This building was built in 1915 funded by the KMT (Kao Ming Tong, or the Chinese Nationalist Party founded by Dr. Sun Yat Sen). The building was used by the KMT members as a meeting place and also used by the Locke community as a town hall.

In 1926, the building was changed to use as a Chinese school to teach Chinese language to the local kids. The school was called Kao Ming School.  In the early years, the Chinese children, after regular school, would study at this school until dinner. The Kao Ming school was closed around 1940 for a few years.

Around 1954 with the help of the Joe Shoong Foundation the Chinese school was reopened again under the name of Joe Shoong School. The school was named after Joe Shoong who founded the National Dollar Stores. A millionaire, he endowed Chinese language, art and culture schools for Chinese youth.  The school was closed in the mid-eighties due to lack of Chinese children in town.

The Chinese school building is now a museum and open to the public free of charge. This building opens Tuesday through Sunday from 11 to 4.30p.m. Please call (916)776-1661 for special arrangement.