Chinese Laundry

The Chinese laundry historic exhibit is open seasonally.

Quick Facts

Amenities

2 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Wheelchair Accessible

This exhibit is currently closed.

The Chinese Laundry was restored in 2019 by the National Park Service, with the financial support of the Yosemite Conservancy, and highlights a previously forgotten story in Yosemite’s rich and diverse history. It now houses interactive displays and exhibits that celebrate the Chinese workers who helped make Yosemite what it is today. Today, the building is part of the Yosemite History Center; a collection of historic buildings in Wawona that share different stories of how Yosemite was developed.

Inside, there is an old iron stove which would have been used to boil water for cleaning clothes, period clothing is hung across a laundry line, and interactive exhibits allow visitors to become more immersed with the history of the building and the Chinese immigrant story. There are hands-on displays, a calligraphy brush and ink and a Chinese seal to stamp Chinese characters that spell out "Yosemite" on paper.

Operating Hours & Seasons

9 am to 5 pm daily. Open seasonally from approximately early May through mid-October.

Accessibility

This building is wheelchair accessible. Be advised the entry to the building has a short lip approximately two inches high. Paths in the area have a dirt surface. An accessible restroom is located near the parking lot. There is no designated accessible parking. Parking near the Wawona Store and Pioneer Gift Shop provides the best access. Video content within the exhibit is captioned.