MANZANAR

NAME: Manzanar
COUNTY: Inyo
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 3
CLIMATE: Cool windy winters, hot summers
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring & fall		 COMMENTS: Located just off US HWY 395 in the Owens Valley about 5 miles south of the town of Independance, CA.
REMAINS: Guard shack building and many foundations from buildings are the only remnants still existing today.
Manzanar was extablished in 1941 as an internment camp for Japaneese Americand during WWII. It grew almost overnight from 0 to 10,000 residents. Tarpaper shacks all layed out in an organized city was home to these internees and their families until 1945. Though the residents were allowed into town, the only way to really escape was for the young men to join the US Armed Forces and fight in Europe. Many of these youngment were highly decorated heros. For five years after the war until the early 1950's Manzanar remained as a community until they returned to the cities of their residence prior to the war. Submitted by: Bill Steele


Manzanar Cemetery
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research


Manzanar Camp Hospital Ruins
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research


Manzanar Camp Hospital Ruins
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research


Military Police sentry post. Photo by D.A. Wright.


Two Military Police sentry posts guard the entrance to
Manzanar. Photo by D.A. Wright.


The Manzanar gymnasium. Photo by D.A. Wright.


Military Police sentry post with the gymnasium in the
background. Photo by D.A. Wright.


An old mess hall now returned to Manzanar. This mess hall
was removed shortly after the camp was de-populated, taken to Bishop and used as the hospital there. In later years, the building was moved to the Bishop airport and used as storage until December 2002, when the building was replaced in its historic location at Manzanar. D.A.Wright photo.

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