9.11.06

F I R S TP R E V420NEXTLAST

Stockton Street, Chinatown
Large numbers of Chinese came to San Francisco in the 1840s to hunt for gold. The city was known as Gum Sahn Dai Fow, Big City of the Golden Mountains. The Chinese settled in a 14-block area of San Francisco near Portsmouth Square which soon became known as Chinatown. Later more Chinese arrived, recruited to build the transcontinental railroad. The hard life of the railroad laborers was ku li, meaning 'bitter toil', this eventually evolved into the Westernized, 'coolie.' After the construction of the railroad Chinatown swelled with even more immigrants. Local laws kept the Chinese from living outside of the neighborhood. In fact restrictive clauses in real estate contracts ensured the Chinese were unable to purchase property outside of Chinatown until 1948. Today Chinatown is more than a museum or a tourist trap it is a vibrant, thriving community retaining its cultural customs, identities, and heritage.
[ MAP F-15 ]


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