The Garnier Building was built in 1890 by French entrepreneur Philippe Garnier and designed by architect Abraham Edelman. This two-story Italianate commercial block of brick and sandstone represents the industrial building techniques that arrived with the railroad era, but its real significance lies in what happened inside.
From day one, Garnier leased to Chinese American merchants, making this the unofficial city hall of LA's original Chinatown. The building housed the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, the Sun Wing Wo general store that provided banking and postal services, and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. This was a completely self-sufficient community hub serving people locked out of most American institutions by the Chinese Exclusion Acts.
plan your visit
- INTERIORMUSEUM
- ADDRESS419 N Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
- HOURSThursday-Sunday
- PARKINGavailable
- PHOTOGRAPHYAllowed (no flash; personal use only)
- WEBSITEcamla.org
