After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States government sought to fix what they called the “Japanese problem”. Thousands of Japanese and Japanese-Americans were sent to relocation centers in the western United States. Manzanar was the first of ten concentration camps to be established.
More than 120,000 individuals were incarcerated here from 1942 to 1945. Today, you can tour some of the buildings to learn about what it was like to live here after your life as you knew it was stripped from you.
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Manzanar National Historic Site Information
Park Size: 814 acres
Established: March 3, 1992
Entrance Fee: None
Nearby Communities: Independence, Lone Pine, Bishop
Visitor Centers: The sole visitor center is at the beginning of the road through the camp.
Campgrounds: None
How to Get There: The National Historic Site is located on Highway 395.
Best Time to Visit: Year-round (extremely hot in summer, but this will give you an idea of the harsh living conditions)
Unique Things to Do: Drive the road to see some of the facilities and barracks as well as to get an idea for the sheer size of the camp.
