Downtown San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Burning of San Jose Chinatown
May 4, 1887
The Burning of San Jose Chinatown
May 4, 1887
On this site on May 4, 1887 a mysterious fire, deliberately set, destroyed San Jose's Chinatown. This was the largest Chinatown South of San Francisco. A community of bachelors and of families, these early Chinese Pioneers were instrumental in developing the economy of Santa Clara county.
Erected 1987.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1877.
Location. 37° 19.95′ N, 121° 53.352′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Downtown San Jose. Marker is at the intersection of Paseo De San Antonio and South Market Street on Paseo De San Antonio. Marker is mounted on the southwest corner of the Fairmont Hotel. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Jose CA 95113, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Chinatown (a few steps from this marker); First State Capitol (a few steps from this marker); First State Capitol Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Freedom Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Plaza de Cesar E. Chavez (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); United States Post Office (about 400 feet away); Centennial Commemoration of the World's First Broadcasting Station (about 400 feet away); World’s First Broadcasting Station (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.
More about this marker. This marker is located about 15 feet from San Jose History Walk marker Number 2 which interprets the flourishing Chinatown that ran along Market Street.
Also see . . . Market Street Chinatown Archaeological Project. The Stanford University study and documentation of artifacts found at the site. (Submitted on January 5, 2010.)
Additional commentary.
1. Historical background to the burning
The writer Jean Pfaelzer in her book "Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese" reveals how the Chinese in San Jose's Chinatown were not passive victims but proactive actors fighting to preserve home and hearth.
On page 237 she writes
"...in 1883 Chinatown had organized its own volunteer fire department., equipped with ladders and buckets, and rehearsed its fire brigades. But at three o'clock on the afternoon of May 4, 1887, most of the Chinese had gone to a gambling house to hear the announcement of the lottery winner. No one was there to witness the arson in Ah Toy alley....the San Jose Evening News reported, "with superhuman efforts" the city's Alert Hose Fire Company "saved the ground on which Chinatown was located and prevented the spread of fire to the surrounding buildings"....Even aided by the mayor and some city councilmen, the Chinese fire brigade was unable to check the flames because someone had drained the Chinese water tank. It was not by chance that during the two weeks preceding the blaze prominent white business owners in Chinatown had added heavily to their fire insurance."
— Submitted January 5, 2010, by Jordan Yee AKA "Ranger Yee" of Fremont, California.
Additional keywords. Asian Americans Chinese Americans Ethnic Enclaves acts of terrorism
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2010, by Jordan Yee AKA "Ranger Yee" of Fremont, California. This page has been viewed 7,271 times since then and 131 times this year. Last updated on January 5, 2010, by Jordan Yee AKA "Ranger Yee" of Fremont, California. Photos: 1. submitted on January 4, 2010, by Jordan Yee AKA "Ranger Yee" of Fremont, California. 2. submitted on January 5, 2010, by Jordan Yee AKA "Ranger Yee" of Fremont, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.