Current Exhibitions
SDCHM Permanent Exhibition
History has always been a powerful reminder of our connection with others. Our permanent exhibition showcases a prominent timeline on a central wall to bridge our displayed items with their respective histories. One side of the wall depicts a timeline of Chinese history from the Shang to the Qing dynasty, while the other side depicts the Chinese American immigration story with a focus on the community in San Diego. The history of our organization is displayed on a segment at the end of the long wall, which honors the individuals who were key players in establishing the museum that we know today.
The permanent exhibition in our Mission building is story-based and presented in several sections. For example, we have a corner dedicated to Traditional Chinese Medicine. This area includes a herbal cabinet grinding tools, herb samples and other artifacts that you would find in a typical herb shop. Other sections include Religion and Philosophy, Chinese Folk Art, Chinese Laundries, and much more!
Images of the permanent exhibition are available @https://photos.app.goo.gl/WaX5k41ayHcEi4Z29
The Achievements of Maestro Jahja Ling
Mr. Jahja Ling is universally praised for his work as music director of San Diego Symphony Orchestra, transforming it from post-bankruptcy into one of the top-tier major orchestras during his 13-year tenure from 2004 to 2017. He is an internationally renowned conductor with an exceptional reputation for musical integrity, intensity, and expressivity.
Born to a Chinese family in Jakarta, Indonesia, and now a citizen of the United States, he is the first and only conductor of Chinese descent who has held a director position with a major orchestra in the United States. Ling has conducted all of the major symphony orchestras in North America including Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.
In collaboration with the SDSU Chinese Cultural Center, this exhibition that was originally developed by the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center and shown in 2018 is now available at the SDCHM, delighting our local museum lovers. The exhibition includes videos, photos, a story-board, and musical instruments.
Images and video of the exhibition will be available soon!