Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park

Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park preserves a 19th-century Chinese temple located in the downtown of Weaverville in Trinity County, northern California. The small park protects the temple building and its original ritual furnishings and decorative work.

Inside the Joss House are carved altars, painted panels and ritual objects associated with Taoist and Chinese folk religious practice; the building shows the cultural imprint of Chinese miners and settlers in the Gold Rush era. Interpretive signage and exhibits explain the temple’s role in the local Chinese community.

The temple was constructed in the 19th century by Chinese residents of the Weaverville area and later preserved as a historic site to recognize Chinese-American heritage in the region. The structure has been maintained to retain historic interior elements and to provide public interpretation.

The park sits in the town of Weaverville in Trinity County, in the forested interior of northern California, reachable from regional highways that serve the county’s small towns.

• Cultural significance: Built in the 19th century by Chinese immigrants, it is one of the few surviving original Chinese temples in California's Gold Rush country and preserves original interior altars and decorations.
• Visiting advice: The site is managed as a state historic park; visitors should check opening hours in advance as access can be limited and guided tours are sometimes scheduled.

What to See #

• Weaverville Joss House (temple): The Joss House itself - a 19th-century Taoist temple with carved altars, painted panels and Chinese ritual objects preserved inside for public viewing.