Jan Ying Museum

This building was constructed in 1916 in Locke as the branch office of the Jan Ying Benevolent Association. The headquarters of this association is in San Francisco, with additional branches in Los Angeles and Fresno. It was the brightest and best-maintained building on either side of Main Street Locke. A door on the side provides access to the stairway leading to the living quarters upstairs.  

The association served merchants and laborers, particularly Chinese immigrants from the Zhongshan district, and was exclusively open to male members. This was a social center where members could make new friends or look for job opportunities. They also received their mail here, and assistance was available for reading and writing letters. Additionally, members could read newspapers and magazines, play friendly games of chess and dominoes, enjoy tea and sweets, and occasionally play Chinese musical instruments.  

 The association would host annual Spring and Fall events. Members from all offices were invited to participate in these celebrations. The sheriff and other political dignitaries frequently attended these events. Residents volunteered to cook a large feast in the building’s spacious kitchen, equipped with two large woks, to entertain and serve all the guests. Professional singers from San Francisco also performed Cantonese opera music during these events.  

 Due to a decline in new members and the Chinese population in Locke, the headquarters decided to close this branch in 1990. The building was subsequently sold to Clarence Chu, who opened this building to the public as the Jan Ying Benevolent Association Museum in 2008.