I still can’t believe there used to be a Chinatown here in San Diego! I wanted to explore this museum but, according to their website, they’ve been closed due to the pandemic. Hopefully, they will open up again soon! So much to learn and make sure that some history doesn’t repeat itself. PS there were lots of reasons why San Diego’s Chinatown vanished but it mostly had to do with “cleaning up” the slums in San Diego to get ready for the San Diego Exposition (world fair) in 1915. A San Diego writer for VoicesofSanDiego.org says, “officials had ordered 99 buildings in Chinatown” to be torn down and that San Diego’s Chinatown after that dwindled down after WWII. Imagine… our San Diego Convention Center’s location was our Chinatown.

They had an exhibit about how the problem of typing the Chinese language was solved. My programming buddies and I got to geek out on hexadecimal and binary patterns. I thought it was very educational and learned a lot about how persistent some where in preserving the Chinese language in the age of technological revolution. I think the five bucks was a small price to pay to learn about how big communication problems were solved.

As advertised it is the place to go to learn and understand the history of Chinese culture in San Diego. Interesting to see the various artifacts and how the building had been moved from 1st/G st (Ralphs) to current location at 3rd/Jst. Also the koi pond in the back is a nice touch and worth visiting. They also have an annex across the street that has rotating exhibits.. As of this writing it was an students art exhibit..

Museum is in two buildings:. One showing calligraphy is art; the other has a number of artifacts from the Chinese who settled San Diego. Some exhibits may be the last examples of the world like the 300 year old wheelbarrow for people to ride in. They said there was tai chi in the mornings in the garden. Unfortunately I couldn't participate. Recommend the museum for a quick look.

It is deceptively small because there is another gallery and gift shop across the street in another building where I believe they hold temporary art exhibits. That was the reason of my visiting. They're actually maybe paintings permanently on display that are rotated when exhibitions come in. Staff was most helpful and humorous. I enjoyed the visit very much and learned a lot

The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum’s permanent exhibition is housed in a mission-style building designed by Louis J. Gill, nephew and protégé of famed architect, Irving Gill. For 30 years, this structure housed the Chinese Community Church. By 1960, the Chinese community had relocated from downtown San Diego and the congregation built a new facility on 47th Street.

Excellent special exhibit on acupuncture coming to the USA. Docent guided, informative. She took a small group, answered questions and allowed us as much time as we wanted. Very good. Part of admission to regular exhibits at the museum.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$1–5

Had a friend visiting from out of town and he saw this and one of the tour guides. So we went we're nice little tour there was only at three of us in the group and it was informative and the tour guide was very nice and pleasant. Answered all our questions. If you're looking for something different to do you might try this

Cheap entry and small exhibits. Not very busy and good history about the things on offer as well as local cultural history. The extra museum was closed when I went there and the museum is not much more than one large room and a small garden. It was nice to see much of the stuff was donated by locals

I volunteered there for one year. The staff is rude and lazy. The museum collection hasn't changed in years. The admission is $5. Not much. But unless there is an exhibit across the street at the extension building, I would save money and spend my time more productively elsewhere.

A good historical representation of Chinese life in San Diego through the history of the city. Excellent historical photographs. A nice display of history of Chinese-American San Diego residents and their World War II service. More displays and a larger venue would be appropriate.

Small but informative museum on Asian (mostly Chinese) history in San Diego, covers primarily the early 20th century. The docent-led walking tour of the neighborhood is fantastic (2nd Saturday of the month, extra $2), with a focus on architecture. We'll visit again absolutely.

Really great experience. My 7yo is interested in the Chinese culture and this was the perfect place for learn. Seasons greeted us at the door and was very interactive with my kids. They had a photo hunt for the kids too. Really beautiful items on display, great information.

Nice museum in walking distance from major hotels in the area. Nice collection of historic Chinese photographs and artifacts. The place is tiny. It takes half an hour to thoroughly go through and get a brief glimpse of Sang Diego China Town history.

Very informative despite being a small museum. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit and the site itself is of historical significance.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
30–60 min
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$1–5

It is a very beautiful and peaceful place with a little garden with the sound of the water and beautiful koi fish swimming in the fountain , I look forward to go to my Tai chi class on Saturday mornings,and it has worked wonders for me,sweeeet.

