Chinese Historical & Cultural Project upcoming events

MFM Exhibit: "WWI: America in the Great War" (thru June 6) (January 31, 2026)

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Step into the trenches of World War I and experience life at the front in Moffett Field Museum (MFM)’s most immersive exhibit yet.

Walk in the footsteps of a First World War soldier and discover how the Great War reshaped the modern world through unprecedented industrial warfare, global alliances, and rapid technological change. The United States entered the conflict in April 1917, joining Allied forces on the Western Front, and the war came to an end on November 11, 1918—forever altering technology, aviation, military strategy, and international relations.

This exhibit brings that history to life through a fully immersive walk-through trench, placing visitors in the environment faced by soldiers on the front lines. Surrounded by authentic artifacts, rare World War I vehicles, and a striking biplane, guests gain a deeper understanding of the realities of trench warfare and the innovation born from the conflict. This exhibit honors those who served and invites visitors of all ages to engage with the experiences and history of World War I.

MORE INFO & TICKETS

ATTENTION: To access Moffett Field, all visitors (18+) must present either:

A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, or
A valid passport

This is in accordance with federal law and is required to board domestic flights and to enter secure federal facilities and military installations.

CHCP Contest: Civil Rights & the Asian American Experience (thru July 31) (May 01, 2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Reflections on Civil Rights & the Asian American Experience
at the United States' Semiquincentennial

In 2026, the United States marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As we celebrate this historical moment, the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP) invites you to explore Asian American history, and connect it to the present. Showcase your creativity and enter the contest. Youth participants may win a cash prize of up to $500. See Who Can Participate for prize details. Winning projects will be featured on the CHCP website and displayed in public exhibitions.

What Should You Create?

Submit an original poem, artwork, or video that:

Connects a historical event of a civil rights issue involving Asian Americans, and
Explain why that history matters today.

Sample topics include, but are not limited to:

The Chinese Exclusion Act and immigration rights
World War II mass removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans
Vietnamese settlement
Birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment
School segregation and educational access
Labor rights
Asian American activism during the Civil Rights Movement
Local civil rights struggles in your own community

You are encouraged to use primary sources, family stories, or local history where possible. Participants are responsible for obtaining all rights, licenses, and permissions for any third party content in their submissions.

Who Can Participate?

All California residents, including CHCP members, are welcome to participate. Submissions will be judged in two (2) divisions:

Youth (grades 6-12 for the 2026-2027 school year, including incoming 6th grader)
Adults

The youth group will have cash awards for first ($500), second ($350), and third ($250) prize, and up to three (3) honorable mentions.

The adult group will have three (3) People’s Choice Awards. Voting will open after the submission deadline. Please check the CHCP website for updates on when voting begins.

Submission Formats

We welcome diverse forms of artistic expression (individually referred to as “work” and collectively, “works”) in the forms of:

Short video, film, or documentary, including multimedia storytelling (in .MOV or .MP4)
Original artwork, including photography, digital art, and graphic art (a high resolution scan of the original artwork in JPEG or TIFF)
Poetry (in PDF)

Poetry submissions are limited to 500 words. Video, films, and performances should be under 3 minutes.

All submissions must include a brief artistic statement (up to 150 words) describing:

The historical issue addressed
Why it is a civil rights issue
Why it matters in 2026
Other relevant information, including MLA style citations

Other Rules

Only one entry per participant.
Participants must submit works that are theirs and theirs only. Submissions of AI-generated content as original creative works are not permitted and will result in disqualification.
Your submission must not depict any recognizable person for whom you have not received permission to enter such person in the contest and must not infringe upon the publicity rights of any third party. You must receive the requisite permission/consent to use the video/photo from anyone who has any rights to the video/photo.
By entering, participants grant CHCP rights to showcase and distribute works across various media platforms.
If your entry is selected as a winner, you grant CHCP a royalty-free, non-exclusive right, in perpetuity, to:
- Use the poem, artwork, or video in its internal and external communications with attribution, including, but not limited to, website, advertising, presentations, and printed and digital materials.
- Use, in connection with the contest, the participant’s name and city of residence.
- Retain a digital copy of the submission.
Entries must not include trademarked or copyrighted material.
Winners will be announced in late September and recognized at an in-person Award Ceremony. Please check the CHCP website for further upcoming details. We welcome all participants to attend the event in person.

Judging

Youth Division: All categories of submissions will be judged by the same jurors based on relevant content and historical accuracy (40%), creativity (30%), and production/technical skills (30%).
Adult Division: Voting will be open to the public for People's Choice. Please check the CHCP website for details sometime after the submission deadline.

For Questions: Please email Contest2026@chcp.org.

