learn about its history, preservation, and the community groups working to preserve one of the most important early Chinatown sites in the United States.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Written by Priya Chhaya and M. Rosalind Sagara
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is working to support the preservation of America's Chinatowns. Sign our petition today to commit to the cultural preservation of America’s Chinatowns for future generations.
M. Rosalind Sagara Headshot by Courtesy of Rosalind SagaraNational Trust for Historic Preservation
My name is Rosalind Sagara,
and I'm the co-founder and chair of the Save Our Chinatown Committee. We are a nonprofit organization that was established to preserve Riverside's Chinatown archeological site, and tell stories about the Riverside Chinese pioneers who are so important to the building of our city.
In 1885 the construction of railroads brought an influx of Chinese workers to Riverside, California. They joined the existing Chinese citrus workers and community displaced from downtown by rent hikes and discriminatory ordinances prohibiting wooden buildings and laundries.
That same year Wong Nim, Wong Gee, and Gin Duey entered into a lease of 7 acres of land just outside of Riverside’s Mile Square—an area that encompassed the downtown core. By 1888, the three founders became full owners of Riverside’s second Chinatown.
In 1893, Chinatown was destroyed when a coal stove exploded, but the community rebuilt with two brick commercial buildings as anchors. By the 1920s, laborers worked as citrus pickers and packers, and operated laundries, stores, and farmed nearby agricultural land.
Chinese Americans supplied most of the vegetables consumed in Riverside and truck farming allowed entrepreneurs to run profitable businesses. Their horticultural knowledge and labor helped make Riverside the richest city per capita in the United States by 1895.
Glenwood Mission Inn (1912) by Stereo-Travel Co. / Library of CongressNational Trust for Historic Preservation
From the late 1800s through the 1930s Chinese Americans worked at most of the major hotels in Riverside, such as the Mission Inn. They were also instrumental in many of the cities infrastructure improvements, such as the Gage Canal tunnels one was roughly 1000 feet long.
Riverside’s first known anti-Chinese committee was formed in 1889 and was largely composed of white laborers. However, Riverside Chinatown remained the center of life for approximately 500 permanent residents and 2,000 migrant laborers.
George Wong Chasing the Clan from Riverside Chinatown (2024) by Ian Akin (Illustrator)National Trust for Historic Preservation
In 1914, Wong Ho Leun (George Wong) arrived in Riverside to reunite with his father Wong Ben Chow, a vegetable merchant. One day in the early 1930s, he singlehandedly drove out a group of KKK members who had invaded Riverside Chinatown.
In 1941, two years following the death of one of the earliest residents George Wong gained title to Riverside Chinatown and became its longtime caretaker. He was the last resident of Chinatown and remained there until his death in 1974.
Produced by the California State Historic Preservation Office, "Exploring Riverside's Chinese American History" is about 8 minutes long.
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Why preserve Chinatowns?
"I think it's important to support the Preservation of America's Chinatowns because these places matter to a lot of people."
"They, in many cases, are important gathering places, places where community members are able to find unique goods and services, places where people can find affordable places to live, but most importantly, because there are places where community members feel like they belong."
In 1968, the County of Riverside’s Board of Supervisors designated Riverside Chinatown as a historic resource, and shortly after it was listed as a State Point of Historical Interest. It was not until until 1976 that it added Riverside Chinatown to the City's landmarks list.
After the passing of George Wong, the site was purchased from his estate by a development company. . The land was cleared in 1977 and subsequently purchased in 1980 by the Office of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools to build a maintenance facility.
Chinatown Dig Sign Museum of Riverside (1984) by Courtesy of the Museum of Riverside, Riverside, CaliforniaNational Trust for Historic Preservation
In 1984, members of then Save Riverside’s Chinatown group and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California contacted the Great Basin Foundation, a research affiliate of the San Diego Museum of Man, to assist in the archaeological testing program.
The Great Basin Foundation agreed and in keeping with professional best practices, a decision was made to focus on the archaeological site's least sensitive areas, leaving the bulk of the site undisturbed for future study.
The immediate reconstruction of the settlement following the Chinatown Fire of 1893 had preserved the 1885-1893 features of the site, as had dumping of fill dirt in some areas during George Wong’s tenure as owner.
During the archaeological testing program, archaeologists identified building foundations, filled-in basements, remains of a Joss House (temple), and artifact-rich trash pits.
View of Riverside's Chinatown Archaeological Site (2016) by Save Our Chinatown CommitteeNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Though limited, the archaeological test excavation yielded some three tons of artifacts, drawing national and international attention.
In 1990 the archaeological site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2008, despite community opposition, the City of Riverside approved a medical office development for the site of Riverside Chinatown.
Students for Chinatown video "Chinatown was Here" from 2011.
The Save Our Chinatown Committee (SOCC) was formed in 2008 following the city approval of the development project. One of its first actions was to file a lawsuit to prevent the destruction of Riverside's Chinatown archaeological site.
Riverside Chinatown Community Clean-Up (2015) by Save Our Chinatown CommitteeNational Trust for Historic Preservation
In 2012 SOCC prevailed in overturning the City's approval for the medical office building, removing the development threat to Riverside Chinatown.
Save our Chinatown Committee Park Vision by Save Our Chinatown CommitteeNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Since their legal victory, SOCC has continued to document and tell stories of Riverside's Chinese pioneers, while also staying focused on developing a long-term preservation plan which includes public interpretation of the historic site.
My hope for Riverside Chinatown
My hope for Riverside Chinatown is that it can continue to be a place of community and belonging that people will be able to visit the site and learn more about the community of Chinese pioneers who lived there and contributed so much to what our city is today.
SOCC has continued their annual Ching Ming ceremony, a local tradition they revived in 2009. This Chinese tradition of honoring one’s deceased loved ones is similar to the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos.
Riverside Asian American Walking Tour (2017) by Kate AlexandriteNational Trust for Historic Preservation
With other Asian American community Organizations, SOCC developed a walking tour highlighting places and people tied to Riverside’s Asian American history, collaborated with the National Archives to digitize their Chinese Exclusion Act files, and provided input for curriculum.
While the future of Riverside Chinatown is still in motion, the memory of the Chinese Americans that built this city remains strong.
For more on the Save Our Chinatown Committee and their work to protect Riverside Chinatown visit www.saveourchinatown.org.
Learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation's America's Chinatowns initiative.
About the author: Priya Chhaya is the associate director of content at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Additional Reading:
Riverside Chinatown National Register Documentation
An American Chinatown by Wong Ho Leun
How Chinatowns Nationwide Are Finding Ways to Thrive Into the Future (Preservation magazine)
Chinese Americans in Riverside Historic Context Statement
