The National Historic Landmark Harada House is among the most significant and powerful civil rights landmarks in California.
This site and the story of the Harada Family embody local, state, national, and international issues of civil and individual rights, democracy, immigration, assimilation, and citizenship.
Special Museum Exhibit
Although Harada House is not open to the public, you can see a special exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum from January 29, 2009 to January 30, 2010.
Click the thumbnail images below for a detailed version
Jukichi, Ken and Masa Atsu Harada ca. 1905
Jukichi, Masa Atsu, Mine and the staff and patrons of the Washington Restaurant on University Avenue
Menu for the Washington Restaurant
Jukichi puts title of house in his American-born children's names
(Riverside Metropolitan Museum Harada Family Archival Collection)
Preservation of the site, collections, and stories ensures that these pivotal lessons of history will continue to be accessible for all peoples. When the Haradas arrived in California at the turn of the 20th century they were among a myriad of Pan-Asian immigrants seeking the American Dream.
Jukichi Harada, his wife, Ken, and their first son, Masa Atsu, after their arrival to the United States settled in Riverside, California in 1905. They soon were operating a rooming house and the Washington Restaurant, which featured "American-fare" and was decorated with pictures of United States presidents.
Jukichi, following the death of his first American born son, sought a home with healthier conditions for his family. Aware of the 1913 California Alien Land Law prohibiting aliens from owning property, in December 1915 he purchased the house at 3356 Lemon Street in the names of his three American born children (Mine, Sumi, and Yoshizo).
Jukichi, following the death of his first American born son, sought a home with healthier conditions for his family. Aware of the 1913 California Alien Land Law prohibiting aliens from owning property, in December 1915 he purchased the house at 3356 Lemon Street in the names of his three American born children (Mine, Sumi, and Yoshizo).