Manzanar National Historic Site

Manzanar National Historic Site is a unit of the National Park Service located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in Inyo County, California. It preserves the history of the Manzanar internment camp, where over 10,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II under the authority of Executive Order 9066. The site serves as a powerful memorial to this period of American history, featuring a restored sentry post, the camp cemetery, and an extensive museum within the historically reconstructed auditorium.

History

The area's history extends far beyond the 20th century, with the Paiute people inhabiting the Owens Valley for millennia. Following the displacement of Native peoples, the land was used for ranching and orchards, giving the location its Spanish name meaning "apple orchard." In the early 20th century, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power acquired water rights, fundamentally altering the local ecology. The valley's remote location and existing infrastructure led the War Relocation Authority to select it in 1942 for one of ten internment camps established across the western United States.

Establishment and operation

The United States Army oversaw the rapid construction of the camp, which was officially opened on March 21, 1942, under the administration of the War Relocation Authority. The first incarcerees arrived from the Los Angeles area, having been forcibly removed from their homes following the issuance of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The camp was surrounded by barbed wire fencing and guarded by eight watchtowers manned by military police. At its peak, Manzanar held 10,046 people in over 500 barracks arranged into 36 residential blocks.

Life at the camp

Daily life was defined by austerity, confinement, and communal living. Each family was assigned to a single room in a barracks, with shared latrine and mess hall facilities for each block. Incarcerees worked to establish essential services, including a hospital, schools, and a newspaper, the *Manzanar Free Press*. They also worked in camp agriculture, cultivating thousands of acres to supplement rations. Cultural and social life persisted, with activities like baseball leagues, judo practice, and the creation of elaborate gardens. The uprising of December 1942, sparked by tensions with camp administration and the Japanese American Citizens League, resulted in military police firing into a crowd, killing two and injuring many.

Post-war and preservation

Following the camp's closure in November 1945, most structures were dismantled or relocated, and the land reverted to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The camp cemetery, marked by the Irei monument, remained a touchstone for survivors and their descendants. Advocacy by groups like the Manzanar Committee led to its designation as a California Historical Landmark in 1972 and a National Historic Landmark in 1985. Legislation sponsored by Representative Mel Levine and Senator Alan Cranston ultimately established it as a National Historic Site, administered by the National Park Service, in 1992.

Visitor information

The site is located on U.S. Route 395 near Independence, California. The Visitor Center, housed in the historically reconstructed auditorium, features extensive exhibits, a bookstore, and the award-winning documentary film *Remembering Manzanar*. A 3.2-mile self-guided driving tour route allows visitors to explore foundations, restored sentry posts, and the cemetery. The National Park Service offers regular ranger programs and hosts the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, organized by the Manzanar Committee, which draws thousands to commemorate the legacy of the incarcerees.

Category:National Historic Sites of the United States Category:Museums in Inyo County, California Category:World War II internment camps in the United States