‘Pachappa Camp: The First Koreatown in the United States’

The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago (KCCoC) will host a special exhibition “Pachappa Camp: The First Koreatown in the United States” from June 7 to July 5 at the KCCoC’s gallery. This exhibition is curated by the Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies at UC Riverside (directed by Professor Edward T. Chang) and is part of a U.S. traveling exhibition project generously supported by the Mellon Foundation.

 

The exhibition originally showcased at the UCR Arts Center from October 2021 to February 2022. Following its showcases in San Francisco (June 2024), Washington, D.C. (October 2024), New Jersey (January 2025), and New York (April 2025), Chicago will serve as the fifth host city.

 

Pachappa Camp, founded around 1905 by Korean community leader Dosan Ahn Chang Ho in Riverside, CA, was the first Korean settlement in the United States. Koreans flocked to the citrus rich city of Riverside where jobs were plentiful and Pachappa Camp flourished from 1905-1913, and existed until 1918. The settlement was home to about 300 Koreans at its height.

 

KCCoC will host an opening reception on Saturday, June 14 at 2:00 PM in BISCO Hall. The event will feature a special lecture by Professor Edward T. Chang on “The History and Significance of Pachappa Camp.” This exhibition will serve as a valuable platform for cultural exchange, not only within the Korean American community but also with the broader American public, by highlighting the history and contributions of early Korean immigrants.

 

In collaboration with the Korean Education Center in Chicago, a summer break museum workshop titled “The First Koreatown: Pachappa Camp and Our Story” will be held on Saturday, June 21, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The workshop is designed for students from 3rd to 8th grade, and its primary goal goes beyond simply teaching historical facts. It aims to help young participants recognize their roots and foster a strong sense of Korean identity and pride.

(Registration: https://bit.ly/pachappacamp)

 

📌 Information

• Exhibition: Pachappa Camp: The First Koreatown
• June 7-July 5, 2025
• KCCoC Gallery (9925 Capitol Dr, Wheeling, IL)
• Special Lecture & Opening Recption: Sat. June 14, 2pm at BISCO Hall (9600 Capitol Dr.)
• Pre-registration: https://bit.ly/pachappa2025
• Inquiry: event@kccoc.org