Asia America mural and lamppost

The Chinatown dragon lampposts were designed in 1925 to celebrate 75 years of California Statehood by D’Arcy Ryan, best known for designing the first complete illumination of Niagara Falls and pioneering skyscraper illumination. He was no stranger to San Francisco, having been previously responsible for the illumination of the 1915 Panama Pacific Exhibition. The dragons symbolize good fortune and longevity. New lamps were added over the years, cast from the original 1925 mold. These lanterns were an important part of the Chinatown merchants' effort to draw tourism led by Look Tin Eli. His goal was to create "an ideal Oriental city" and completely change the perception of Chinatown from a place of danger to a place to pleasantly spend one's day and one's money.