Coulterville in Mariposa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Sun Sun Wo Co.

Est. 1851

— Chinatown Grocery – Coulterville, CA. —

Sun Sun Wo Co. Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2011

1. Sun Sun Wo Co. Marker

Note the year of dedication based on the Chinese calendar.

Inscription. One of the earlier Gold Rush buildings, and one of the last adobe structures left, this general store was established and operated by the Chinese from 1851 until 1926.

Named after it’s original owners Mow Da Sun and his son, Sun Kow, this store was a major business in the area eventually branching out to Red Cloud about ten miles north-east of here.

The original shelves and counters are still in the store, and there is evidence that part of the office was used as an opium den.

A dirt ceiling and the fireproof walls spared the building from the fires that razed this town.

Erected 1989 by Mantuca Chapter 1849, E Campus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Chinese Heritage Sites of the American West, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 37° 42.874′ N, 120° 11.574′ W. Marker is in Coulterville, California, in Mariposa County. It is at the intersection of Chinatown Main Street and Kow Street, on the right when traveling east on Chinatown Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5076 Chinatown Main Street, Coulterville CA 95311, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: I.O.O.F Lodge 104 (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Mint (approx. 0.3 miles away); Historic Walls (approx. 0.3 miles away); Jeffery Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Coulterville (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Coulterville (approx. 0.4 miles away); Whistling Billy (approx. 0.4 miles away); Coulterville Hotel (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coulterville.

Sun Sun Wo Co. Store image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2011

2. Sun Sun Wo Co. Store

The marker is to the left of the door.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2011

3. Sun Sun Wo Co. Store

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2011

4. Sun Sun Wo Co. Store

Vintage Coca-Cola Sign on Side of the Sun Sun Wo Co. Store image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2011

5. Vintage Coca-Cola Sign on Side of the Sun Sun Wo Co. Store

Vintage Postcard image. Click for full size.

Distributed by Bob Ball, Visalia, Ca.

6. Vintage Postcard

Description on Postcard: Coulterville, California. Sun Sun Wo Merchandise Store. One of the first stores in historic Coulterville.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,102 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on May 29, 2026, by Liam Williams of Irvine, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 22, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 6. submitted on September 12, 2008. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.