New York Travel Unique Cultural Attractions: Museum of Chinese in America

After exploring Chinatown in New York, The New York Pass recommends you visit another attraction related to Chinese culture – the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). Over the past 200 years, what have the Chinese people's work and life been like in the United States, and what achievements have they made? You can learn all this at this museum.

Aimed at preserving and showcasing the journey, memories, and contributions of Chinese people in America over the past 200 years, the Museum of Chinese in America was co-founded in 1980 by historian John Kuo Wei Tchen and community activist Charles Lai. It initially depicted the history of Chinese Americans in Chinatown through photographs, collections of news clippings, and various artifacts full of historical charm.

In 2009, the museum moved to Centre Street, occupying 14,000 square feet of space, allowing it to have more room to preserve collections, host larger exhibitions and events, and further expand its visibility and influence.

Photographs of Chinese people's lives and work, news reports about Chinese people over the years, faded signs, old sewing machines, used washboards, irons heated by fire, hand-embroidered slippers, scales used by Chinese gold prospectors... These proud exhibits have been collected from various places by people over more than 30 years.

Here, you can slowly browse the museum's vast collection, and truly appreciate the love for life and contributions to society of Chinese Americans.

Image source for this article: The Museum of Chinese in America

Museum address: 215 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013

Visiting hours: Thursday 11 am – 9 pm, closed on Monday, other days 11 am – 6 pm

Admission: $12, free with New York Pass