Yugantar Ashram, Historical independence movement museum in San Francisco, US

Yugantar Ashram is the building at 5 Wood Street in San Francisco that now houses the Ghadar Memorial, a museum and library. Its main hall has 21 framed pictures of Ghadar Party leaders and martyrs on two opposite walls, 22 open bookshelves with books, and four showcases of party material.

From 1913 to 1917 the building served as headquarters for the Ghadar Party, which published a newspaper promoting Indian independence from British rule from this location. The activists used the space to spread their message throughout the overseas Indian community.

The weekly Yugantar Circular, started by party secretary Har Dayal, was renamed Ghadar after a meeting at the Finnish Socialist Hall in Astoria, Oregon, which also decided to base the party in San Francisco. Sohan Singh Bhakna served as party president. The memorial keeps a historical museum and library.

The memorial is open to visitors only on Wednesdays between 10 AM and 1 PM. You will need to send an email request in advance to arrange your visit given the limited access times.

The building was handed over to the Government of India in 1949, and from 1952 the local community pressed for a memorial. New Delhi then sanctioned US$83,000 for restoring the dilapidated structure; S. Swaran Singh, India's external affairs minister, broke ground in September 1974.