Mai Wah Society & Museum

02/26/2026

We greatly appreciate all of you that took part in our Chinese New Year Parade last weekend! It was wonderful to see so many old friends and make some new ones. The event wouldn't be what is without the ongoing support of the community.

Thanks to The Montana Standard for posting these wonderful photos: https://archive.is/gID4y

https://mtstandard.com/news/local/collection_fb8eb664-904e-44be-92d3-32d360785a13.html?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQHRcdjbGNrBAdFtGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHqQL_W7G5jFICGsxUfBx1RxgELVbbOejpLJlMqCn1oXIiel3wLlNgntdSGKz_aem_6NwJSs5MRTb8XhGvjzOfHg

Butte celebrated the start of the “Year of the Horse” with the annual Chinese New Year Parade in Uptown Butte on Saturday.The procession began at the Butte-Silver Bow Courthouse. Members

02/26/2026

We greatly appreciate all of you that took part in our Chinese New Year Parade last weekend! It was wonderful to see so many old friends and make some new ones. The event wouldn't be what is without the ongoing support of the community.

And thanks to NBC Montana for the coverage!

Happening Saturday in Uptown Butte, the year of the fire horse will be celebrated with a spectacular Chinese New Year parade.

02/26/2026

We greatly appreciate all of you that took part in our Chinese New Year Parade last weekend! It was wonderful to see so many old friends and make some new ones. The event wouldn't be what is without the ongoing support of the community.

And thanks to KKXLF Buttefor the coverage!

Butte celebrated its 30th annual Chinese New Year parade, honoring the city's rich Chinese immigrant history during the rare Year of the Fire Horse.

02/18/2026

The Mai Wah Society is thrilled to have other community partners offering programming in celebration of Chinese New Year!

The Covellite Theatre was gracious enough to partner with the Mai Wah Society to screen a couple of films in celebration of Chinese New Year.

Tonight, the Covellite Theatre will show Raise the Red Lantern. A visually stunning classic from director Zhang Yimou, the film is set in 1920’s China and explores tradition, power, and quiet resistance.

You can find more details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1598901237898192/

02/18/2026

Thanks to KXLF Butte for airing this story about our Chinese New Year Parade happening this Saturday!

The Mai Wah Society hosts its annual Lunar New Year Parade this weekend in Butte, featuring dragon dancers and celebrating Chinese heritage.

02/17/2026

02/15/2026

The Mai Wah Society is thrilled to have other community partners offering programming in celebration of Chinese New Year!

The Covellite Theatre was gracious enough to partner with the Mai Wah Society to screen a couple of films in celebration of Chinese New Year.

On Wednesday, February 18, the Covellite Theatre will show Raise the Red Lantern. A visually stunning classic from director Zhang Yimou, the film is set in 1920’s China and explores tradition, power, and quiet resistance.

You can find more details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1598901237898192/

10/06/2025

We'd like to thank everyone who joined us for our Moon Festival yesterday! There were lanterns, mooncakes, other treats and poetry. We're thankful for a couple of attendees who shared their memories of celebrating the Moon Festival with their families.

Special thanks to the Butte-Silver Bow Public Library for providing the kits for children to make the lanterns!

09/14/2025

Join the Mai Wah Society for our "Moon Festival!" The Moon Festival, sometimes called the Mid-Autumn Festival, is second only to Chinese New Year when it comes to Chinese celebrations. The festival is a time for families to reunite for feasts, worship the moon, light paper lanterns, and eat moon cakes

The festival will feature a small presentation about the Moon Festival, the reading of a couple traditional poems, and a chance to sample moon cakes and other treats. Additionally, the museum will be decorated with paper lanterns created by area children who can pick up kits at the Butte-Silver Bow Library (226 West Broadway Street).

https://www.facebook.com/events/794516672990801/

05/19/2025

Women of Butte
Meet Rose Hum Lee — born in Butte in 1904, she broke barriers as a pioneering Chinese American sociologist. After earning degrees from Carnegie Tech and the University of Chicago, her groundbreaking dissertation The Growth and Decline of Rocky Mountain Chinatowns (1978) shed light on the lives of Chinese families—especially women—in early 20th-centMeet Rose Hum Lee — born in Butte in 1904, she broke barriers as a pioneering Chinese American sociologist. After earning degrees from Carnegie Tech and the University of Chicago, her groundbreaking dissertation The Growth and Decline of Rocky Mountain Chinatowns (1978) shed light on the lives of Chinese families—especially women—in early 20th-century Butte.

As the daughter of prominent merchant Hum Wah Long, Lee was respected and excelled in school, but she still faced the harsh realities of racism. Like many Chinese women of her time, she had to challenge stereotypes and fight for respectability in a society quick to judge.

Her story is one of resilience, intellect, and breaking through barriers. To learn more:https://montanawomenshistory.org/category/butte/

Photo from the Mai Wah Society

05/04/2025

Thanks to everyone who came to our Qingming Festival today! It was a beautiful day to celebrate the history of the Chinese who helped build Butte and look forward to the coming year.