Submission Deadline: 6 pm PDT, July 31, 2026

SUBMIT ENTRY

CAH Museum Open (May 23, 2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The Chinese American Historical Museum (CAHM) is housed in the Ng Shing Gung building, which is part of History Park, located in Kelley Park, San Jose.

Admission: Free

For more information (including parking, directions, slideshow, and virtual tour): visit our Museum page.

Seminar: "China Roots: How to Trace Your Family History" (thru Sept 20) (May 23, 2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Various Bay Area libraries will be hosting a FREE seminar on the subject of China Roots: How to Trace Your Family History.

Location/Date/Time

CANCELLED FOR MOTHERS DAY: Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA, May 10, Sunday, 2 – 4 PM
Mid-Continent Public Library, Online (via Zoom), May 11, Monday, 12 - 2 PM, REGISTER HERE for Zoom Session
Redwood Shores Branch Library, 399 Marine Parkway, Redwood City, CA, May 16, Saturday, 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Mountain View Library, 585 Franklin St, Mountain View, CA, May 23, Saturday, 2 – 4 PM
San Mateo Library, 55 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA, June 13, Saturday, 1 - 3 PM
Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA, Sept 20, Sunday, 2 – 4 PM

What you will learn

Research tools and resources to discover your China roots
Oral histories of a Chinese American family’s struggles
How 150 generations of family genealogy was found
ChiAm checklist of online, live and local genealogy groups
Interviews from Angel Island Immigration National Archives
Experience a visit to a Chinese ancestral village

Abstract

This multimedia session offers key resources to help you find and explore your China roots and access Chinese American research tools. Showcased are the struggles and assimilation of a Chinese American immigrant family through oral histories of hardship, poverty, segregation, discrimination, and a city’s formal apology—80 years in the making—come to life. Unsure of where your ancestral village is in China and how to find your jiapu (ancestral lineage book)? Learn how 150 generations of family genealogy was documented in China. You’ll receive a checklist of research resources – where to ask live and virtual questions, and details on attending a paid three-day Chinese American Genealogy Conference or joining the free Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group. Can’t read Chinese? No problem using a Chinese-to-English translation tool. Discover how the National Archives in San Bruno can help uncover your Chinese ancestors’ interviews at the Angel Island Immigration Station, where 175,000 Chinese immigrants entered the U.S. between 1910 and 1940.

About The Speaker: Ron Chan

Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a Co-Founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. As a CHCP Advisory Board Member, Ron is a contributor to CHCP's Oral History Project. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.

CAH Museum Open (Special Hours) (May 24, 2026)

Sun, 24 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

The Chinese American Historical Museum (CAHM) is housed in the Ng Shing Gung building, which is part of History Park, located in Kelley Park, San Jose.

The Museum will be open special hours, 11:00 am to 12:45 pm on Sunday May 24, so that visitors can visit the Museum before attending CHCP's presentation at 1:00 pm: "Chinese Americans' Fight for Civil Liberties: A Legal History of Resistance and Civil Disobedience."

Admission: Free

For more information (including parking, directions, slideshow, and virtual tour): visit our Museum page.

CHCP Presentation: "Chinese Americans' Fight for Civil Liberties: A Legal History of Resistance and Civil Disobedience" (May 24, 2026)

Sun, 24 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Join CHCP for a presentation and panel discussion on Sunday May 24 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at History Park in San Jose on the subject: "Chinese Americans' Fight for Civil Liberties: A Legal History of Resistance and Civil Disobedience."

Hear a powerful presentation and discussion by Historian David Lei with esteemed panelists:

CHCP Advisory Board Member/Historian Connie Young Yu
Historian/Lecturer Dr. Anna Eng
Educator/Researcher Dr. Vivien Leung

Discover stories that shaped history and learn about the vital and often overlooked role Asian Americans played in shaping civil rights and social justice in America.

CHCP's Chinese American Historical Museum (CAHM) in History Park will be open to visitors before the presentation from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm.

ADMISSION: Free

For Parking and Directions: visit our Museum page.

Please RSVP to help us plan for the event and reception to follow.

CAH Museum Closed (for SJMADE Fest) (May 30, 2026)

Sat, 30 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The Chinese American Historical Museum (CAHM) will be CLOSED due to a special event, SJMADE Fest, being held at History Park.

Meanwhile, please view a slideshow of the museum or take a virtual tour of the museum.

CHCA Cultural Festival in Chinatown (May 31, 2026)

Sun, 31 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Come and celebrate at the 2026 Cultural Festival in Chinatown presented by the Chinatown History & Culture Association (CHCA), on May 31, 2026 for a fun day in San Francisco's Chinatown!

