Locke near Walnut Grove in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Locke Chinese School Museum

樂居中文學校

Photographed by Erik Christeson, 2026

1. Locke Chinese School Museum Marker

Inscription. This building was built in 1915 with $1,200 in funding provided by the nationalist party, Kuomintang (KMT) 國民黨分部, founded by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. The original use was for the KMT branch office in Locke, which also served as a town hall. Dr. Sun is considered the "father of modern China" and was crucial in starting the revolution that overthrew the last dynasty of China. He also came from the same Zhongshan region as the group that established Locke. This building was converted to a Chinese language school in 1926 due to the growing number of children in Locke. There was still fear that families could be forced to return to China by the federal government, and parents wanted their children to be fluent and literate in Chinese in case they had to move back. The name of the school was Kuo Ming School (國民學校). The Chinese kids would also attend the regular school in Walnut Grove. After regular school, they would come to this language school to learn to read and write Chinese from 4 to 6 p.m.

The teachers at the school were strict, and students learned Chinese by memorizing lessons, students were given a test every Saturday, and missing test questions resulted in punishment. The school was closed during World War II due to economic reasons.

In 1954, the Joe Shoong Foundation provided funding to renovate the building and purchase new equipment, enabling the school to open under a new name: the Joe Shoong School. Mr. Shoong was a prominent merchant who owned the National Dollar Store. The school was closed in 1983 due to a lack of Chinese kids in Locke. The building was opened as a Chinese school museum in 1985. Clarence Chu and his company are the owners of this building, having purchased the Locke Estate property in July 1977.

Dr. Sun's bust in front

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of this building was a gift from the Zhongshan municipal government in support of the preservation of the history and culture of Locke.

The bust of Confucius was donated by Lien Fan Chu Ng, Clarence Chu's sister, who is a Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong

Erected 2026 by The Locke Foundation and E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 38° 15.064′ N, 121° 30.594′ W. Marker is near Walnut Grove, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Locke. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Locke Road, on the right on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13920 Main Street, Walnut Grove CA 95690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Metro,

in the Sacramento Valley,

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western

Locke Chinese School Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Erik Christeson

2. Locke Chinese School Museum

Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 打更 The Bok Bok Man 更夫 (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to Locke (within shouting distance of this marker); Locke (within shouting distance of this marker); Locke Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Al the Wop's / Bing Lee's Noodle House (within shouting distance of this marker); Locke, California (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Locke (about 400 feet away); Delta Transmission Towers/Delta Cross Channel Gates (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Walnut Grove.

Also see . . . Locke Chinese School Museum 樂居中文學校. (Submitted on October 12, 2026, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2026, by James King of San Miguel, California. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2026, by James King of San Miguel, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.