Lacy in Santa Ana in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Santa Ana Chinatown
Photographed by Liam Williams, October 10, 2026
1. Santa Ana Chinatown Marker
These residents were key to building our nation's infrastructure and, despite considerable discrimination against them, were thriving by the late 1860s. Chinese workers built most of the irrigation canals, drained swamps, cultivated agricultural land, and constructed the railroads of Orange County. Santa Ana Chinatown once included homes, drugstores, curio shops, two washhouses, and a shared vegetable garden with a barn. Chinatown was a community.
On May 25, 1906, the City issued an order to burn down Chinatown. On May 17, 2022, the Santa Ana City Council unanimously passed a resolution apologizing to Chinese immigrants and their descendants for acts of fundamental injustice and discrimination.
Today, Chinese American residents and business owners are community leaders who contribute and help make Santa
this page online
Erected 2026 by City of Santa Ana.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Immigration • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is May 25, 1906.
Location. 33° 44.84′ N, 117° 51.99′ W. Marker is in Santa Ana, California, in Orange County. It is in Lacy. It is on East 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 253 E 3rd Street, Santa Ana CA 92701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles and in the Peninsular Ranges. 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 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dragon Confectionary (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Masonic Temple
Photographed by Liam Williams, October 10, 2026
2. Santa Ana Chinatown Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. Chinatown Memorial 2024 (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); The Episcopal Church of the Messiah (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . . City of Santa Ana unveils Chinatown Memorial… (City of Santa Ana, May 24, 2026). Press release, full title: City of Santa Ana unveils Chinatown Memorial acknowledging burning of community 120 years ago Excerpt:
On Saturday, May 23, the City of Santa Ana unveiled a memorial monument honoring Santa Ana’s historic Chinatown, celebrating a community that helped shape the early foundation of our city, while also acknowledging a painful chapter in our history. The unveiling ceremony took place almost exactly(Submitted on November 4, 2026.)120 years to the day since Chinatown was burned down on May 25, 1906.Photographed by Liam Williams, October 10, 20263. Santa Ana Chinatown Marker
In 1906, the City unjustly declared Chinatown a public nuisance and ordered that it be burned, later building a new City Hall in its place. This act of discrimination and exclusion displaced Chinese residents and merchants. In 2022, the Santa Ana City Council formally apologized to Chinese immigrants and their descendants for this and other acts of injustice.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2026, by Liam Williams of Irvine, California. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2026, by Liam Williams of Irvine, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
