Our Story
Gum Moon’s History—A Timeline
1860-1870s
The Methodist Mission, also known as the Oriental Home and School, at 916 Washington Street in San Francisco’s Chinatown was established by Otis T. Gibson to provide shelter, education and vocational training for Chinese girls rescued from human trafficking.
The dedicated group of women running the home formalized their efforts by becoming the Women’s Missionary Society of the Pacific Coast.
1880s
The Chinese Exclusion Act was signed into law by President Chester Arthur, suspending Chinese immigration to the United States; as a result, the Oriental Home and School formed a kindergarten for Chinese children that could not attend public schools
Early 1900s
The Oriental Home and School was destroyed by the tragic 1906 San Francisco earthquake and was rebuilt at 940 Washington Street
1980 - 1990
Gum Moon expanded its services by starting the Asian Women’s Resource Center and initial services included ESL classes and Employment and Referral programs.
Gum Moon began its first Parent-Child development Program with just 10 children using a seed grant from United Methodist Women in 1990.
1940s
The Oriental Home was renamed to Gum Moon, or “Golden Door”, and served as a dormitory for young Chinese women who were employed or in school.
Early 2000s
Through its Asian Women’s Resource Center, Gum Moon opened Asian Family Support Centers in the Richmond and Sunset neighborhoods of San Francisco in 2003.
Gum Moon made $3.4M in improvements to their existing 100-year old building, originally designed by architect Julia Morgan. The renovations included ADA accessibility, a seismic retrofit, and new kitchen and laundry facilities for residents.
2024
Gum Moon is expanding its community reach by embracing more digital communication in social media and newsletters, a pivotal step in adapting to the future and ensuring its mission of cultural awareness and support remains accessible and impactful in an increasingly connected world.
2018
Celebrating 150 years of history, Gum Moon honors its enduring legacy of resilience, cultural preservation, and community empowerment, inspiring future generations to build on its remarkable foundation.
Throughout the continuous years of service,
Gum Moon shows unwavering commitment to providing a safe, nurturing, and respectful environment for all, particularly women and children facing challenges such as domestic violence, homelessness, or economic instability
4571
Clients served per year
567
Children who participated in
a Child Development Program per year
3056
Individuals who reached out to Parenting Services
918
Individuals served for Information & Referral
including COVID Basic Needs Program
What Our Community Is Saying
Learn more in this mini-documentary celebrating Gum Moon’s 150th anniversary.
Hear its rich legacy and enduring impact through heartfelt interviews with community members, including Jeffrey Staley, author of Gum Moon: A Novel of San Francisco Chinatown, Executive Director Gloria Tan, dedicated board members, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, and the inspiring residents whose lives have been transformed by the organization.