Wonderful. Free if you went on the San Diego trolley. Be sure to busy the other museum across to the street and don't miss the outside. We purchased a few things from the small store inside and they were original and we'll priced.

The docents give us an excellent history of the Chinese people in San Diego and the U.S. and the collection is splendid. The location is good too for transit users and walkers except there are no Chinese restaurants nearby.

Great small museum - learned a great deal about old San Diego and the Chinese immigrants that lived here. There are also very insightful docents who provide interesting stories to the items in the museum. Recommend it!

This is a nice museum. Standard museum stuff. I enjoyed learning about the Chinese laundries in SD. Wish that exhibit was a bit bigger and everything was more at eye level since all the irons are atop a tall dresser.

Small museum with limited history of Chinese in San Diego. Interesting art history though.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$1–5

Amazing history and great tour guide! I feel much closer to San Diego now.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

Closed with a sign with 0 information about when they will be open again. Prepaid for tickets and wasted my time going over. Plus paid for parking. All for nothing. Waste of time and money

We went here to learn about my great grandfather and his family. i am glad my sons had a chance to see the museum so they could. have a better understanding of our family history More

Compact but informative. The display on the history of Chinese laundries is a valuable contribution to immigrant studies. Take some time to relax at the Chinese garden at the back.

A small museum. It shows the Chinese community in the early years of San Diego. Some interesting artifacts. Across from the museum is a pottrry exhibition which is good.

Very cool to see this in Downtown San Diego. The Chinese have a long history in San Diego and all of California. Open mainly daytime hours and closed Mo days I think.

A lovely little place with a good assortment of Chinese history in San Diego and some items from China also. The garden is a pretty place to wander and see the koi..

The special exhibition is even better than the main one. Don’t miss this hidden gem in downtown San Diego.
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
$1–5

Small museum which displays history of Chinese in San Diego ,located downtown in two buildings.They have an annex across the street that has rotating exhibits. More

Small but lovingly curated. They also have activities in conjunction with other groups, events, so check the website. Good historical descriptions; worth a visit.

Small museum. But had a great time.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
$6–10

Very interesting place with lots of pictures and memorabilia from the early days of Chinese immigrants in San Diego. It's not very big, but quite historic.

This was a fun place to visit and had some neat things to see. It is pretty small though and only took about 30 minutes to see everything.

Small museum but quite fascinating. Across the street they have another space where we saw exquisite paintings by a contemporary artist.

Very informative. Docent gave a lot of details on items on display at the museum and took us to the snuff bottles temporary exhibit.

Nice museum of comes history in San Diego located downtown. There after two buildings with rooms for exhibits and also presentations

Not very big but there is a lot of interesting things. Real shame that the guy didn't know a lot if information to answer questions.

Very nice & informative staff that were very gracious. It was split up between two buildings that's why I didn't give it a five.

Had a field trip there and they were very friendly and gave a good presentation that was hands on about the Qin Dynasty.

Interesting gem in San Diego
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

A group of us went down to China town into the museum down there it was fabulous I love all of their exhibits

This was amazing! Great place for kids and adults I loved it and so did my daughter! They have great staff!a

Hidden gem. San Diego history you probably did not know. A plethora of information. Super cool!!!

A great place to visit while in San Diego.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait

I loved seeing the car ed cherrywood furniture and the collection of snuff bottles. :)

Good museum. Branch of the family may have lived during some of times depicted.

If your into Chinese culture,this is a place you definitely want to visit.

Lots of information on Chinese emegrents from the beginning of San Diego.

If you are into local, small and unique museum, this one is good for you.

Nice place to visit in The Gaslamp District...Very touristy but well kept

The "China" ceramics are illustrations of Asian craftsmanship.

Great museum to learn about Chinese history in San Diego.

Really nice things to see and learn their dragon culture

A little museum. But it has some excellent collection.

Small unit place with lovely historical chinese stuff

This is a gem. Don't miss it. A quick visit will do.

This small museum has a very interesting display.

Not worth the 5$ entry fee .. not for me atleast!

Great contribution to our society. Love the kois

Very nice history and staff were very pleasant

Glad San Diego community has this resource.

Small but interesting and well organized.

Love this Museum, it has really changed.

Loves this place. Enjoy working here

Very nice, small, but informative.

Great Chinese historical museum

Cool place to get some history

Great tour and artifacts.

Love this place