History
Archival research, oral history projects, and rotating exhibits that highlight the depth and diversity of Asian American heritage.
History Doesn't Have to Live Behind Glass
History at AAMGP is active storytelling — oral histories, community archives, and immersive experiences that turn landscapes and neighborhoods into living museums. The past is preserved so it can shape belonging for generations ahead.
Why This Pillar Exists
Preserve and activate Asian American heritage through oral history, community archives, and immersive storytelling that bring the past into everyday public life.
In partnership with scholars and community stewards, we document migration, resilience, and contribution in the voices of those who lived them.
What We Set Out to Do
- 01
Document oral histories and community archives that center first-person Asian American experience across Southern California.
- 02
Develop rotating exhibits and research programs that treat history as ongoing discovery, not a fixed display.
- 03
Pilot immersive tools — including AR-guided neighborhood tours — that turn physical landscapes into living museums.
- 04
Deepen partnerships with universities, archives, and community organizations so preservation work stays rooted where stories happened.
Work Already Underway
Living Archive Initiative
An AR-guided Little Saigon Walking Tour, piloted with UCLA, UC Irvine's Southeast Asian Archive Center, and Dawdle Labs, transforms archival assets into site-specific narratives.
Oral History & Community Archives
Partnerships with scholars, archivists, and community stewards — including UC Irvine's Southeast Asian Archive and UCLA's Community Archives Lab — ensure stories are documented in the voices of those who lived them.
Rotating Exhibits & Research
Exhibits and research programs illuminate the depth and diversity of Asian American heritage across Orange County neighborhoods and regional diasporas.
Moments From the Community
Who Makes It Possible
Partners
- UCLA
- UC Irvine
- Southeast Asian Archive
- Dawdle Labs
- City of Irvine
Interested in sponsoring this pillar? Get in touch