“Change Through Kindness” was always the motto of Gerry Low Sabado, a descendant of Quock Mui, the first Chinese woman born in California, and resident of the Fishing Village of Point Alones. Growing up, Gerry hadn’t known much about her family’s history until she read a “Chinese Gold”, a book by by Santa Cruz historian Sandy Lydon which detailed the story of her multi-great grandmother, the impacts of the fishing village community on the Monterey Bay and beyond, and their tragic dispersal in the early 1900s after Monterey residents of the time burned and looted their homes. Gerry, a Monterey teacher, who often worked to do good and stand up for various communities, wanted to bring this knowledge to the greater world, and approached the PG Museum in the hopes that they might team up to shed light on this important history.
Together, Gerry and the Museum founded the Walk of Remembrance, which commemorates both the anniversary of the village burning down and the positive impacts the members of the Fishing Village community and their descendants have had on the county and beyond. Though Gerry sadly passed away in 2021, her legacy lives on in many ways, including through the Quock Mui Foundation, founded by her husband Randy and other members of her family.
“May 16, 2025 is the 119th anniversary of the burning of the Pt. Alones/Pt Almeas Chinese fishing village once located in Pacific Grove.” says Randy Sabado, Chair of the Walk of Remembrance Committee and President of the Quock Mui Foundation. “Please help celebrate AAPI Heritage month by attending several events which honor and remember the sacrifices and contributions that the Chinese community has made and continues to make to the Monterey Bay area."
This year’s Walk of Remembrance will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Starting at the PG Museum and ending at Hopkins Marine Station, the walk is just under 2 miles roundtrip on a primarily flat surface. The Museum will also serve as a learning hub for anyone interested in learning more about the history of the Fishing Village and its community with an updated and expanded exhibit in their newly refreshed Main Gallery. A number of adjunct events will happen throughout the weekend, including:
- Immigrant Voices: Humanizing Our Stories on May 9th at 6:15pm at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Storytelling and Children’s Hour on May 10th at 11:00am at the Pacific Grove Museum
- Walk of Remembrance and Lion Dancers on May 10th at 1:00pm at the Pacific Grove Museum; actual walk leaving at 2:00pm
- Sharing Our Stories: The Fishing Village at Point Alones documentary screening and panel discussion on May 10th at the Hopkins Marine Station Boatworks at 3:00pm
- A Whaler’s/Chinese Cabin Tour at Point Lobos on May 11th at 10:00am
To get more inspired and learn about this incredible history, “Chinese Gold” is available for sale at the Museum. In addition, the Museum has expanded its Chinese Fishing Village exhibit with oral history and additional dioramas, photos, and interpretation.
