Auburn’s original joss house (dedicated February 1909) was located directly across Sacramento Street. After the August 25, 1921 fire that destroyed most of Chinatown, a building was erected here that later became home to the Ling Ying Association. By 1930, the alter (circa 1860) had been retrofitted. This building served as the social and religious headquarters for the Chinese community, as well as a boarding house, a Chinese school, and as the associations’ meeting place. Typical of Chinese Gold Rush era architecture, the joss house is one of the few wooden structures preserved in Old Town Auburn.

Dedicated March 12, 2005

by the

Native Sons of the Golden West

Barney Noel, Grand President

In Memory of James D. Phelan, United States Senator

Marker can be reached from the intersection of Sacramento Street and Brewery Lane.

Courtesy hmdb.org

Credits and Sources: