Chinatown in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Philadelphia Chinatown

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 17, 2015

1. Philadelphia Chinatown Marker

Inscription. Founded in the 1870s by Chinese immigrants, it is the only “Chinatown” in Pennsylvania. This unique neighborhood includes businesses and residences owned by, and serving, Chinese Americans. Here, Asian cultural traditions are preserved and ethnic identity perpetuated.

Erected 2010 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list.

Location. 39° 57.309′ N, 75° 9.301′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Chinatown. It is on Race Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 912 Race Street, Philadelphia PA 19107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

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the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Heywood Chair Factory (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The "Save Chinatown" Movement (1973) (about 700 feet away); Chinatown Protests the Prison (1992) & Stadium (2000) (about 700 feet away); Lin Zexu Memorial Statue (about 700 feet away); Chinatown PlayZa / 華埠樂園 (about 700 feet away); "History of Chinatown" - 10th & Winter Streets (1996) (about 700 feet away); Friendship Gate - 10th & Arch Streets (1984) (about 700 feet away); First African Baptist Church Cemetery (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . . Philadelphia Chinatown Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony, October 8th, 2010. Filmadelphia's 2.5 minute clip of the festivities and ceremony for the unveiling of the Philadelphia Chinatown marker, with the unveiling occurring at the end of

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 17, 2015

2. Philadelphia Chinatown Marker

the clip. (Submitted on November 2, 2015.)

Philadelphia's Chinatown Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 19, 2024

3. Philadelphia's Chinatown Bridge

<i>Our Chinatown</i> 2024 Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 19, 2024

4. Our Chinatown 2024 Display

Chinatown is home to more than 4,000 people who live, work, play, worship, and celebrate their lives here, and it is a cultural hub and beacon for all Asian Americans. Our community is one of the last remaining Chinatowns in the country, and our people remain resilient in spite of external threats. We have organized and defeated proposals to build a baseball stadium, prison, and two casinos here. Chinatown has lost a significant part of the area to projects like the Vine Street Expressway and the convention center, but we continue the struggle to Save Chinatown again and again.

To preserve Chinatown, a multigenerational, multilingual, and multi-ethnic coalition has organized to fight for our beloved community. Our fights can only be won when we learn our history and put people over profits. The Our Chinatown oral history project highlights stories and experiences of the people of Chinatown who make it irreplaceable, gathered by the next generation of youth leaders who are protecting the legacy and building the future Chinatown that we need.

Our Chinatown is dedicated to the life of Jeffrey Cheung, the login son of Linda Cheung, a Chinatown community member and advocate, and Tin Cheung. Jeffrey was a tremendous light to his family and friends and a treasured member of the Chinatown community. He left a legacy of love and care, and we will continue to preserve, protect, and build our Chinatown in his honor.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 987 times since then and 44 times this year. Last updated on December 30, 2018, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 21, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on April 20, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Clearer photo of the marker • Can you help?