Manzanar

Manzanar, located in California's Owens Valley at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, was the first of ten War Relocation Authority (WRA) concentration camps to open. Operational from March 1942 to November 1945, it became one of the most well-known and documented camps.

The camp housed a peak population of 10,046 people, forced from their homes primarily from Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Today, Manzanar stands as a National Historic Site, preserving the memory and lessons of Japanese American incarceration.

Life at Manzanar was characterized by harsh desert conditions—scorching summer heat, freezing winter cold, and relentless dust storms. Families lived in tar-paper barracks measuring only 20 by 25 feet, with no privacy and minimal furnishings.

Despite adversity, residents created schools, sports leagues, cultural programs, farming projects, and a thriving camp newspaper. The Owens Valley landscape, while harsh, also provided stunning views of the surrounding mountains—a bittersweet reminder of beauty amidst injustice.

On December 6, 1942, tensions erupted into what became known as the Manzanar Riot or Manzanar Uprising. The incident began after the beating of a suspected informer and escalated when military police opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing two men and injuring ten others.

This event highlighted the deep frustrations within the camp about living conditions, surveillance, and the fundamental injustice of incarceration. The riot led to increased military presence and the transfer of perceived troublemakers to other camps.