Locke is the only town in the United States built by the Chinese for Chinese people. The first buildings were established in 1913. Due to California’s Alien Land Law of 1913, which prevented all foreign-born aliens from owning land, Locke’s residents rented the land from George Locke, Jr. Because the people hoped to return to China, these houses weren’t built to last, with cheap materials and metal roofs.
To experience how the people of Locke lived, you can visit the living museum town north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. There are multiple museums, like the Locke Boarding House, the Chinese School, or the Dai Loy Museum, the former gambling hall. In 1990 Locke was made into a National Historic Landmark.
The boarding house offers a peek into the daily lives of the visiting farm workers. During its heyday, there were multiple restaurants, hotels, rooming houses, a grocery store, a fish market, a dentist’s office, and a Chinese school. But behind the storefronts, there were also gambling halls and opium dens. It became known as the “Monte Carlo of California”. When prohibition ended and the asparagus industry declined, Locke lost its visitors.
There are many fascinating facts about Locke. On Saturday, February 22, 2025, 12pm – 4 pm, the Locke Foundation invites you to celebrate Chinese New Year in Locke.
The Boarding House Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays 11am – 3pm, 13916 Main Street, Locke.
The Dai Loy Museum is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 12pm – 4pm, 13951 Main Street, Locke.