Manzanar National Historic Site
add photosSummer hours (April 1 - October 31) 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Winter hours (November 1 - March 31) 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2 Reviews for Manzanar National Historic Site
206
121
'10, '11, '12
0 families found this helpful
"An important piece of US History that is not to be forgotten"
I think its important to teach our children that US History is not all sunshine and roses. When I was growing up, we were never taught about the Japanese intrenment camps that the US had during WWII. This was nto a proud moment in US history but its crucial that new generations learn about the mistakes of their ancestors so these cycles are not repeated.
The Manzanar Historical Site is located on the site of a former interment camp on the eastern side of the Sierra, in a very remote part of the state just off Hwy 395. All that is left of the site is a large building that was a former rec center which now contains a very nice museum. Children who are probably 7 and older will be able to understand what happened to these families and how they were forced to leave their homes and live like prisoners in a camp for several years. My children were only 3 so I did my best to explain to them that a long time ago some kids had to leave their houses and pets behind and come live in a strange place. They did enjoy the children's area which has toys from the time period and pictures and stories of the children who once lived in Manzar. This gave us adults a chance to take time to enjoy the museum exhibits (we took shifts watching the kids play) which was very nice.
The site is still in process of being built and I hope they will recreate more of what living coniditions were like for the people who endured the camps. The japanese people made the best of their situation and even created ponds and lanscaping to beautify the space they were given and I do know plans to recreate some of this are in the works.
There is also an audio tour of the site which we didn't have time for but looked to be interesting. Cost to enter the site is free so if your family is heading up to Mammoth or other parts of the Eastern Sierra, take and hour and stop.
Send a Message 
Send a Compliment
It's helpful
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
During World War II, Manzanar Relocation Center, just off U.S. Highway 395, 12 miles north of Lone Pine, was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and Japanese aliens were interned. Located at the foot of the imposing Sierra Nevada in eastern California’s Owens Valley, Manzanar has been identified as the best preserved of these camps. A twenty minute film shows at the Interpretive Center between 9:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. daily. Open all year during daylight hours with free admission. There is a 3.2-mile-long self-guided auto tour of the camp, with a tour description and map available at the camp entrance. A walking tour of the Manzanar Camp takes one to two hours. A self-guiding walking-tour
booklet is available at the Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine and at the Eastern California Museum in Independence. For more information call (760) 878–2194 or visit www.nps.gov/manz/.
What's Nearby? Hotels » Activities »
Find Hotels near Manzanar National Historic Site »
Find Activities near Manzanar National Historic Site »
Find Restaurants near Manzanar National Historic Site »
Get the inside scoop from parents who have been there!
