"Manzanar National Historic Site" Manzanar by Yaqui

Manzanar Travel Guide: 20 reviews and 58 photos

When Japan’s attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, plunging the United States into World War II. Racial prejudices and paranoia changed the lives of 120,000 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry living in the United States. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the Secretary of War to establish camps by removing anyone from those areas who might threaten the war effort. Without due process and against the very core of the Constitution, the government barely gave anyone of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast only days to decide what to do with their houses, farms, businesses, and other possessions. Most families sold all their belongings at a loss, rented properties to neighbors, while some left possessions with friends or religious groups. Others either abandoned their property or while many just burned their belongings. Each family was assigned an identification number and transported by cars, buses, trucks, and trains, taking only what they could carry on their backs. They were transported under military guard to 17 temporary assembly centers located in Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona. Then from there were moved to one of 10 hastily built relocation centers that were inadequate to keep warm during winters, harsh winds and keeping cool during the soaring temperatures of Owens Valley summer months.

Owens Valley has been home to the Native Americans for almost 10,000 years. The Paiute tribe have lived and hunted in this very valley for 1,500 years that had established the first real settlements. They hunted, fished, and knew how to irrigated their agriculture.

Miners and ranchers eventually moved into the valley by the early 1860s and homesteaded here too raising their cattle, sheep, fruit, wheat, and other crops. Tension erupted from many killings over cattle since the Paiutes were being starved to death. The military was called in and forcibly relocated nearly 1,000 Owens Valley Paiute as they so many died on the trail from starvation and exhaustion to Fort Tejon in 1863. Fortunately, the Paiute did return to their home land of Owens Valley.

The town of Manzanar is the Spanish word for “apple orchard”. In 1910 an agricultural settlement was started by farmers that grew apples, pears, peaches, potatoes, and alfalfa on several thousand acres surrounding the town.

Sadly, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began acquired water rights to Owens Valley in 1905 and once the Los Angeles Aqueduct was completed in 1913, that land was bought up by 1929 and soon the town was abandoned.

Pros and Cons

Pros:A place for all to learn from.
Cons:No services, other than town north and south.
In a nutshell:More than just rocks and dust!

Last visit to Manzanar: Mar 2009
Intro Updated Apr 11, 2009
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Reviews (11)

Medal of Honor ~ Sadao S. Munemori - Manzanar

Medal of Honor ~ Sadao S. Munemori Things to Do (11)

Be sure to read as many exhibits and displays. There is so much to learn from here, this one touch my heart... more travel advice

ID Tag Station ~ Take one, read and learn - Manzanar

ID Tag Station Things to Do (11)

This was an example of how the internees were suppose to attach these ID tags to their persona and bags. This is an... more travel advice

Manzanar Cemetry Things to Do (11)

This is a stunning monument and it is very tranquil at the cemetry especially with the beautiful mountain landscape in... more travel advice

MANZANAR Californian Historical Landmark No.850 - Manzanar

MANZANAR Californian Historical Landmark... Things to Do (11)

California Historical Marker Reads: In the early part of WWII, 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were interned in... more travel advice

Comments (7)

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Regina1965 Feb 4, 2012 at 5:14 PM

An excellent page, very informative and a good lesson in history. Thanks for sharing.
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travelgourmet Sep 7, 2009 at 12:30 AM

Dee, when I drive north to Reno, I always get a lump in my throat when I see the sign and entrance to Manzanar. Good solid writing on this war time tragedy.
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KiKitC May 15, 2009 at 3:46 AM

What an interesting mixture of culture and history. Wonderful pages. Hope you're on a marvelous journey for your birthday.
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jumpingnorman May 11, 2009 at 5:22 PM

This is a stunning monument with Japanese Writing -- "Mansanas"actually means apples also in Filipino (derived from Spanish)...lots of history in the these tips - good research Norman :)
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deecat Apr 26, 2009 at 10:58 AM

Dee, what a powerful page...and one we should never forget. Your sensitive presentation is appreciated. Loved the Rock Gardens, the info about the stonemason, the Cemetery monument, and the Blue Star Highways & Byways.
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ncfg Apr 21, 2009 at 12:24 PM

Great tips! This page is a good lesson of history. Thanks for sharing! Nat
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mikelisaanna Apr 11, 2009 at 6:46 PM

We visited Manzanar in 2004 and found it to be very interesting, even though it was an ugly part of our US history. More people should visit Manzanar to prevent it from happening again.