Manzanar | Northern California Landscape Photographer

Manzanar Relocation Center is one of ten ‘internment’ camp locations of the 40’s after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and thus pulled us into WWII. Immigrants and CITIZENS of the USA with Japanese heritage were all required to leave their homes and belongings. They were transported to remote locations to be held for the duration the war.

Manzanar, now a national historical site, includes some of the ruins of the camp and a Visitor’s Center that includes photographs and a wealth of information of this relocation center. I hesitate to call these ‘relocation centers’, as they were really prisons. Nobody in and definitely nobody out without approval. Signs were posted around the perimeter, fences, and a lookout tower were in place to assure nobody left. Taking in the Visitor’s Center was a sobering, humbling and disturbing experience. It’s one that will stay with me for a long time.

There’s plenty of information about this event/site and others on line. I encourage you to visit Manzanar when you can and to explore all the information online that is available. I think there is so much to be learned from this part of our history. I cannot imagine the fear within that led to this decision. And, I hope I’m never in the position to witness firsthand something like this in the future.

Manzanar | Leaving Their Homes

When I told my mother about this visit, we had a serious conversation about it. (We had never talked about it before.) She was still in school when this happened and remembered how neighbors and friends of Japanese decent were required to leave. Two stories she shared gave me the greatest pause.

One, when a neighbor was preparing to leave, she came over to my grandparent’s home and gave my grandmother a beautiful china oil and vinegar set with a matching platter. The neighbor was not able to take this with her and she did not want it to be left to the thieves that were sure to come. I only wish I knew who this family was so that we could return this to them. Certainly, it was a precious thing to her.

Second, while at school, the children were being loaded on buses to be taken away. My mother said she observed the principal of the school as she stood on the front steps of the school and sobbed as they left. Teachers and students were all in disbelief as their fellow students were taken away.

I have no way of knowing if Manzanar was their ultimate destination. But, I’m sure it was a scene that was repeated all over.

one of the watchtowers

the archway entrance to a garden

Above: one of the barracks and another archway made of small logs

The Cemetery

The sign says it all.

These are posted in the entry to the Visitor’s Center as an introduction to learning about this location, the events that took place to create it, and life in the internment camp.

My narrative here is only a snippet of this history. I encourage you to learn more by visiting if you can and researching on-line.

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As a published, featured northern California fine art photographer living in the greater Sacramento area, I specialize in fine art landscape, nature, and still life photography. My style is authentic, fresh and personality-driven. I offer several educational opportunities including workshops and photography mentoring. You can learn about them by going to SERVICES and WORKSHOPS. While currently living in rural northern California with my husband and a couple thousand walnut trees, I post regularly to Instagram.

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