The exhibit traces Lee not just as a martial artist but as a Chinese American cultural figure — his time in San Francisco, the discrimination he navigated, and the specific ways his image has been claimed and reclaimed since his death in 1973. CHSA is a small museum, which means it's curated tightly rather than spread thin. The building itself is a 1932 landmark, a former YWCA designed by Julia Morgan.

Practical note: street parking on Clay is brutal on weekends. The Portsmouth Square garage at 733 Kearny St is your best bet — $3/hour on weekends. The museum is on the smaller side, so budget 60–90 minutes for a genuine look.

If you have two hours, walk the exhibit, then cut two blocks over to Waverly Place for a look at the temple facades, and grab something from one of the dim sum spots on Broadway on your way back to BART.