Weaverville Joss House

The two bronzes here are thirty-nine years apart and read like it. The Native Daughters' 1941 plaque calls the building a joss house, an outsiders' word taken from the Portuguese for god, and says only that Chinese miners built it. The state's 1980 plaque gives the temple its own name, 雲林廟, Won Lim Miao, and admits the discrimination and the tax. Between them came a 1934 theft of its furnishings and the 1956 gift to the state by its trustee, Moon Lim Lee. It is still a place of worship.

What the plaque says

This Joss House was built in 1874 by Chinese miners who came to Trinity County in search of gold. Marker placed and dedicated by Eltapome Parlor No 55 Native Daughters of the Golden West May 25 1941, 雲林廟 Won Lim Miao Hundreds of Chinese miners came to the Weaverville area in the 1850's and prospered despite hardships, discrimination and tax on foreign miners. The first house of worship burned in 1873; the Chinese continued their religious traditions in the present temple, dedicated April 18, 1874. Moon Lim Lee, trustee and grandson of one of its contributors, gift-deeded the "Temple Amongst the Forest Beneath the Clouds" to the state. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 709 Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with Trinitarianus Chapter No. 62, E Clampus Vitus, July 4, 1980.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• La Grange Mine (Hydraulic) — 3.0 mi
• French Gulch — 16 mi
• Whiskeytown — 21 mi
• Pioneer Baby's Grave — 25 mi