Chinese Historical and Cultural Project

The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, educating, and preserving Chinese and Chinese American history and culture throughout Santa Clara County. Based in San Jose, CA, CHCP operates the Chinese American Historical Museum (CAHM), housed in the historic Ng Shing Gung building at History Park, which serves as a vital educational resource for the community. The museum features exhibits on early Chinese pioneers in Santa Clara Valley, including the original 1888 gold-gilded altar and religious artifacts on the second floor, while the lower floor tells the stories of San Jose's forgotten Chinatown settlement known as Heinlenville. CHCP's comprehensive outreach programs include the Heritage Education Link Program (HELP), public archaeology initiatives, the Chinese American World War II Veterans Project, student docent and cultural ambassador programs, and traveling exhibits that bring history to audiences across Silicon Valley. The organization also offers grants for immigration programs and heritage education, along with the Lillian Gong-Guy Memorial Scholarship and Golden Legacy Curriculum resources. Since its founding in 1987 by Lillian Gong-Guy and Gerrye Wong, CHCP has been instrumental in reconstructing and preserving the Ng Shing Gung—originally built in 1888 as a religious and community center—and donated it to the City of San Jose in 1991 to ensure public access. The organization showcases the acclaimed documentary "Home Base: A Chinatown Called Heinlenville," directed by Oscar-award winner Jessica Yu, which documents the last Chinatown in San Jose and is viewable at the museum.