Manzanar War Relocation Center

Manzanar War Relocation Center was a detainee camp in California where the U.S. government forcibly relocated and interned approximately 11,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, from 1942 to 1945. Established following Executive Order 9066, it was part of broader wartime measures driven by fear and prejudice after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. The site comprised barracks, schools, and mess halls, functioning as a makeshift community. Today, Manzanar serves as a national historic site, honoring the experiences of internees and acknowledging the injustices faced during this period.