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Activity 1: Official Map of "Chinatown" in San Francisco (1885)

This map was created when a special survey was commissioned by the San Francisco government after multiple smallpox epidemics had broken out in the city. Chinese immigrants were targeted and blamed for spreading the epidemic, with little evidence. As part of this survey, officials entered every room and floor of Chinatown, noting elements like the number of inhabitants and sanitary condition of the rooms, which they described in an accompanying report on Chinatown for the public. ​
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Map Legend:

Red rectangles = Joss House (Chinese temple or shrine)
Yellow rectangles = Opium Resort
Green rectangles = C.P. (Chinese Prostitution)
Pink rectangles = Gambling

​Scroll down to see full map (source: Library of Congress, 
https://www.loc.gov/item/2012593519).

​

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  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Our Annual Report
    • Our Board & Advisors
    • Our Academic Council
    • Terms of Use
  • Our Work
    • Programs & Impact
    • Asian American Leadership Program
    • Lesson Plans
    • Guide on Talking about Race with Kids >
      • English
      • Chinese
      • Hindi
      • Korean
      • Nepali
      • Tagalog
      • Vietnamese
    • COVID-19 Anti-Asian Racism >
      • Restorative Justice
      • Bystander Intervention
      • Smallpox, Fear & Racism in 1800s San Francisco
    • Workshops
    • Outside Resources >
      • Asian American Studies
  • News & Events
    • Events
    • Get Newsletter
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved
  • Donate