Enrich your knowledge of Chinese American and San Francisco history with one of our educational programs! Our tours and experiential programs provide in-depth explorations of the galleries at the Chinese Historical Society of America, and utilize the setting of Chinatown as an educational learning space.
To check out tour availability and book your visit, email our Education Coordinator, Rachel Forbes: rachel.forbes@chsa.org or fill in our CHSA Group Visit Reservation Form
Current Exhibits on Show
- We Are Bruce Lee: A curated Bruce Lee collections exhibit. The exhibit celebrates Lee’s life in his birthplace of Chinatown!
- Be the Bridge: A large-scale, new-media projection mapped mural paying tribute to Bruce Lee. Created by artists Twin Walls and Macrowaves.
- The Underground: A collaborative 14-person immersive exhibition curated by Mellora and Melonie Green in partnership with the African American Art and Culture Complex. The show explores Bruce Lee’s legacy in the African American community.
- Picnic Parade: An experiential, picnic themed exhibition by New York based Jamaican-Chinese performance artist Jodie Lyn-Kee-Chow.
- Wish You Were Here: An interactive exhibit featuring an original copy of the Chinese Exclusion Act document, alongside the pen used by former President Theodore Roosevelt to sign the Chinese Exclusion Act into perpetuity in 1902. Participants can write a postcard to add to the show.
- California Pioneers: Power and Politics in Exclusion Era Chinatown: An exhibit of rare Exclusion Era photographs presented in partnership with the California Historical Society. This show is in the exhibition area of the gift shop at 949 Clay.
- Angel Island Immigration Station: A popup banner exhibit exploring detention barracks. This show is in the exhibition area of the gift shop at 949 Clay.
- Virtual Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion: A virtual comprehensive exhibit on Chinese American history to date, exploring themes such as trade, labor, activism, and immigration laws. This show is done virtually using our Matterport digital gallery.
Programs and Tours We Offer
Virtual Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion (Wed.-Sun. | 11:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm)
- All groups: $50 flat rate (regardless of group size)
Suggested Duration: 60 minutes.
CHSA Museum Docent Tour (Wed.-Sun. | 11:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm)
- Public K-12 Groups: $5 per student plus $5 per chaperone
- Private K-12 Groups: $10 per student plus $10 per chaperone
- College students & adults: $15 per participant (regardless of group size)
Duration: 45-60 minutes.
CHSA Museum Self-Guided Tour (Wed.-Sun. | 11:00am-4:00pm)
- Public K-12 Groups: $3 per student plus $5 per chaperone
- Private K-12 Groups: $5 per student plus $10 per chaperone
- College students & adults: $10 per participant (regardless of group size)
Suggested Duration: 75-90 minutes.
Chinatown History Walking Tour (Wed.-Sun. | 11:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm)
- K-12 Groups with less than 20 students: $150 flat rate for all students plus $10 per chaperone
- K-12 Groups with 20 or more students: $10 per student (K-12) plus $10 per chaperone
- College students: $15 per student (regardless of group size)
- Adult groups: $25 per participant (regardless of group size)
Participants discover the connections between the past and present and reflect on how communities shape history through a guided tour of the oldest Chinatown in the United States. Topics addressed include: immigration policies, the 1906 earthquake, the rebuilding of Chinatown and its architecture, and community activism.
Duration: 60-75 minutes.
Chinatown Food Walking Tour (Wed.-Sun. | 11:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm)
- K-12 Groups with less than 20 students: $150 flat rate for all students plus $10 per chaperone
- K-12 Groups with 20 or more students: $10 per student (K-12) plus $10 per chaperone
- College students: $15 per student (regardless of group size)
- Adult groups: $25 per participant (regardless of group size)
Although many of San Francisco’s once beloved Chinese restaurants of the past are now just a fond memory, some are still open today serving both the community and visitors alike with the spirit of traditional Chinese cooking. We take you through some of the most well known and loved historic restaurants of our neighborhood that range from traditional Cantonese cuisine to some of the earliest iterations of “Chinese American” food.
Duration: 60-75 minutes.
Title I Schools: CHSA offers admission waivers for Title I schools. Please indicate your school’s status in your reservation email or on the form. Once a reservation is confirmed, the group will have to place a $20 deposit within 48 hours to hold the reservation.
Additional Information
Group Size
All programs require a minimum of 10 participants with a maximum of 25 people per program. Larger groups will be split up and each section would go through the program(s) consecutively.
Chaperones
For school groups, we ask for a 7:1 student to chaperone ratio. Please note the price for students and chaperones above.
Reservation
To check out tour availability and other such inquiries, email our Education Coordinator, Rachel Forbes: rachel.forbes@chsa.org, or fill in our CHSA Group Visit Reservation Form. Please note, reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Reservations will be confirmed through email and with a Google Calendar invitation. You will pay for your trip on the day of your visit.
- We accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment.
Cancellation or Rescheduling
The museum incurs significant staffing costs for cancellations or no shows. We ask that groups notify us 48 hours before your planned visit if you need to cancel. Late cancellations are required to pay the full amount for the reservation. Cancellations can be sent via email to rachel.forbes@chsa.org. Your cancellation will be considered final once you will receive an email response confirmation.
Rescheduling requests can also be done over the phone at (415) 682-5773 ext. 103 or by email to rachel.forbes@chsa.org. We will make every effort to accommodate your new proposed date, but cannot guarantee a spot. Please send at least two new dates as part of your request so that we can make the best effort to meet your needs.
If you have any more questions regarding our tours and programs, check out our Field Trip FAQ. Contact rachel.forbes@chsa.org if you have any further questions.
