Independence, California: Manzanar WWII Japanese Internment Camp
Remnants of the camp survive at the Manzanar National Historic Site, augmented with a museum and a gift shop.
Manzanar National Historic Site
- Address:
- US Hwy. 395, Independence, CA
- Directions:
- Manzanar National Historic Site. US Hwy 395 (eastern Sierras), just south of the town Independence, CA. 5/2010: Easiest approach is from the north because of road construction.
- Hours:
- Daily dawn-dusk. Interpretive Center Apr-Oct 9-5:30, Nov-Mar 9-4:30. (Call to verify)
- Phone:
- 760-878-2194
- Admission:
- Free.
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Manzanar WWII Japanese Internment Camp Well worth a stop. I'm glad this didn't happen again after the 9/11 attacks.
[Subachad, 11/19/2012]
Manzanar WWII Japanese Internment Camp A good place to stop and learn a little bit of WW2 history that is mostly glanced over in schools.
[Shelby, 06/29/2012]
Manzanar WWII Japanese Internment Camp They have located in Independence, CA, and moved what had once been one of the dining halls that once stood in this camp since my last visit there. This site is a prime example of the harm of racial profiling. It shouldn't have happened then and it should never happen in any form again.
[Roadlife, 05/02/2010]
Manzanar WWII Japanese Internment Camp The Japanese Internment Camp-Manazanar is one of multiple camps throughout the western US where Japanese descent US residents were forcibly interned during WWII. The location is now a US Park Service-operated facility with a very interesting museum and great gift shop. You can also drive around the old camp grounds (of which little is left). When we visited, the place was empty and we had a park ranger all to ourselves. A must stop for any WWII history buff (Note: no shot glasses or snow globes available).
[Tom R., 02/24/2007]This is where America sent many of its citizens of Japanese ancestry at the beginning of WWII. Mostly, only the foundations remain from the barrack-like buildings. A few buildings do exist, including the guard huts (built in the swooping roofline typical of Japan); the huts were constructed by the internees themselves.
Manzanar must be one of the blackest days of our country's history (although I was somewhat mollified later to learn that both Australia and New Zealand had similar camps).
[Curt Morgan, 12/17/2006]Nearby Offbeat Places
- Coyote-Tooth Dentures, Independence, CA - 6 mi.
- Nightmare Rock, Lone Pine, CA - 9 mi.
- Movie Road, Lone Pine, CA - 9 mi.
- In the region: General Sherman: World's Largest (not Tallest) Tree, Sequoia National Park, CA - 35 mi.
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Nov. 2012: Photo added.