Corpus Christi, Texas is home to one of the largest Asian Culture Museums in the United States. The Asian Cultures Museum and Education Center allows visitors to learn Japanese customs, explore art like kimonos, porcelains, and see a rickshaw. Many of the artifacts at the museum are from India, Japan, Sri Lanka, Hmong, The Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Laos, and Myanmer. The stories of how the artifacts came to the museum as well as the treasures, richness, and stories of the various countries and their people can be found at the museum.
One exhibit will discuss Chinese New Year, exploring the festive holiday. Artifacts such as jade carvings will also be part of the exhibits. Jade is considered a symbol of nobility, consistency, immortality, and perfection in the Chinese culture. Guests of the museum are able to learn more about this from the museum displays.
The museum also provides educational classes for students and the public. Some exhibits of the past have included art works of Hsiao- Hsia Tsai. The exhibit was oil paintings. The displays were on loan from the national museum of Modern Art in Tokyo. Mrs. Billie Trimble Chandler is responsible for the museum's creation. She founded the place in the 1960's as a way of educating the United States, most particularly because of the difficult times of previous decades.
Asian Cultures Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm. Admission into the exhibit area is $6 for adults, $4 for students, and $3 for most children. The museum building is located on 1809 North Chaparral Street in Corpus Christi near the water front. Around the museum are the American Bank Center, Selena Auditorium, Harbor Playhouse, and other points of interest.
Anyone looking for education needs to visit the second floor where the programs are held. Each year the museum sees about 1500 children and adults who take advantage of the storytelling, folk tales, and hands on activities like calligraphy and origami. Lesson plans can include Buddha and Buddhism discussions, as well as learning how to use chopsticks. Field trips must be made with prior arrangements. Birthday parties are also accepted at the museum. Again, though, arrangements must be made in advance.
Local residents are encouraged to volunteer their time at the museum to help educate the many guests who arrive at the museum each year. Volunteering is based on availability and often those who can fill the position most successfully.
Guests are welcome to explore the gift shop onsite at the museum. The gift shop offers Asian treasures for guests to take home. The gifts fit a variety of budgets. Porcelains, jewelry, kids' games, craft sets, books, and much more are offered at the museum shop. Even popular Asian games like Mahjong can be found at the shop. Its prime location near the shore and other places of interest make it easy for guests to see the many sites of Corpus Christi and break for lunch nearby.
