Our History
Our Historic Main Building
The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum’s permanent exhibition is housed in a mission-style building designed by Louis J. Gill, nephew and protégé of famed architect, Irving Gill. For 30 years, this structure housed the Chinese Community Church (formerly the Chinese Mission), where English language classes were held for new immigrants who often lived in adjacent dormitories.
Relocation to 404 Third Ave.
By 1960, the Chinese community had relocated from downtown San Diego and the congregation built a new facility on 47th Street. The adobe building on First Avenue fell into disuse and was slated for demolition in the 1980s, until Sally Wong-Avery, Dorothy Hom, and City Councilman Tom Hom, launched a campaign to rescue it. The Chinese Historical Society of Greater San Diego and Baja California was able to save the building and, eventually, relocate it to 404 Third Avenue.
Our Board, Staff, and Education Outreach team
SDCHM Board of Directors
Li-Rong Lilly Cheng, Chair
Sheldon Lou, Vice-Chair
Yi Sun, Secretary
Lily Tou Birmingham, Treasurer
Lynn Chou
Lillian Chu
Catherine Jones
Polly Liew
Michael McQuary
Jack Meng
Robert Stein
SDCHM Advisory Board
Dr. Niyi Coker, Director of the School of Theatre, Television, and Film, San Diego State University
Chris Chan, Director of San Diego City Council Communications
Matthew Crisci, author and marketing executive
Heath Fox, Executive Director of the La Jolla Historical Society (retired)
Woon-Wah Siu, Attorney at Law (retired)
Dr. Sandra Wawrytko, Professor in the Department of Philosophy, San Diego State University
SDCHM Staff Members
Lily Tou Birmingham, Co-Interim Director
Dr. Robert Stein, Co-Interim Director
Woon-Wah Siu, Assistant Treasurer
Elizabeth Hensley Chaney, Programs Coordinator
Kristof Marsolais, Registrar
Mu-Ting Huang, Financial Analyst Intern
Paulina Serra, Graphic Designer
Yessenia Perez, Education Outreach Intern
Education Outreach Team
Linda DiBenedetto, Museum Docent Coordinator
Vivian Biely, Museum Docent
Diane Carlos, Museum Docent
Catherine Jones, Museum Docent
Jack Meng, Museum Docent
Virginia Olsen, Museum Docent
Chia-Hui Shih, Museum Docent
Karen SooHoo, Museum Docent
Michael Yee, Historian-Educator