Manzanar

Welcome to the Manzanar National Historic Site, situated along historic Route three nine five in the stark, beautiful, and unforgiving landscape of the Eastern Sierras. Silhouetted against the dramatic snowcapped backdrop of…

As you approach the entrance of Manzanar, the very first structures to command your attention are the historic stone sentry posts. These robust pillars mark the original main gate and were actually designed and constructed by an…

We now step inside the large, echoing structure that serves as the Manzanar Interpretive Center. This building is a rare original survivor from the camp era, constructed by the internees to serve as the high school auditorium. …

Exiting the auditorium, we walk a short distance to Block Fourteen, an area featuring reconstructed living quarters that provide a visceral glimpse into the daily hardships of camp life. Manzanar was organized into thirty six…

Located directly behind the residential quarters in each block is the communal mess hall, a long, stark building that served as the dining facility for the roughly three hundred residents of the block. As you enter this space,…

We now step into the footprint of the communal latrines and shower facilities, a space that represents one of the most profound indignities inflicted upon the Japanese Americans at Manzanar. Because the residential barracks…

Walking toward the eastern edge of the camp, we arrive at a wide, open expanse of dusty earth that once served as the central baseball diamond. In the midst of the bleak, militarized environment of Manzanar, this field emerged as…

As we navigate toward the southwestern section of the site, we encounter the dry, excavated remnants of Merritt Park. To truly understand the significance of this space, you must close your eyes and imagine away the arid, rocky…

Our walking route concludes at the extreme western edge of the camp, situated just before the barbed wire boundary gave way to the towering, imposing slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Here stands the Manzanar Cemetery,…

As we conclude our tour of the Manzanar National Historic Site, take a final look at the stark contrast between the majestic beauty of the Sierra Nevadas and the grim reality of the guard towers and barbed wire that once…