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The Temple of Kwan Tai is a 19th century joss house dedicated to the Taoist god of war, who symbolizes integrity and loyalty. In the 1850s, facing starvation at home, many southern Chinese people made their way to California to work as cooks, launderers, and water bearers for the gold rush prospectors and the logging camps.
In the 1850s, Mendocino had a population of 700 Chinese people, who built this temple out of redwood, and painted it red and green. Tours are available by appointment, and are led by the great-granddaughter of one of the Chinese immigrants who lived in Mendocino. The temple, with its ornate altar and colorful decorations, is listed on the California Registry of Historic Places, and is an invaluable resource for ethnic history in northern California.
b>Address: The Temple of Kwan Tai, 45160 Albion Street, Mendocino, California 95460, Phone: 707-937-5123
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