Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park, Weaverville CA

Category & Type :

Recreation

Location :

Highway 299 and Oregon Street , Weaverville CA

Phone :

530-623-5284

Information about Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park...

Weaverville Joss House Historic Park

Moon Lee, a descendant of an early Chinese settler, was named trustee for the Joss House. By 1956, now fully preserved, the temple became a state park. Except for electric lights and protective railings, the interior of the Joss House is the same as it was over 100 years ago, although improvements have been made to the adjoining grounds. These include a visitor center, parking lot, and the Kuan Yin pool.
The Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds

The temple is the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California. On display are art objects, pictures, mining tools, and weapons used in the 1854 Tong War. This Taoist temple is still a place of worship and a fascinating look into the role played by Chinese immigrants in early California history. The temple was built in 1874 as a replacement for another that had burned.

In an effort to preserve this important part of California's Chinese tradition, the temple became a part of the California State Park System in 1956. Many of the historical objects have been restored and the structure itself stabilized. In addition to the temple equipment, park visitors will see Chinese art objects, pictures, mining tools, and wrought iron weapons used in the 1854 Tong War.

The Weaverville Joss House, a Taoist temple, is the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California. On display are art objects, pictures, mining tools, and weapons used in the 1854 Tong War. This Taoist temple is still a place of worship and a fascinating look into the role played by Chinese immigrants in early California history. The Joss House was built in 1874 as a replacement for another that had burned.

In an effort to preserve this important part of California's Chinese tradition, the Weaverville Joss House became a part of the California State Park System in 1956. Many of the historical objects have been restored and the structure itself stabilized. In addition to the temple equipment, park visitors will see Chinese art objects, pictures, mining tools, and wrought iron weapons used in the 1854 Tong War.

The Chinese population of Weaverville started to decline after the 1850s, as gold ore became scarcer, and many left to work on railroad construction. By 1931 only 16 were counted in town. In 1933 the Weaverville Chamber of Commerce went on record in support of making the Joss House a State Historic Park, but nothing came of the proposal for another 23 years. Without the efforts of Moon Lim Lee, the Weaverville Joss House probably would not have survived.

Moon Lee started his business career at the age of seven, selling vegetables from a horse-drawn cart. He continually improved and extended his enterprises and became a successful grocer and merchant. He worked constantly in his later years to preserve the Weaverville Joss House and get it added to the State Park System. He was appointed trustee of the temple in 1938. Moon Lee continued to promote the Weaverville Joss House as a historic treasure for his own people and for all California and the world until his death in 1985, at the age of 82.

Through the efforts of Moon Lee and many others, the Weaverville Joss House became part of the State Park system in 1956. It was renovated and opened to the public in July 1957. California State Parks later added a visitor center, other structural improvements on the grounds, a parking lot, and landscaping. The Kuan Yin pool, near the visitor center, was built in 1985 by the Weaverville Joss House Association.

One of the recent restoration efforts has been to restore one of the original Lion Dance costumes.  A wonderful
effort at preserving the Chinese heritage of the site and the community.
    The State Park and Recreation Commission classified the Joss House as a State Historic Park in September 1963. It has been named California Historical Landmark No. 709.

Weaverville Joss House Lion DanceFor more information please click here go to the California State Park page. There you will find additional information about the park and the Chinese immigrants to California during the Gold

Location-Directions

The Temple is located in the heart of Weaverville, a small community near the Trinity Alps on Highway 299 about fifty miles west of Redding and about 105 miles east of Eureka. Weaver Creek runs nearby and locust trees complete the rural setting.
Weaverville Latitude/Longitude: 40.7311 / -122.9408

Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing

Climate in the Shasta-Cascade Region varies greatly with elevation. Higher elevations tend to have much cooler temperatures and higher precipitation. Summer weather is usually hot and dry with lower elevation temperatures ranging from 85° - 100°+F and lows from 60° - 70°. Fall days are usually mild and warm, with cool nights. Winter is when most of the precipitation falls, averaging over 55 inches per year, much of it in the form of snow in the high elevations. Highs range from 40° - 60° and lows from 30° - 40° in the lower elevations.