A three-and-a-half hour drive from Los Angeles, the Manzanar National Historic Site is an interesting location that documents one of America’s least shining moments. This is the site of one of ten camps in which over 110,000 Japanese residents and Japanese-American citizens were detained from 1942 to 1945 during World War II.
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The structures, including barracks, latrines, and a mess hall, are reconstructions or restorations of the original buildings. It’ll give you an idea of the life that Japanese in the United States had to endure during WWII, when the US government decided that keeping them away from military and manufacturing installations was part of its national security plan.
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There is also a museum, where you’ll see IDs, photos, and personal items left by some of the men, women, and children who spent time at this particular location. According to sources, two thirds of the people interned here were American citizens. Trust me, this place is definitely food for thought.
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The Manzanar National Historic Site is located at 5001 Highway 395, Independence, CA 93526. There’s no fee to enter or to park. Hours may be affected by the pandemic, so call or check the website prior to visiting.
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