Chinatown in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Garnier Building
1890
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 24, 2019
1. Garnier Building Marker
Philippe Garnier, a settler from Gap, France, hired Abraham Edelman to design this brick and sandstone building for Chinese tenants. This was the oldest and most significant building of the original Chinatown of Los Angeles which was located here. The building housed most of the important Chinese organizations and volunteer associations that existed in the city, including the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. During the 1950s construction of the Hollywood/Santa Ana Freeway, the southern half of the building was demolished. The middle section was rebuilt with a newly designed arcade on the south. A museum of Chinese American history in Los Angeles will be installed in one bay of this building.
Erected by El Pueblo de Los Angeles.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Asian Americans • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 34° 3.335′ N, 118° 14.352′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Chinatown. Marker is on Los Angeles Street north of U.S. 101, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named The Garnier Building (here, next to this marker); Chinese Massacre (a few steps from this marker); Sun Wing Wo & Company (a few steps from this marker); 425 North Los Angeles Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Chinese American Communities in Los Angeles (within shouting distance of this marker); Plaza Fire House (within shouting distance of this marker); Pico House (within shouting distance of this marker); Merced Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
Regarding Garnier Building. Most of the original Chinatown was demolished in the 1930s to make way for construction of Union Station. The Garnier Building is now part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.
Also see . . . Chinese American Museum. — in the Garnier Building. (Submitted on November 23, 2019.)
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 24, 2019
2. Garnier Building Marker
This door, facing Los Angeles Street, is not used. The museum entrance is on the other side of the building.
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 24, 2019
3. Garnier Building
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 24, 2019
4. Garnier Building
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 24, 2019
5. Garnier Building
Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2019. This page has been viewed 601 times since then and 84 times this year. Last updated on September 7, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 23, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
