Temple Kwan Tai

Mendocino´s Taoist Temple Kwan Tai is one of the last remaining items left from a large Chinese community who had settled on the coast. It was built on Albion Street, in a 33, by 80 foot lot bought from William Kelly for 170 dollars in gold by the Chinese community. Their was at one time a large Chinese community in and around the Mendocino area, nearly 700 during the 1870´s. The families used the small temple for religious occasions, offerings of food and praying. The temple is the oldest surviving one of its kind in California.

The first Chinese immigrants arrived on the coast, as seven sampans sailing for Monterey got off course most off them were lost at sea. But at least one landed on the coast 5 miles north of Mendocino, landing on Casper Beach. The Chinese community grew with the jobs, mostly mining and logging. They faced much discrimination and were run out of town at one point having to get the authorities to safely escort them back. Around the 1900´s the amount of jobs on the coast declined causing most of the Chinese to leave. Only one original family remains on the coast, the Hee family.

The Temple is over a 140 years old and is in disrepair. Major storms and age have damaged much of the structure. The Hee family is trying raise money to restore it, around a $100,000. It needs a new foundation and studs in the walls. If it is destroyed, with it will go the last remnant of the Chinese community on the coast.

send donations to:

The Temple Of Kwan Tai Corp.

P.O. Box 633

95460, CA. USA

Large Pictures

Large Gif of Alter
Large Gif of Ern

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