Skip to Content
Donate

Manzanar National Historic Site

Our differences in beliefs do not truly separate us or elevate us over others. Rather, they highlight the rich tapestry that is humanity.
— George Takei
Remembering a Somber History
Honor and preserve the memory of thousands of Japanese Americans who faced incarceration during World War II.

Over 10,000 human lives were confined to the grounds of the Manzanar National Historic Site, each with their own unique story. Listen to their stories and learn about the legacy of an important chapter in America’s history.

In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were incarcerated during World War II. Located at the foot of the imposing Sierra Nevada in eastern California's Owens Valley, Manzanar has been identified as the best preserved of these camps.

Today, Manzanar National Historic Site provides an opportunity to learn about the experience of over 10,000 Japanese Americans who spent all or part of World War II at Manzanar, as well as other eras of the site’s history, including early Owens Valley Paiute settlements and the influx of homesteading miners and ranchers in the mid-19th century.

Park Updates