MANZANAR - JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMP 1942-1945

William and I had visited Manzanar once before in early 2021 but were unable to enter any of the standing buildings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Today's visit shows in stark terms what these Japanese Americans had endured throughout their stay at the Manzanar camp. A sad part of recent American history, but one that we have all learned from so as to avoid such mistakes in our future.
Manzanar is the site of one of ten American internment camps, where more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II from March 1942 to November 1945. It is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California's Owens Valley, between the towns of Lone Pine to the south and Independence to the north, approximately 230 miles (370 km) north of Los Angeles. Manzanar means "apple orchard" in Spanish. The Manzanar National Historic Site, which preserves and interprets the legacy of Japanese American incarceration in the United States, was identified by the United States National Park Service as the best-preserved of the ten former camp sites.
Since the last of those incarcerated left in 1945, former detainees and others have worked to protect Manzanar and to establish it as a National Historic Site to ensure that the history of the site, along with the stories of those who were incarcerated there, is recorded for current and future generations. The primary focus is the Japanese American incarceration era, as specified in the legislation that created the Manzanar National Historic Site. The site also interprets the former town of Manzanar, the ranch days, the settlement by the Owens Valley Paiute, and the role that water played in shaping the history of the Owens Valley.
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We would like to invite you to watch our adventures as we explore hiking trails around California, and the occasional historical sites. This is a lighthearted channel, and we are by no means documentarians, historians or professional presenters. We are recording our life experiences, and thought this might be a good format to share with other like-minded people. If you enjoyed our videos, please hit the like button, or even consider subscribing to our channel, but most of all, thank you for stopping by.

[@TheMajortanner]

Thank you for the video.

[@SWExplore]

You are welcome Blissful Kitty. It was our second time visiting Manzanar. The first time was in 2021 when all the buildings were closed during the pandemic. A sad memory and a respectful remembrance for all Americans to remember.

[@smilewalker7998]

Nice content and beautiful tour. Greeting from Thailand.

[@SWExplore]

Hello Smile Walker! Though this is a sad time in US history, we appreciate your taking the time to review our past with us. Thailand is one of my favorite countries and hope to visit there -- it's on our bucket list.

[@milesandhikes]

Such a sad and shameful time in history. But as you said, fear definitely makes people do stupid things! I hope I can visit this place soon, seen it in so man videos. I love history! And, when I went to school, we also had chalks and a blackboard, so no! you're not old :) lol

[@SWExplore]

Alejandra, thanks for watching and supporting us. Yes, it is a sad era in American history, and not so long ago either. Hopefully we have learned from our mistakes and not to repeat them again. Humans are slow to learn, so with everything going on in this world of ours, I can only hope for the best.

[@milesandhikes]

@@SWExplore me too! We need to all come together, once and for all 🙏