Manzanar National Historic Site - National Park Directory

People walk to barracks framed by mountain peaks.

1942 image of barracks at Manzanar

Japanese stone lantern with mountains in background

Block 15 Barrack 7 Garden Lantern, Manzanar

Wooden sign with "Mananar War Relocation Center" written on it

Historic Entrance Sign, Manzanar

guard tower with fog and hills in background

Reconstructed Manzanar Guard Tower

wooden bridge and stonework in foreground with mountains behind

Merritt Park, Manzanar

white obelisk with black Japanese characters with stormy mountains beyond

Manzanar Cemetery Monument

flowering pear trees with mountains in background

Manzanar Pear Orchard and Mount Williamson

crowd surrounds white obelisk with mountains beyond

Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage

stone building with stormy mountains beyond

Manzanar Sentry Post

Photos: National Park Service

About Manzanar National Historic Site

In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where the US government incarcerated Japanese immigrants ineligible for citizenship and Japanese American citizens during World War II.

Quick Facts

State California

Designation National Historic Site

State Code CA

Weather Manzanar is located in the Owens Valley at 4,000' elevation, at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada. We get little precipitation but we do have four distinct seasons. Summer…

Location & Map

Manzanar National Historic Site is located in California.

Get Directions

Operating Hours

The driving tour and grounds remain open daily from sunrise to sunset. Visitor center hours are more limited. See visitor center hours section for more information. The Block 14 building exhibits are open 9:00 am - 4:15 pm daily, except for Christmas Day when they are closed.

Wednesday Sunrise to Sunset

Monday Sunrise to Sunset

Thursday Sunrise to Sunset

Sunday Sunrise to Sunset

Tuesday Sunrise to Sunset

Friday Sunrise to Sunset

Saturday Sunrise to Sunset

Activities

Biking Road Biking Food Picnicking Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Self-Guided Tours - Auto Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour Junior Ranger Program Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Park Film Museum Exhibits Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

Getting There

Manzanar is located on the west side of U.S. Highway 395, 9 miles north of Lone Pine, California and 6 miles south of Independence, CA.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address Manzanar National Historic Site, Independence, CA, 93526

Phone (760) 878-2194

Email manz_information_request@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Architecture and Building Arts Painting Photography Asian American Heritage Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite Colonization and Settlement Engineering Farming and Agriculture Incarceration Japanese-American Internment Immigration Medicine Hospital Military US Army Indigenous and Native Warrior Monuments and Memorials Religion and Spirituality Churches Schools and Education Social Movements Civil Rights Tragic Events Forced Marches Wars and Conflicts Tribal Conflicts World War II Westward Expansion Homesteading Scenic Views

Things To Do

Driving, Biking, and Walking at Manzanar

The site is open during daylight hours, see it on foot or via the 3.2 mile driving tour road.

Get a much more intimate look at the story of Manzanar by exploring the site on foot. Visit the site…

Become a Manzanar Junior Ranger

At home or at Manzanar, becoming a junior ranger is a great way to learn about the stories of Manzanar.

Manzanar's Junior Ranger program offers a great opportunity for children to interact with National Park Rangers, experience exhibits, watch the…

Explore Manzanar Block 14 Exhibits

Walk through one of the 36 Blocks of Manzanar to feel what life would have been like here during WWII.

The buildings and outdoor exhibits can be explored at your leisure.

Visitor Centers

Manzanar Visitor Center

The Manzanar visitor center offers extensive exhibits, a 22-minute park film, a bookstore, a Junior Ranger program, and an information desk.

Hours: Manzanar Visitor Center is open Friday to Monday (closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) from 9:00AM to 4:30PM. It is closed on December 25th.

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