Listen: Heather Young, Project Manager, Bok Kai Museum
BOK KAI TEMPLE MUSEUM GRAND OPENING IN MARYSVILLE Friday, Feb 21 preceding Bok Kai Festival Feb 22-23
200 Years of Chinese History Finds A Permanent Home
In 2016,the Bok Kai Temple in Marysville, CA launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $10,000 to convert two rooms of the oldest operating Taoist Temple in northern California into a museum. In a few short weeks, the public rallied, and raised more than $23,000 in support of the campaign. Additionally, another $21,000 was raised from private donations and a $50,000 state funding grant was secured. Four years later, the dream of opening the museum has become a reality.
Join the Marysville Chinese Community and other dignitaries for light refreshments and appetizers in the new museum while enjoying and exploring almost 200 years of Chinese history.
Built in 1880, during the California Gold Rush, the Bok Kai Temple is the oldest continuously operating Chinese Temple in Northern California.Within the temple, over 300 Chinese artifacts are on display, dating as far back as the mid-1800s. The museum, built within the temple, showcases these artifacts and provides an opportunity to learn about this historical time period. Visitors will get an informative glimpse into life during the California Gold Rush and the growing presence of Chinese culture during that time.
The Grand Opening kicks off the famous Bok Kai Festival in Marysville, which will celebrate the 140th Bok Kai Parade!
For more information about the grand opening, visithttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnbxMfVKLM8&feature=youtu.be
Bok Kai Museum 1stStreet & D Street Marysville, CA 95901
:Friday, February 21, 2020
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Aside from the numerous ancient artifacts discovered, the Bok Kai Temple is the only remaining temple in the United States that features Bok Eye, the Taoist water god, as its central deity. Today, the temple receives about 2,500 visitors annually with an influx of people coming from the Sacramento region, Stockton and the Bay Area. The temple also sees visitors from all four corners of California and out of state as well.