Experience the vibrant culture, tasty food, and lively performances that make Chinatown so special. Bring your friends and family to enjoy a day celebrating culture, heritage, and community. Don’t miss out on this festive and cultural local event!

The event will be open to the public from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Grant Ave with FREE admission.

Event Highlights:

10:00 am: Open to public
11:00 am: Opening Ceremony and Program, 1138 Grant Avenue
2:30 - 3:30 pm: Cultural Parade, starting at Grant Avenue and Broadway

The festival will also feature:

Street Fair
Vendors
Cultural Activities
Calligraphy
Surname Calligraphy
Painting Demonstrations
Performances: lion dance, kung fu, music
FREE Chinese Medicine consultations
Other Family-Friendly Activities

MORE INFO

Seminar: Create Family Videos with AI and PowerPoint (thru Jun 12) (June 07, 2026)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Various Bay Area libraries will be hosting a FREE seminar on the subject of Create Family Videos with AI and PowerPoint.

Location/Date/Time

Atherton Library, 2 Dinkelspiel Station Ln, Atherton, CA, March 5, Thursday, 1 – 3 PM
Pacifica Sharp Park Library, 104 Hilton Way, Pacifica, CA, March 15, Sunday, 12 – 2 PM
Belmont Library, 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont, CA, April 24, Friday, 11 AM – 1 PM
Foster City Library, 1000 E Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City, CA, June 7, Sunday, 1 – 3 PM
San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St, San Carlos, CA, June 12, Friday, 12 – 2 PM

Seminar Highlights

Use AI and ChatGPT to craft narration for family stories
Design PowerPoint slides for storytelling with AI assistance
Turn your stories into narrated family history videos
Learn the full filmmaking process: story → slides → video
Familiarity with PowerPoint is useful

Session Abstract

Everyone has a story worth remembering. In this engaging multimedia lecture, Create Family Videos with AI and PowerPoint, you’ll learn how AI tools like ChatGPT can help turn cherished memories into beautifully narrated family history videos. Discover how AI can assist with writing narration, designing slides, and blending voice, images, and music to bring your story to life. Perfect for anyone who wants to preserve family stories for future generations. A basic familiarity with PowerPoint is suggested, but imagination and heart are the keys to creating lasting, meaningful stories.

About The Speaker: Ron Chan

Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. As a CHCP Advisory Board Member, Ron is a contributor to CHCP's Oral History Project. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.

PEBCC Ensemble Tour Concert: Echoes of Eureka (June 11, 2026)

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Bid bon voyage to Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir (PEBCC)'s Ensemble group before they depart on their two-week concert tour to French Canada, with performances in Quebec City, Montreal, and Ottawa! At the heart of the program is Echoes of Eureka, a groundbreaking seven-movement opera by Eric Tuan that sheds light on the forced expulsion of Chinese immigrants in 1885 Eureka, California. The program also features a vibrant selection of French-Canadian repertoire and PEBCC favorites, offering a rich preview of the music they will share abroad.

This concert is free to attend, but please donate at checkout to support PEBCC's programs, providing performances like this and bringing the joy of music to all.

FOR TICKETS / DONATIONS

AIISF Angel Island Family Day (June 13, 2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Join the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) on June 13th for Angel Island Family Day! Family Day is a celebration of family, connection, and heritage at the Angel Island Immigration Station.

Attendees will receive a round-trip ferry ride from either SF or Tiburon, a lunch, optional shuttle service, museum entry, crafts, and performances all for $10 per person. The day will be filled with music, dance, history, storytelling, and—of course—FAMILY!

Listen to performances by Diablo Valley College Symphonic Band and GenRyu Taiko. Watch and be amazed by Lion Dance Me’s ferocious lions. Explore the historic buildings or make some art inspired by the history of Angel Island. Family Day offers an activity for all ages and interests.

Contact info@aiisf.org for further questions.

FOR TICKETS

CHCP Outreach @ SCCHGS Heritage Expo (June 13, 2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Join the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society (SCCHGS) in a regional history and genealogy fair, entitled “Heritage Expo: Research and Resources,” which will take place at the Santa Clara City Library, Central Park Branch, located at 2635 Homestead Road in Santa Clara, on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 1-4 pm.

Explore informative displays, enjoy brief presentations, view vintage cars, and even sample some historical local cuisine while you network with fellow researchers. Gathered at the expo will be some of the region’s top lineage societies, historical organizations, and genealogy experts.

The Heritage Expo will feature a variety of engaging activities, including:

Presentations, Demonstrations, and Workshops: Expert talks and hands-on sessions covering specific research skills and resources.
Exhibitors: Local historical societies, libraries, museums, and specialized genealogy research organizations (CHCP will be one of the exhibitors).

This event will be FREE for anyone interested in family and regional history, across all levels of knowledge and experience.