May 4, 1887 – The Burning Of The San Jose Chinatown

From 1872 to 1887, the San Jose Chinatown existed on the block of Market Street that falls along the present day Fairmont Hotel. The San Jose Chinatown was the largest Chinatown south of San Francisco. On May 4, 1887, the Chinatown was burnt down from an arsonist, whom most likely had racist sentiments against the Chinese.

The two historical markers commemorating the San Jose Chinatown and the arson that occurred to the structures is in front of the San José Fairmont Hotel.