Weaverville, California: Oldest Chinese Temple in America

We found the Joss House via Roadside America! Although it was closed on the Tuesday before the 4th of July when we passed through, it was still a cool sight to see. The town was decked out with flags and banners for holiday, which was an added bonus passing through the small town.

The Weaverville Joss House is a Taoist temple built by Chinese miners in the 1870s and still in use by worshipers today. Except for the addition of electricity and railings, the interior is the same as it was then, with intricately carved altars and peeling paper prayers and announcements on the walls. Admission to Joss house is included with admission to the Old Shasta Ruins.

The temple is the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California. On display are art objects, pictures, mining tools, and weapons used in the 1854 Tong War. This Taoist temple is still a place of worship and a fascinating look into the role played by Chinese immigrants in early California history. The temple was built in 1874 as a replacement for another that had burned.