Replica 1888 Ng Shing Gung – Temple of Five Gods

Replica 1888 Ng Shing Gung – Temple of Five Gods. Chinese American Historical Museum. The original Ng Shing Gung was constructed in 1888 in Heinlenville, the last of five San Jose Chinatowns. Heinlenville was named after John Heinlen, a German immigrant, who helped the Chinese after the Market Street Chinatown fire in 1887. Ng Shing Gung stood on the corner of Taylor and 6th Street. The building served the Chinese community as a meeting hall, cultural center, school, hostel, and place of worship. Today, the building is a historical museum, showcasing the Chinese American pioneers of the Santa Clara Valley. , , Upon entrance to the building, the story and artifacts of the previous Chinatowns are in free-standing exhibit cases, also a pictorial timeline starting in 1850 of the USA, San Jose, and China. The second floor houses the original temple altar in all its restored splendor. The altar pieces show off the elaborate hand-carved gilded teak woodwork that was made in Canton City, China in 1892. , , In 1987, Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP), a non-profit organization was formed to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Ng Shing Gung building as a Chinese historical museum. Over $800,000 was raised between 1987- 1991. The Chinese American Historical Museum was dedicated on September 29, 1991 and gifted to the community., [The text is repeated in Chinese]