China Camp

The Clampers' 1979 bronze ends in the present tense: Frank Quan is the only original resident still living here. He kept it true until August 2016, dying days short of ninety-one. The laws the bronze mentions were aimed at the Chinese method, banning the export of dried shrimp, closing the bay in the peak months and, in 1911, outlawing the bag nets the fishermen used. The Quans survived by switching to the trawl in 1914. Frank's mother, Grace, was white, and his parents had to marry in Nevada.

What the plaque says

China Camp One of many Chinese shrimp camps on the bay, this site was home to several thousand Chinese from 1880 to 1905. Left unemployed by the completion of the Pacific railroad's, driven from the city by restrictive laws, they joined those already shrimping in the bay. Changes in the fishery and new laws caused a rapid decline in population, until today Frank Quan is the only original resident still living here. Dedicated May 5, 1979 Yerba Buena Chapter No. 1 E Clampus Vitus 華人虾寮 Wa Jen Ha Lio One of the earliest, largest and most productive Chinese fishing villages in California, China Camp was in operation by 1870. The Chinese immigrants and their descendants introduced the use of commercial netting to catch bay shrimp off Point San Pedro. The shrimp were then dried and exported to Chinese throughout the world. China Camp represents the last surviving Chinese shrimp fishing village in California. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 924 Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Marin Chinese Cultural Group, October 4, 1980.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Marin County Civic Center — 3.7 mi
• Mission San Rafael Arcángel — 4.0 mi
• St. Vincent's School for Boys — 4.2 mi
• Green Brae Brick Kiln — 4.6 mi