11 Most Endangered
Bok Kai Temple
Year Listed: 2001
Location: California
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Deterioration, Natural Forces
On the north shore of the Yuba River in the heart of northern California's Sacramento Valley stands a unique testament to the power of tradition - a richly painted Chinese temple. Constructed in 1880 by Chinese immigrants, the Bok Kai Temple long served a flourishing Chinese community first attracted to the area by the California gold rush. Boasting exquisite wall paintings and gilded altars, the temple has been the centerpiece of Marysville's Chinese community for more than a century. Today, though, time and weather have taken their toll, and the temple's murals and furnishings are in jeopardy. In addition, Marysville faces significant economic challenges, and its now dispersed Chinese community lacks the resources to face the daunting task of restoring the temple and its collection alone.
Update
In 2002, the National Trust awarded more than $7,000 to the Bok Kai Temple to prepare a Historic Structures Report and an assessment and conservation plan for the Temple's unique exterior murals, threatened by the instability of the underlying walls and the ravages of weather. Western Office staff continues to work closely with representatives of local government, congregation members, and the Friends of the Bok Kai Temple to develop a consensus for the temple's future and secure much needed funding. A five-year Preservation Campaign for the temple was launched in 2003 with the goal of completing restoration of the Temple by 2008. Since the start of the campaign, the Temple has completed an estimated $250,000 in restoration and conservation work on the temple building, including stabilization of the temple portico and portico murals. However, the Temple is still working their goal of raising the full $2,000,000 required to completely restore and preserve the Bok Kai Temple building.
