Join Us Today! Crane House depends on members for support of its educational programs. Learn more about the benefits.About Crane House
Crane House, The China Institute, Inc. opened in 1987 in the Old Louisville neighborhood near the University of Louisville. Its focus on China reflected the heritage of founder, Helen Lang, who was inspired to share her expertise and interest in Chinese cooking, history, and culture (the crane is an Asian symbol of longevity). In 1996 the organization expanded its programming to include all of East Asia and the following year, Crane House moved to its current location at 1244 South Third Street.
Crane House, The China Institute, Inc. opened in 1987 in the Old Louisville neighborhood near the University of Louisville. Its focus on China reflected the heritage of founder, Helen Lang, who was inspired to share her expertise and interest in Chinese cooking, history, and culture (the crane is an Asian symbol of longevity). In 1996 the organization expanded its programming to include all of East Asia and the following year, Crane House moved to its current location at 1244 South Third Street.
 |
| The original Crane House at 1374 South Third Street |
Early programming included popular Chinese cooking, Tai Chi, and Chinese language classes, which continue today. Chinese language is now offered for pre-school and school-aged children, tapping an interest of adoptive parents of Chinese children and area schools. Additional resources are available in our library which has more than 3000 holdings (books, publications videos, etc.) on Asian history and culture.
The highly successful Teaching in Asia (TIA) summer program was launched in 1988, when 10 American teachers went to Quanzhou in Fujian province, China, to teach high school teachers of English. The China TIA program grew steadily and after ten years, was expanded to include Vietnam. In 2006, Crane House sent 34 teachers to six sites in China and two in Vietnam. Through the TIA program in Jiujiang, China, a relationship developed, which has resulted in a 2004 Sister City connection between Louisville and Jiujiang.
In response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident and local interest in importing and exporting with Asian countries, Crane House held Its first major business program, Doing Business with the Chinese, in 1989. As Chinese delegations began to visit Louisville, cultural training seminars were conducted for local corporate staff. Later, corporate services expanded to include individual as well as group training and translation services.
 |
Crane House 1989 Board of Directors Front Row, left to right: Helen Lang, Mary Lee Fischer, Betty McAninch, Lavinia Swain Back Row, left to right: Arnold Holtberg, Lynn Wangerin, David Mills, Gerald Tyrrell, Dan Jones |
Crane House held its first statewide educational workshop at Russell Springs Elementary School, Kentucky, in 1992 where sixth graders participated in Chinese language instruction, learned to use an abacus and sing Chinese songs, Tai Chi, paper folding, and discussions of life in China. A statewide outreach program was formally launched in 1995, and programming has been presented in Henderson, Bowling Green, Ashland and Hazard, among other places.
New programs have been developed in response to the expanded mission to teach about East Asia. Since 1996, speakers, resources, classes and activities have been offered for China, Japan, India, Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bhutan, Nepal, the Philippines and Taiwan. The education department began offering school workshops on Korea and India in 2000. Also in 2000, Crane House began Asia: Insights and Perspectives, which featured such nationally known speakers as Dr. Orville Schell, from UC Berkeley, Dr. Ezra F. Vogel, from Harvard University and Nicholas Kristof, from the New York Times.
 |
Crane House moved to 1244 South Third Street in 1997 |
The Crane House display of Asian objects and artifacts officially opened as the Asia Gallery in September 2001. The following year the textile gallery opened, and a photography gallery was added in 2005. In April 2005 Crane House opened a major exhibit, A Chinese Immigrant Story: Portrait of Two Families, which was displayed for one year. The exhibit focused on the immigration story of the Lew and Lang families through family artifacts, photographs, and documents. Portions of the exhibit were included in the 2005 Kentucky State Fair as part of the Kaleidoscope Discover Zone Project Global exhibit.
In 2006, Helen Lang’s 80th birthday was occasion for a gala event; 34 teachers went to Vietnam and China with the TIA program, and many cultural/educational programs were organized for members and the general public. 2007 marks the significant celebration of Crane House's 20th anniversary.