Asia America mural and lamppost
Chinatown
The Chinatown dragon lampposts were designed in 1925 for San Francisco’s Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 75 years of California statehood. The dragons signify good fortune and longevity.
Walter D’Arcy Ryan, the lighting engineer behind the first complete illumination of Niagara Falls and an early pioneer of skyscraper lighting, designed them. He had also overseen lighting for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. The 43 original lamps were cast in China and installed along Grant Avenue from Bush to Broadway. Additional lamps were added in 1996 using the original molds, and later more appeared along Pacific Avenue, extending the effect.
The project followed the tourism-oriented “Oriental” streetscape strategy championed by Look Tin Eli after the fire of 1906 destroyed Chinatown. His vision was to recreate Chinatown as "an ideal Oriental city" as he thought his Anglo-American customers would imagine one.
Look Tin Eli wanted to change Chinatown's image from a dangerous place of vice to a welcoming area to spend time and money.
He was widely successful in this effort. You are here, now, because back in 1906 Look Tin Eli wished you to be and reached out to make you welcome.
Walter D’Arcy Ryan, the lighting engineer behind the first complete illumination of Niagara Falls and an early pioneer of skyscraper lighting, designed them. He had also overseen lighting for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. The 43 original lamps were cast in China and installed along Grant Avenue from Bush to Broadway. Additional lamps were added in 1996 using the original molds, and later more appeared along Pacific Avenue, extending the effect.
The project followed the tourism-oriented “Oriental” streetscape strategy championed by Look Tin Eli after the fire of 1906 destroyed Chinatown. His vision was to recreate Chinatown as "an ideal Oriental city" as he thought his Anglo-American customers would imagine one.
Look Tin Eli wanted to change Chinatown's image from a dangerous place of vice to a welcoming area to spend time and money.
He was widely successful in this effort. You are here, now, because back in 1906 Look Tin Eli wished you to be and reached out to make you welcome.
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