Chinese American Museum DC — Attraction in Washington

Before you visit the Chinese American Museum, it's important to know they are still raising funds to fully open. That means what you see when you visit isn't the final product. With that in mind, a visit to this museum in a 1904 house in Dupont Circle is worth the time. Here's why:

1. Exhibits: The permanent exhibit is on the first floor. There's a wall with digital art telling the stories of Chinese Americans across the country. Next to that is a touch screen that walks you through the history of Chinese Americans starting with the first documents Chinese immigrant in the US in 1785 to today. In just twenty minutes, I learned so much about the plight for equality in the USA. Still on the first floor, the back has a small room with goldfish wallpaper, a TV screen, and an area where you can write answers to several questions written on a paper on a table. The next three floors have rotating exhibits. Currently, there's an exhibit about Chinese American woman pioneers and Jewish refugees in Shanghai during World War II. There aren't any artifacts, so be prepared to read a lot. Despite all the reading, each panel is easy to consume.

2. Space: The home is gorgeous. Built in 1904, it once was an embassy, a residence, and offices. The second level floors and the spiraling staircase are originals.

3. Accessibility: The museum is open Thursday-Saturday from 10am-5pm and free for all. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable in an inviting way. It's in Dupont Circle and close to public transportation.

If you have a free 45-60 minutes, visit the Chinese...

I am a chinese american and really wanted this to be good. To be fair, it has just recently opened so who know what will be in it in the future. For now, I found it very disappointng. There is an interactive time line of chinese history that is great if you don't know any chinese history. The information presented is minimal and the documents, like the Chinese Exclusion Act are not readable. The exhibits just seem like photos you see on the internet blown up poster size. There was nothing historic in the form of articfacts or original phtos etc. You could see everything shown on the internet. There was a contemporary exhibit of caligraphy that was somewhat interesting but not really connected to the history of chinese americans. Until they get more athentic items and have much more details about cinese american history, it is not worth the triip The building is beautiful and the rooms are good size, there is just nothing very worthwhile to see if you know anything about Chinese History in...

It's a very small museum with very little to see. They claim to be free but registration ask for a "donation. " I'm part of NARM reciprocal museum program which should give me free admission, but the registration pressures you to give. There is a decent interactive time-line on the first floor. There is a small TV playing a very old video of Chao talking about the transcontinental railroad. The art is all recent and mostly just a couple of people. There is a room of Tao robes, that are pretty. Right now there is an exhibit of school students art, which is nice. Overall it took about 20 minutes to see what is there. Very few historical items. Overall very little to see. I understand if they were knew but they've been open over a year now. It is a pretty building but overall I would say not worth the extra trip. There just isn't...