INTRODUCTION

Manzanar National Historic Site was established by PL 102-248, in March, 1992. The legislation states that the Historic Site is intended to "provide for protection and interpretation of historical, cultural, and natural resources associated with the relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II….."

The regional map below shows the location of the unit.

Manzanar is intended to preserve and interpret a representative War Relocation Center as an aspect of the nation's Pacific Campaign of World War II. There were 10 such centers established in western states to confine persons of Japanese descent residing on the west coast. These centers were established pursuant to Executive Order 9066, which authorized the Secretary of War to exclude citizens and aliens from certain designated areas as a security measure against sabotage and espionage. Over 120,000 persons were relocated to those centers. All ten centers were assessed by an NPS historian in the mid-1980's, and Manzanar was determined to be the best preserved and have the greatest potential as a national park unit.

The authorized historic site includes the area occupied by the 10,000 internees, the administrative area, the camp cemetery, and certain support facilities such as a hospital, camouflage factory, and experimental plantation. The area of the site is approximately 555 acres.* See Map 2. The historic site occupies only a small portion of the land included in the six thousand acre Manzanar War Relocation Area. The boundary of this area is shown on Map 3. The outlying acreage was used for agricultural activities and water management facilities.

Based on History and Prehistory in the National Park System and the National Historic Landmarks Program, 1987, the site provides a major contribution to National Park System representation in Theme VIII, World War II, Subtheme B, War in the Pacific, 1941-45. Because of the site's long history of occupation and use by Native American peoples, and its history as an early ranching area and agricultural subdivision, the site also makes contributions toward system representation in Theme I, Cultural Developments: Indigenous American Populations, and Theme XXX, American Ways of Life.

The land within the authorized NHS area is owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), which acquired the land in the 1920's for the water rights. Three intact buildings on the site remaining from the center's operation include two small rock sentry posts located at the historic entrance near Highway 395, and a large wood-frame auditorium. The auditorium was, until January 1996, used by the county as a vehicle maintenance facility. In addition to the standing buildings, there are many foundations, the remaining gridwork of the center's road system, numerous landscape plantings, and the remains of many of the rock gardens built by the internees.

The legislative history indicates that, in addition to the internment era, the Site would also interpret earlier historic eras, including Native American use, and pioneer ranching and farming in the area, including the early twentieth century agricultural village of Manzanar.

Special provisions of the legislation include:

1. Lands owned by the state or a political subdivision may be acquired only by donation or exchange.

2. Lands may not be acquired until an agreement for water supply has been consummated with the City of Los Angeles.

3. Movement of livestock across contiguous Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land is authorized in lieu of such movement across the historic site.

4. Contribution of up to $1.1 million for the relocation of Inyo County's maintenance facility from the camp gymnasium to a new facility is authorized.

5. Creation of an 11-member advisory commission for the site is authorized, to consist of internees, local residents, Native Americans, and the general public.

6. Cooperative agreements with public and private entities for management and interpretation at the site are authorized.

7. Cooperative agreements with the state or political subdivisions for rescue, fire fighting, and law enforcement services on a reimbursable basis are authorized.